have they broken Equality Act 2010
Options
murphy10
Community member Posts: 9 Listener
Hi
I applied for C- ESA and was awarded this after 32 years employment.
It was agreed by DWP alternative format Team in Birkinhead that all communication would be in email format. This is due to my disabilities, learning, physical amd mental health disabilities.
I use dragon software which is voice recognition software which allows me to voice type.
Due to chronic pain each day.
I was sent my award letter, 1 page.
I requested a copy of DWP Doctors home assessment be typed for me as i cannot read his report, it is illegible.
DWP state
I applied for C- ESA and was awarded this after 32 years employment.
It was agreed by DWP alternative format Team in Birkinhead that all communication would be in email format. This is due to my disabilities, learning, physical amd mental health disabilities.
I use dragon software which is voice recognition software which allows me to voice type.
Due to chronic pain each day.
I was sent my award letter, 1 page.
I requested a copy of DWP Doctors home assessment be typed for me as i cannot read his report, it is illegible.
DWP state
ALTERNATIVE FORMAT |
| Fri 17 Aug, 16:01 | Reply | ||
|
E-Mail : 15 August 2018 @ 13:00
Dear Mr
We refer to your above E-Mail, and note all you say.
For completeness we note that the PDF of “Med-Reports” sent to you on comprised 40 pages of forms / report; completed by hand by Dr. J Hussain.
Enquiries have been made on your behalf and note that Dr. J. Hussain made a domiciliary visit to your home on 25th June 2018, following your specific request.
As is the standard DWP/ CHDA practice, he completed the report in hand writing as he did not have access to his computer at your home.
We note that you have been placed in the support group following that examination.
We regret that on this occasion we cannot be of any further assistance.
Regards
Department of Work and Pensions
Alternative Formats Team
Birkenhead Service Centre
My Question is this have they broken Equality Act 2010, any advice appreciated and if anyone knows of a solicitor who would take on the case please let me know, Kind Regards J
My Question is this have they broken Equality Act 2010, any advice appreciated and if anyone knows of a solicitor who would take on the case please let me know, Kind Regards J
Comments
-
Hi @murphy10
Just to clarify, you would like a typed copy of your Home Assessment and they say they cannot offer that?Scope
Senior online community officer -
Hi yes DWP ignore my request!
Thanks in advance
J -
I found this Review for the DWP of alternative format communications that is interesting as it shows that they have considered this but in many cases it seems they are not delivering accessible communications for lots of people.
Also here is their own guidance on accessible communications.
Scope
Senior online community officer -
I think the question is whether providing you with a typed copy of the report would be a reasonable adjustment as required by the Equality Act, the key word being 'reasonable'. Unfortunately reasonable is not defined in the legislation and is very dependant on context.
If the report really does comprise 40 pages, then it would obviously take quite a long time to transcribe and type. I doubt DWP employ anyone who does that type of work so they would probably have to pay an outside agency to do it, similar to the people the Courts use to provide transcripts of hearings. I have no direct knowledge of the cost of such a service but I suspect it would be expensive. On balance, it may well be that providing a transcript of a 40 page report is not reasonable in these circumstances, particularly as you don't appear to need to appeal for example.
What do you want the transcript for? Do you need a transcript of all 40 pages or could you ask them to transcribe specific parts of the report, for example the points awarded for each descriptor or the prognosis? That might be a compromise which both you and DWP are able to accept.
-
Hi
Might it be that like you, they cannot read the Dr's hand writing?
Have you asked some one else, to try and read the report, on your behalf?
You could contact the Equalities Commision for their advice, that would send a warning shot to DWP.
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 13.1K Start here and say hello!
- 6.7K Coffee lounge
- 72 Games lounge
- 386 Cost of living
- 4.3K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 199 Community updates
- 9.3K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 770 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 589 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 363 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 738 Transport and travel
- 31.7K Talk about money
- 4.4K Benefits and financial support
- 5.2K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.2K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 5K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.2K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 870 Chronic pain and pain management
- 180 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 317 Sensory impairments
- 819 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
Do you need advice on your energy costs?
Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.