The need for change

Disabled people need equal access to services and information

Low expectations of, and among, disabled people can negatively affect their education and employment prospects, their health and their standard of living.

As a government communicator, you are ideally positioned to change attitudes and help accomplish the government’s vision of equality for disabled people. Adopt an inclusive approach and consider all segments of your audiences to inform, engage and change behaviour.

Legal requirements

Ten million adults in the UK are likely to be covered by the provisions of theEquality Act because they have a disability or long-term health condition. They:

are all users of government services
need to be able to communicate with government and its agencies
are more likely to be out of work, lack skills and have poor health
have more limited access to arts, culture and information of all kinds
have less access to the internet and therefore use it less.

In addition to the requirements of the Equality Act, the Public Sector Equality Duty states that service providers, including government, have to make reasonable adjustments to the way they provide services, including information - so that a disabled person has the same level of access as a non-disabled person.

The ratification of the UN Convention for Disabled People also emphasises the need for accessible information for all.

You may also need to complete an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) for your communications project. Check your Department’s EIA guidance on when an assessment is required.

What you can do

Take a systematic approach to promoting equality for disabled people.
Complete Equality Impact Assessments where relevant.
Consider disabled people in your audience.
Involve disabled people in campaign planning and instigation.
Communicate your messages accessibly to all.
Represent disabled people in your marketing.

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Page last reviewed: 30 March 2011