The Disability Equality Duty (DED) is a new legal requirement placed on public authorities forcing them to actively promote equality for disabled people. It came into operation on December 4th, 2006.

Public bodies now have specific duties to prepare and publish a formal statement regarding their Disability Equality Scheme. They must involve disabled people in developing the scheme, write an action plan and formally monitor the scheme’s performance, impact and effectiveness.

Key point: If you are a private sector business working for the public sector, you may have to show you are compliant with the DED. There is an “extended duty”. Public sector companies want to make sure their sub-contractors and suppliers follow equality principles. They also want contract partners who display similar standards to their own.