Disability Equality Duty

What is the disability equality duty?

Disability Equality Duty

The Disability Equality Duty came into force on 4 December 2006.

This legal duty requires all public bodies to actively look at ways of ensuring that disabled people are treated equally. All of those covered by the specific duties must also have produced a Disability Equality Scheme, which they must now implement.

The DED, also referred to as the general duty, sets out what public authorities must have due regard to in order to promote equality of opportunity. Most public authorities are also covered by the specific duties, which set out a framework to assist authorities in meeting their general duty. All public authorities covered by the specific duties must: publish a Disability Equality Scheme (including within it an Action Plan) involve disabled people in producing the Scheme and Action Plan demonstrate they have taken actions in the Scheme and achieved appropriate outcomes report on progress review and revise the Scheme


The Commission has an overview guidance on the duty to give a brief introduction into what it is and what it means for public bodies and disabled people. This document contains information on key dates for the duty, and details of the Disability Equality Scheme and the Action Plan

To download the documents, follow this link

http://tinyurl.co! ! m/4r3nbc