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Articles:
Liz Sayce and Jed Boardman
Disability rights and mental health in the UK: recent developments of the Disability Discrimination Act
Adv Psychiatr Treat 2008; 14: 265-275 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES
DR Nazar Afif Mansour   (3 September 2008)

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES 3 September 2008
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DR Nazar Afif Mansour,
SPR/ LAT

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Re: WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES

mansour_nazar{at}yahoo.co.uk DR Nazar Afif Mansour

I am a working doctor with a physical disability. Disability is a spectrum as far as both duration and severity are concerned. Disabled people pass through different stages to adapt to changes in life and the work environment. People may have severe levels of physical disability but still be able to run their daily functions as normal.

Disabled people have to work harder to overcome the hindrances they face to prove that they can do the required jobs. Unfortunately sometimes this is not recognised as an achievement by many institutions or even valued at an individual level.

Both the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Ammendment in 2005 have made clear cut legal changes to ensure that disabled people are treated in a fair way; but this may not change attitudes towards disability.

For example in 2007 MTAS recruitment did follow the guaranteed interview scheme for disabled doctors to have access to interview, but at the same time the lack of transparency and inadequate feedback provided no reassurances about the fairness of the scoring system.

A defensive approach in dealing with the employment of disabled people can create a tense environment in all stages of employment including during job interviews. Changes of attitude and appropriate evaluation are necessary to secure the rights of disabled people.