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Equality impact assessments

longman

I thought I might ask about this on here, as others might have encountered the same problem.

My local authority claims it no longer has to do Equality Impact Assessments - that is, when changing practice or policy, it no longer has to check to make sure there is no impact on the disabled.

This came up in the context of road closures during events, which put blue badge parking spaces out of action. In a meeting I said don't you do an impact assesment - Oh no - came the reply, that's all been scrapped - we don't have to do those any more.

Not a questions I can realistically ask this coalition government, as they haven't the foggiest idea of disability and think we are all benefits scroungers.

Anyone else come across this development?

  • I've got back some information about Equality Impact Assessments - they've not been scrapped, however there is no legal requirement to use them. Some local authorities continue them as good practice, but it is clear others, including mine, have stopped.

    However local authorities have to demonstrate that they have given due regard to the Equality Act, particularly section 149 on the Public Sector Equality Duty. The wording of this seems somewhat tautological to me, and open to interpretation - phrases like "persons who share a protected characteristic".

    It looks though as if some local authrities are no longer looking out for adverse impact on the disabled. Maybe this is something for NAS to look into, though it needs action from an agency on behalf of all disabled groups.

  • Being involved with disabilty action groups and having worked in support of disabled students, I've long observed a certain resigned acceptance of getting a bad deal.

    I get the feeling most disabled don't expect much from reforms. Added to which the existence of equality impact assessments is probably only familar to people who've had to evaluate them in their workplace, which is generally a minority.

    Also most disabled are resigned to the fact that the coalition Government is unrepentant at scapegoating the disabled. I personally suspect this is a decision made by Cameron and his Eton chronies, believing he is doing councils a favour. However I am making enquiries to find out whether this is just my local authority, a local government decision or a national one.

    I ought perhaps to have clarified what Equality Imapact Assessments are about. Decision makers like local authorities, health services, education providers have to include an impact assessment when they change a policy, to ensure they carefully check for any adverse effects on equality. For example a decision to reduce the number of languages in a library facility needs to consider how many ethnic minorities with those languges use the library. Likewise a decision to close a street ahead of an event might more significantly affect the disabled.

    The trouble is the procedure is boring. Nine times out of ten there is no obvious necessity. Also people tend not to make informed decisionss, or consult say disabled groups. There's a tendency to assume common sense applies - which of course is the common sense usually of white, middle class able-bodied decision makers. It is also one of the exercises perceived as political correctness gone wrong.

    So I can quite easily imagine the Eton chronies have decided for themselves that its a superfuous practice that should be abolished. After all if you're privileged, had a fee paying education at a posh school that selectively avoids taking on disabled kids, or ethnic minorities, you are bound to have a fairly narrow view of reality. That's Hooray Henries for you.

  • I'm pretty shocked that no one else ever seems to reply to these threads. Does no one care about being on the wrong end of inequality anymore or what?

  • Seriously? So they aren't even trying to be subtle about it anymore... I actually can't believe this is happening in the UK. In the past four years we have gone from a relatively prosperous nation to a place of complete moral bankruptcy. What's next? Are they going to bring back the asylums? Electroshock therapy? Or just concentration camps? I need to get out of this sinking country ASAP before it's too late