Disabled subjected to 'significant exclusion'

People with disabilities are being subjected to "significant exclusion and discrimination" from employers and service providers, the Equality Authority has warned.

Figures to be released today show there were 119 cases of disability discrimination under investigation by the authority in the first three-quarters of this year.

This compares to 111 cases in the whole of 2001.

According to the authority, the trend is evidence of a "widespread failure of employers and service providers to reasonably accommodate the needs of people with disabilities".

Speaking ahead of the publication of a disability resource pack for employers, Mr Niall Crowley, the authority's chief executive, said a wide range of complaints had been made and successfully resolved in the area. These included the failure of employers to inform workers with disabilities of promotional opportunities, and experiences among such workers of delayed contract renewals, or dismissal, once a disability was discovered.

He said a majority of cases raised the issue of "reasonable accommodation", an important duty laid down under the Employment Equality Act.

It requires employers to provide special treatment facilities so that an employee with a disability can be fully capable of undertaking his or her job, provided this cost does not exceed a "nominal" amount. Casework has resulted in a practice whereby the nominal cost is calculated according to the size and turnover of the organisation.

A breakdown of the cases under investigation this year show 56 related to employment, and 63 to discrimination under the Equal Status Act.

The former included 29 cases indicating a failure on the part of employers "to give consideration to specific facilities or adjustments in work procedures" which would allow people with disabilities to do their job effectively.

The latter included 31 cases reflecting "the failure of service providers to make adjustments to facilitate people with disabilities". Such service providers included restaurants, pubs, hotels, aircraft and shopping centres.

Mr Crowley cited three types of barriers facing people with disabilities: attitudinal, institutional and relational. The latter was evident in "abuse and violence or where pity and being patronised takes the place of relationships of respect, trust and solidarity".

Specific responsibilities on access and service provision are explained in the disability resource pack for employers, to be launched this afternoon by the Minister of State with special responsibility for equality, Mr Willie O'Dea. The event coincides with European Day of People with Disabilities.