There are a variety of organisations operating in the Newport area and across Wales offering support to people with disabilities who want to find work. Many of these organisations also provide particular services for employers.

This directory aims to promote the work of these organisations and to clarify the services that can be accessed by employers who need help to:

• retain current employees who may have developed a disability
• recruit a diverse workforce
• ensure that they recognise the potential of all people

Will I have to make adjustments to employ people with disabilities?

While people may be disabled according to the law, most disabilities can be accommodated in a practical way. It may be that special computer software is needed, a special chair, or induction loops and text phones. Research shows that the average cost of reasonable adjustments is very low – around £75. Not every person needs special equipment. Many adjustments are low cost such as ensuring that someone has the nearest car parking space to an office, flexibility in the hours that they work, or regular food breaks. All of which need not affect the ability to do the job they are employed to do.

Who is considered "disabled" under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)?

A disabled person is legally defined under the DDA as "someone with a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities."

Normal day to day activities include:

• Mobility (eg being able to go for a walk)
• Manual dexterity (eg using a computer keyboard)
• Physical co-ordination
• Ability to lift carry objects or otherwise move everyday objects
• Speaking, hearing or seeing
• Memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand
• Perception of the risk of physical danger

The Disability Discrimination Act also covers people with progressive conditions such as HIV, cancer, and hidden disabilities like dyslexia, heart disease, depression, diabetes, asthma, and epilepsy when these conditions mean that they experience some effect on their ability to undertake normal day to day activities.
People who have had a disability in the past may also be covered even if they have recovered.

Please note: This information is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. It is given as general guidance only. For further information on the Disability Discrimination Act visit www.drc.gb.org or contact a legal advisor.

Social responsibility or just good business sense?
What are the needs of the employers?

The information found in these pages was intially compiled by the Equinex project led by the Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning at the University of Wales, Newport.

The Equinex project is funded under the European Union Equal Initiative, administered by the Welsh Assembly Government, and is run by a partnership of organisations based in the Newport area. The project started in July 2005 and will run for a period of two years. The aim of the project is to examine the barriers faced by disadvantaged groups to participation in training, education and employment. It will focus particularly on people who have been unemployed for some time, and people with disabilities, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, sensory disabilities and learning disabilities.