Cookstown District Council
Equality
Disability Duties and Action Plan Scheme 2007 - 2012
Welcome to Cookstown District Council’s Disability Duties and Action Plan for the period 2007 – 2012. This Disability Action Plan is an important document in that it is a statement of the Council’s commitment to and proposals for fulfilling the statutory obligations in compliance with Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995)(as amended by the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006).Under Section 49B of the DDA 1995, the Council is also required to submit to the Equality Commission a disability action plan showing how it proposes to fulfil these duties in relation to its functions.This Act therefore, places new duties on public authorities, when carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need
· to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
· to encourage participation by disabled people in public life.
We are committed to portraying (and encourage others to portray) disabled people in a positive role, as well as taking steps to eliminate ignorance and prejudice towards disabled people in the wider community and the workplace.We also wish to encourage the participation of disabled people in public life including at a community, regional and national level, in citizens’ panels, focus groups, Local Strategy Partnership, as Elected Members, etc.
The Council believes that the Disability Scheme Duties and Action Plan will play a major role in tackling disadvantage whilst releasing the potential of all of the people of Cookstown District.