Equality Commission Northern Ireland

Addressing key inequalities

We consider that the recommended changes will help address the key inequalities facing disabled people in Northern Ireland. In our Statement on Key Inequalities in Northern Ireland we highlighted the inequalities facing disabled people as regards educational attainment, employment, access to transport and suitable housing, participation in public life, and being subject to harassment and prejudicial attitudes.⁶
 

For example, in the field of education, our recent report on Inequalities in Education⁷  highlighted that in 2008, economically active and inactive people with a declared disability had lower overall levels of attainment, and were more likely to hold no qualifications, than those without a declared disability.  It also concluded that overall between 1998 and 2008, the gap between educational attainment of working-age people with and without a declared disability has widened.

In terms of the impact of these changes, it is of note that results from the Northern Ireland Survey of People with Activity Limitations and Disabilities show that 18% of the Northern Ireland population of all ages living in private households face limitations in their daily living as a consequence of a disability or long-term health condition.  In addition, almost 2 out of every 5 households in Northern Ireland include at least one person with a limiting disability.⁸

As indicated above, the changes will have a significant impact on the day to day lives of a wide range of disabled people, including disabled job applicants and employees, customers, transport users, tenants, students in further and higher education and pupils in schools.

Prohibiting pre-employment disability-related questions by employers, except in certain limited circumstances, will, for example, reduce the barriers disabled people face in seeking employment.

The need for robust and comprehensive protection for disabled people against unlawful discrimination is clear in light of the number and nature of disability discrimination complaints received by the Equality Commission.

For example, over a 12 month period (1 April 2010-31 March 2011), approximately 1,055 disability discrimination enquiries were received by the Commission. The vast majority of these enquiries relate to discrimination in employment (approximately 73%), but a considerable number of complaints relate to access to goods, facilities and services (21%). The Commission received during this period more enquiries/complaints in the area of disability than on any other equality ground.⁹