The newly appointed Chair of the Equality & Human Rights Commission, David Isaac, has spoken about the barriers that disabled people still face throughout society.
Isaac acknowledges that progress on disability rights has “stalled” and pledges it will be a priority. He speaks from experience; his brother has a disability. “It is clear,” he has said, “from both my family’s experience and the commission’s research that disabled people still come up against inexcusable barriers to participation in society.”
There are many powers in the 2010 Equality Act that are yet to be implemented. He has welcomed the government’s commitment to bring into force sections 165 and 167 which require wheelchair-accessible taxis to assist wheelchair passengers and prevent them from charging extra. The EHRC has also written to the Premier League warning that football clubs need to make adjustments to their stadiums to accommodate disabled football fans more than 20 years after the Disability Discrimination Act required businesses to make reasonable adjustments to make venues accessible. “They have given us an undertaking to make changes by early next year,” Isaac said. “We will be holding them to account for that.”
From: The Guardian
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Ministers highlight ‘inexcusable’ lack of disabled access
The Guardian – People with disabilities treated like second-class citizens, says watchdog
6.7.16