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More about Disability Conciliation

How conciliation works

Conciliation meetings

What do people want?

What are the benefits of conciliation?

How successful is conciliation?

Conciliation and the Law

Education

Frequently asked Questions

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More About Disability Conciliation

All sorts of cases have been through the service since we opened our doors in March 2001. We have supported a wide range of individuals and service providers through the process of conciliation. Respondents ranging from large high-street companies and public bodies, through to small businesses and organisations have successfuly settled cases via conciliation. 

A crowd of people

Cases come to the DCS from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.  Both parties have agreed to conciliate.  In every case there is an alleged breach of the DDA part III or IV. The process is voluntarily, and parties are free to pull out at any time.  However, generally people see this as a valuable and constructive way of settling a dispute. Most cases are prepared at our central office in Bristol. The disabled person and the company or organisation involved in the dispute, are contacted shortly after the case is referred and introduced to the service. The process usually takes about eight weeks.

When the education duties came into force in 2002, we began to see universities colleges and schools also settling cases successfully via conciliation. Many of these cases have a particular significance because there is an ongoing relationship between the education provider and the student or pupil.

Interpreter in a science lecture

Because conciliation is a confidential process and the meeting takes place at the neutral venue, it is a safe forum for pupils and students to be able to meet with senior management from schools and colleges and discuss issues on an equal footing.