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The Disability Rights Commission launched a Formal Investigation (FI) in May 2006 looking at the barriers people with impairments and long-term health conditions face in trying to pursue careers in teaching, nursing and social work across Great Britain.
The report into the investigation, Maintaining Standards: Promoting Equality, published this week, concludes that they often face barriers to entry and progression throughout large parts of the public sector. It also found that the mass of regulations and guidance which govern health do nothing to protect the public, whilst often deterring people from applying or remaining in these professions.
The report recommends the repeal of the statutory requirement for 'good health' or 'fitness' of professionals and states that it should be replaced by a robust framework of professional competence and conduct standards. The report goes on to argue that this is the best way to achieve both protection of the public and the aspirations of disabled people to make their contribution to British life. Further information can be found at: www.drc-gb.org/maintainingstandards//
Commenting on the report, GTC Chief Executive Keith Bartley says:
'We believe that suitability to teach should be determined by someone’s ability to meet the conduct and competence standards and to support children’s learning and achievement. Pupils as well as teachers benefit from having disabled teachers in their schools and we need a change of climate so that people with disabilities feel better supported.'
'The GTC set up the Disabled Teacher Task force two years ago to work with other education organisations to remove unnecessary barriers facing disabled teachers. Judgements about health or disability should not be an obstacle; rather reasonable adjustments need to be made that support disabled people to enter and thrive in teaching.'
