DART - Disability Awareness Resource Team
D |
Disability
Awareness and the Health Service
The BackgroundA
D*A*R*T
Publication
Although
the project was initially expected to focus on physical barriers to services and
to anticipate the financial burden of removing these, an unexpected element
arose. To quote from the initial report: “Interestingly, the most significant
barrier cited by the majority of disabled people was that of inappropriate staff
attitudes and behaviours.” (1999:2) Closer
to home, the Nottinghamshire Joint Commissioning group for Physical and Sensory
Impairment , in their strategy document for 2003-2005, underlined the importance
of this issue by saying : “Raising Awareness is the overarching theme of this
document and has consistently been the most frequently raised issue by service
users and carers”. Both
these documents went on to strongly recommend a structured and general strategy
of awareness training for all health staff. From
our own research (Access to Health 2002) and experiences as a disability
awareness group since 1996 we are also aware of the importance and benefits ,
for all, of awareness training and of giving staff from all public services the
opportunity to talk to us and to share experiences and explore common
misunderstandings. Because
we, as service users with disabilities, have experienced these difficulties at
first hand. We
therefore support the view of the NHS book, “Doubly Disabled: Equality for
Disabled People in the New NHS” who say , “Disabled people often face
unacceptable difficulties when they try to use NHS services. These difficulties
can be caused by a variety of factors, including the lack of understanding of
disability by some staff. Most
people working in the health service will meet disabled people regularly and
need to be aware of obstacles that can
, unwittingly, be put in their way. It is important to create an enabling
environment which benefits everyone, incorporating a quality approach to
diversity and equality. Many
disabled people are concerned that it is the environment that disables them and
this is as commonly through staff awareness and attitudes – as it is through
physical access and facilities.”. References. Freeney,M
et al (1999) “Working in Partnership to Implement Section 21 of the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Across the National Health Service.” NHS Hannah,P
(2001) “Access to Health. HAZ Local Research Fellowship” JCG
Physical and Sensory Impairment (2002) “Promoting
Independence. Step by Step. A strategy for 2003-2005” NHS NHS
Executive (2000) “ Doubly Disabled: Equality for Disabled People in the New
NHS” NHS Copyright © 2003 D*A*R*T
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