Court ‘not answer to disability rights fight’

GOING to court may not be the best option in the to fight for disabled people’s rights, according to a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Professor Brian Nolan, author of the Government-commissioned report, On Rights-Based Services for People with Disabilities, said a disability ombudsman or an equality appeals mechanism, operating independently of service providers, were possible options.

“I see a lot of problems with going to court as the main method of rights enforcement. It can be very expensive and can take a very long time. It can also result in a ruling which applies only to the individual and so is of little benefit to improving the situation of disabled people generally.”