Defining Disability in Theory and Practice
A Critique of the British Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2114455 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Carol Woodhams (0000-0002-9703-1107, Manchester Metropolitan University), Susan Corby (0000-0002-7702-3425, University of Greenwich) |
| Year | 2003 |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 159-178 |
| Publication date | 2003-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Social Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0047-2794 • E-ISSN: 1469-7823 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0047279402006979 |
| OpenAlex | W2147737704 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 11 |
| References cited | 3 |
This article presents a theoretical critique of the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (1995), focusing on the definition of disability. It argues that the underpinning medical assumption of the statutory definition of disability is detrimental to the achievement of disability equality in the workplace and is problematic for practitioners and Employment Tribunals. In particular there are four areas of significant confusion arising from the need for medical evidence, the lack of congruence between managerial and legal definitions, the focus on the negative aspects of disability and the fact that disability is often hidden. By exploring these four themes and drawing on comparisons with the other equality laws, the article concludes that the definition of disability contained in the DDA (1995) contradicts many of the principles of the liberal equality framework that underpins it. Finally the article considers the public policy implications and suggests a new statutory approach
Confusion · Disability discrimination · Disability studies · Economics · Law and economics · Medical model of disability · Political science · Positive economics · Sociology · Statutory law · Underpinning · Disability Rights and Representation · Discrimination and Equality Law · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Law · Psychology
Dis-Equality
Protection of the Intellect of Persons With Disabilities
Will Policy Makers Hear My Disability Experience? How Participatory Research Contributes to Managing Interest Conflict in Policy Implementation
Citizenship and disability
Unconscious bias and the medical model
The Presence of Ethnic Minority and Disabled men in Feminised Work
What about a Disability Rights Act for Canada? Practices and Lessons from America, Australia, and the United Kingdom
What are the effects of anti-discriminatory legislation on socioeconomic inequalities in the employment consequences of ill health and disability
Vocational status and perceived well‐being of workers with disabilities
Creating a vision boosts the impact of top management support on the employment of managers with disabilities
Legal obligation or personal lottery
| Unique citing works | 11 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,58 |
| Citation span | 2007 - 2023 (17) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 10 |