I am a civil servant
Disability - legislation
As a result of the 2005 Disability Discrimination Act, which introduced a public duty to ensure disability equality, the public sector is taking further action in employment, as well as in the areas of goods and services.
A major part of the new regulations means that all government departments and agencies must have a disability equality scheme in place explaining how they are ensuring disability equality in everything they do, from employment practices to the way they deliver services. What's more, Civil Service departments and agencies must now involve disabled people in developing their schemes.
The new legislation aims to ensure disability in public services. People can suffer discrimination as soon as their disability becomes public knowledge, even if there are no obvious signs.
If you're looking for information and guidance on disability in the workplace, or the public duty more widely, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights is a good first contact. See www.equalityhumanrights.com for more.
For more about employers and employees responsibilities, see the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
You can also see electronic versions of the 2005 Act by visiting the Office of Public Sector Information website at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/