Care experienced young people: Reasonable adjustments
The Equality Act 2010 says that there’s a duty to make reasonable adjustments if you're placed at a substantial disadvantage because of your disability compared with non-disabled people or people who don't share your disability.
What are reasonable adjustments?
Reasonable adjustments are changes that organisations and people providing services or public functions have to make for you if your disability puts you at a disadvantage compared with others who are not disabled.
What is a disability/impairment?
- if you have a physical or mental impairment
- the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
The definition is wide, you may not see your self as disabled. You don’t have to have a formal diagnosis. However, your disability/impairment may impact on your day-to-day activities. For example, if you’re suffering from stress, you might have mental impairments - like difficulty concentrating - as well as physical impairments such as extreme tiredness and difficulty sleeping. It still has to have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
Who has a duty to make reasonable adjustments?
- Education settings
- Employers
- Housing providers
- Shops, banks, cinemas, leisure centres
- Public services – hospitals, GP surgeries, council offices
- Associations and private clubs like scouts and guides, private sports clubs
What’s meant by reasonable?
Adjustments/changes only have to be made if it’s reasonable to do so. What's a reasonable thing to ask for depends on things like:
- your disability/impairment
- how practicable the changes are
- if the change you ask for would overcome the disadvantage you and other disabled people experience
- the size of the organisation
- how much money and resources are available
- the cost of making the changes
- if any changes have already been made
Types of adjustment/changes
- Changes to the way things are done – allowing your carer to attend appointments with you.
- Changes to a physical feature – adding a slope to allow wheelchair access
- Providing extra aids or services – like a GP giving you a double appointment because you have a learning disability and need more time to understand what is being explained to you
Do I have to ask for reasonable adjustments to be made?
The organisation should have already made reasonable adjustments. Unfortunately, you may have to ask, especially if your disability isn’t visible. For example, an autism or a mental health difficulty.
What do I do if an organisation hasn’t made reasonable adjustments?
If they refuse to make reasonable adjustments after you have asked them, you can make discrimination claim under the Equality Act.
For more advice see the Citizen's Advice under duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
