Good preparation is the key to monitoring disability, says TUC

The TUC has published new guidance on workplace disability monitoring in the light of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

From December 2006, the legislation will impose a duty on public bodies to promote disability equality.

This means that hospitals, local councils, government departments and other public bodies will be obliged to eliminate discrimination and harassment of disabled people, promote equality of opportunity, and encourage the participation of disabled people in public life.

They will also have to report on their progress. The TUC said: "Without monitoring, it would be very difficult for public bodies to identify how far they are meeting their obligations."

The TUC guidance, Monitoring disability, says that monitoring can guide organisations towards good disability equality policies, but stresses that preparation is essential - otherwise "many disabled people will not respond to monitoring, making the exercise useless".

The guidance covers areas including the law and the new duties, consultation, what and how to monitor, planning monitoring and the Data Protection Act.

It is available at www.tuc.org.uk/equality