True or False
  1. The DDA is a burden on business. False – Reasonable adjustments don’t cost much and many are free. It’s all about reasonableness. An organisation with extensive resources will be expected to do more than a small business
  2. 1 in 4 households contains a disabled person.  True
  3. The law is unreasonable. False – The law is all about reasonableness and balancing the rights of disabled people with the resources or the business
  4. Twice as many disabled people suffer violent attack as non disabled people. True
  5. The DDA threatens our heritage. False - There are many examples of historic buildings making reasonable adjustments whilst still preserving their historic features including York Minster and the Royal Opera House
  6. Disabled people use wheelchairs. False - That’s a bit like saying all football fans support Manchester United. According to the Audit Commission in 2000 only 750 000 disabled people used a wheelchair
  7. Disabled people are twice as likely to leave school without qualifications. True – but this is not because they are less able but because the education system has failed to make adjustments for their disabilities
  8. Disabled people can’t work and don’t want to work. False - Three and half million disabled people in this Country work and another 1 million are actively looking for work
  9. Disabled employees cost more. False - Around 2/3 of employers said they incurred no extra cost from employing a disabled person and of those who did incur costs the average in 2001 was £76 and Access to Work is there to help
  10. Disabled people are more likely to take sick leave. False - There is no evidence to prove this and in fact there is evidence to the contrary
  11. People with learning disabilities are 58 times more likely to die before 50. True – but this is not because of their disability but because of the poor provision of education and health services for people with learning disabilities
  12. Having a disability is a tragedy. False - An earthquake is a tragedy, most disabled people would not say that being disabled is a tragedy
  13. Disabled people are unable to have relationships. False – Tell that to the millions of disabled people who’ve been married or in long term relationships for decades
  14. Disabled people are courageous. True and False - Some disabled people are courageous and some aren’t but they do not see themselves as being courageous because they are disabled
  15. It’s making all buildings being the same – bland, single colour and no character. False - A building doesn’t need to be bland because it’s accessible, many disabled people prefer contrasting colours and textures. The Sage is an accessible building but it’s not usually described as bland
  16. It only affects disabled people why should I care? False – We live in an ageing population. The average life expectancy in Newcastle is over 70. As people grow older their sight, hearing and mobility can often deteriorate. You should care because you don’t know when it’s going to be you.