MPs' guide on disability

This is a practical guide intended to empower MPs to represent their disabled constituents fully. For the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act, a disabled person is someone with an impairment, which has a substantial and long-term impact on their ability to carry out day to day activities. There are around 10 million people in the UK today who meet this definition; that's around 1 in 6 of the population and this figure is expected to rise as the population ages.

MPs may or may not have a broad experience of working with or for disabled people. This publication is an invaluable introduction and reference resource for every MP. It outlines good practice in access, language and behaviour and summarises the main provisions of the Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) and how they affect MPs.

This guide will reinforce RADAR's key role in brokering dialogue between MPs, businesses and disabled people through its MP Dialogue Scheme. This process seeks to inform political, business and civic debate and change. The evidence is that direct face to face contact is the most effective way of breaking down barriers, dismantling stereotypes and preconceptions. This is integral to RADAR's mission - supporting individuals, networks and policy-makers to do things differently.

If you would like to receive printed copies of this publication please contact the publications team via the EFD website or call us on (020) 7089 2410.