Examples of adjustments under the DDA⁴²

*Making adjustment to premises

*Allocating some duties of the person with a disability to someone else

*Transferring the individual to fill an existing vacancy

*Altering working hours

*Assigning the person to a different place of work

*Allowing absence during working hours for rehabilitation, assessment, or treatment

*Giving or arranging training

*Acquiring or modifying equipment

*Modifying instructions or reference manuals

*Providing a reader or interpreter

*Providing supervision.

unemployed, employed, and self-employed individuals with a disability. This assistance can be applied to any position whether it is full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary.

It is important to note that disability rights advocates have seriously criticised the DDA. Their concerns are related to the definition of disability; the enforcement mechanism; the lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in the development of the law; and aspects of the employment provisions. The DDA's definition of disability does not include work as a normal daily activity which could be affected by a disability. The law is often compared to legislation in other countries and to alternatives proposed for the UK, which would have applied to employers of all sizes and established a commission to monitor and investigate complaints under the law.⁴⁴ One of the key functions of a commission would be to conduct investigations to determine whether employers are complying with provisions of the DDA. Currently, the individual is totally responsible for pursuing grievances. This could lead to the exclusion of individuals with disabilities who are less able to advocate for themselves.

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT

 

In the UK, occupational health and safety is regulated by a combination of law and government guidelines with enforcement by health and safety inspectors.⁴⁵ Basic workplace health, safety, and welfare issues are covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1974. The act establishes the framework for the occupational health and safety system, while defining the powers and responsibilities of the Health and Safety Commission

An example of reasonable adjustment for an individual with a mental health disability

 

Occasionally an individual with mental health problems may experience difficulties with concentration and/or memory, perhaps a side-effect of prescribed medication.

Adjustments might include:

*Providing room dividers, partitions or other soundproofing or visual barriers

*Reducing noise in the work environment, if possible

*Giving written instructions which may help decrease anxiety, increase confi-

dence, provide structure, or compensate for concentration difficulties.

A practical guide to employment adjustment for people with mental health problems.

Employers Forum on Disability, UK 1998.