The Equality Act (EqA) provides the UK legal context for definitions of disability and discrimination and reasonable workplace adjustments for people with disability. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) practitioners need to be aware of the EqA and its potential role in VR practice.

Forms of disability discrimination and the requirements of the EqA will be summarised particularly provision of reasonable adjustments by employers in selection and employment. This will be illustrated by examples from VR practice for acquired conditions (i.e. brain injury) and as reported for developmental conditions (i.e. autism, dyslexia).

Whilst EqA requirements are comprehensive in theory, in practice disability discrimination is commonplace including disputes over reasonable work adjustments. As experience is that drawing on the EqA can sometimes have negative consequences (as opposed to informing employers and facilitating resolution), VR practitioners need to do so selectively with caution from an informed position, in order to reduce any potential risk.

Our speaker:: Andy Tyerman, Honorary Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and VRA Trustee

Since qualifying as a clinical psychologist in 1979, Andy has worked in neuro-rehabilitation. From 1992 he developed the Community Head Injury Service, Buckinghamshire. This comprises three inter-linked programmes; core community acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation; specialist family services; & ‘Working Out’, specialist ABI vocational rehabilitation.

Andy has been involved in developing national standards and guidelines in community neurorehabilitation and neuro-vocational rehabilitation. This has included co-convening national groups to produce guidelines on vocational assessment and rehabilitation for people both with ABI and long-term neurological conditions. As a result, he has been made aware of a wide range of examples of apparent disability discrimination and the potential complications of raising concerns about discrimination.

Whilst retired from the NHS, Andy continues to supervise, teach and write on community and vocational rehabilitation after ABI and is also a Trustee of Headway UK, as well as the Vocational Rehabilitation Association.

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