Authorities "failing" on disability access
27 Feb 07
DRC gives 45 public bodies three months to produce equality scheme or face legal action
One in six public authorities in Scotland has failed to comply with the duty to introduce a disability equality scheme, according to the Disability Rights Commission.
Under regulations introduced last year, public bodies came under a duty as from early December, in consultation with disabled people, to produce an action plan to ensure access to their services and job opportunities. However 45 out of over 260 authorities surveyed by the Commission has yet to publish a scheme.
The DRC names the defaulters with the biggest impact on the lives of disabled people as Aberdeenshire Council, the National Galleries and National Museums of Scotland, and Coatbridge, Kilmarnock and Shetland Colleges.
The Commission has given all the defaulters three months to put their schemes in place or face the prospect of a sheriff court order to comply.