Job-seeking discrimination and accessible gyms

Available for over a year

Ian Brooks is a very experienced computer programmer and was approached by a job agency about a position for which he was ideally qualified. All went well and the agency told Ian to expect a call from the prospective client. However, after revealing that he had a guide dog, the interview offer was suddenly withdrawn, as the employers claimed they would not be able to accommodate a dog in the office. Lawyer Declan O'Dempsey explains the legal implications of a similar situation and says that in cases like this, under equality legislation, both the agency and their client would be deemed to be acting in a manner which would be deemed discriminatory, by not making reasonable adjustment for a disabled applicant. Tom Walker visits one of Pure Gyms premises and speaks to a blind woman who has been helped to use the equipment by a personal trainer. This is part of a new initiative by RNIB to train the trainers at Pure Gyms to make their places accessible to blind and visually-impaired people. One of the new features which has been introduced is a wrist-band worn by a vip, which they pass over the security pad to gain entry to the gym, rather than being required to key-in a code number, which had previously been the case. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Cheryl Gabriel.