WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 17.2
Deaf and deaf
“deaf’written in lower case denotes the medical condition of hearing loss.Upper case‘Deaf’is the
political and social term of belonging to the Deaf community.It is used in the same way other
nationalities and groups would be spelt with upper case letters,e.g.Spanish or Muslim.”(Deaf and
Creative,University of Wolverhampton).
Disability–Legal Position
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines disability as‘a physical or mental impairment,which has
a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day
activities’.This may affect a person’s mobility,manual dexterity,physical co-ordination; continence;
ability to lift or move everyday objects; speech,hearing; eyesight; memory or ability to understand,
concentrate or learn; perception of the risk of danger.
Disability–Medical Model
From a medical model perspective,people are disabled by their impairment and the absence or
reduction of functionality that it causes.There is a focus on medical intervention–disability is
something the person is burdened with,which should be cured so they may become as‘normal’as
possible.
Disability–Social Model
From a social model perspective,people are disabled,not by their impairment,but by the
environmental,social&attitudinal barriers that prevent them from participating fully as members of
society.There is a focus on the removal of barriers,and providing‘different but equal’treatment to
enable all people to participate.
Disabled person(people)
A disabled person is someone who has an impairment,experiences externally exposed barriers and
self-identifies as a disabled person.
Discrimination
The law recognises two main types of discrimination,direct&indirect.
Discrimination–Direct
Occurs when one person is treated less favourably than another would be in the same or not materially
different circumstances,on the basis of their gender,gender identity,race,sexual orientation,religion
or belief,disability or age.
Discrimination–Indirect-informal
Occurs where a law,regulation,policy or practice,which is apparently neutral,would put persons of a
given group(e.g.on grounds of gender,race,ethnic or national origins,sexual orientation,religion or
belief-or none)at a particular disadvantage compared with another person,unless the provision,
criterion or practice can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that
aim are appropriate and necessary(i.e.proportionate).A key difference between direct and indirect
discrimination is that indirect discrimination can occur through informal practices as well as formal
ones.It can happen unwittingly through practices,provisions or criteria that have a disproportionate
negative impact on a particular group.