Barriers experienced with additional needs

Discrimination
There are 4 types of disability discrimination: direct discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, disability related discrimination and victimisation. (The Equality Act, 2010)

Direct discrimination
Direct discrimination occurs when a disabled person is treated less favourably than someone else, who has similar circumstances and abilities or the treatment is for a reason relating to the person’s disability.

Failure to make reasonable adjustments
An employer, education provider or service provider has a duty to make reasonable adjustments where a provision, criterion or practice, or any physical feature of premises occupied by them, places a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared with people who are not disabled.

Disability-related discrimination
This form of discrimination refers to treatment of a disabled person that:
• is unlawful because it is for a reason related to a disability;
• is less favourable than the way in which others, to whom that reason doesn’t apply, are treated
• the employer cannot show that the treatment is justified

Victimisation
Victimisation is outlawed by the DDA. It says that a person should not be treated less favourably because they have, brought legal action under the DDA (eg at an employment tribunal, or other body), or given evidence in such an action or done anything else relating to such an action, such as supporting the person taking the action.

Employment Opportunities
Statistics and industry testimony show that while there has been progress in many areas, there is still room for improvement, especially in the area of employment. Employment for persons with disabilities is much lower than for persons without disabilities.

Cultural
In some communities, people with visible disabilities are deterred from participating