EEOC COMMISSIONER MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT ON DISABILITY ISSUES

Washington -- Paul Steven Miller, one of the four commissioners of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), met last week in London with Members of Parliament to discuss the experience of the United States with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The meeting was prompted by last year's passage by Parliament of the Disability Discrimination Act, which received the Royal Assent in November.

Commissioner Miller addressed the All-Party Congress on Disability at Westminster Palace about the need for common sense, rational enforcement of the anti-discrimination law, and technical assistance to ensure compliance. In his remarks to members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, Mr. Miller contrasted the ADA's governmental enforcement provisions with the lack of similar provisions in the British legislation. He also called for the establishment of free, neutral technical assistance centers to provide unbiased information to business groups, local governments, and persons with disabilities concerning their rights and responsibilities.

Following his landmark address in Parliament, Commissioner Miller met with the Minister of Social Security, who is responsible for disability policy, leaders of the British disability rights community, barristers who represent plaintiffs in equal employment opportunity cases, and with a business lobbying organization whose membership opposed the passage of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Commissioner Miller will discuss his historic visit to the United Kingdom at a meeting of the National Task Force on Disability scheduled from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 1996. The meeting will take place in the first floor training room at the headquarters of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Mr. Miller is also available to discuss his visit with members of the press.

Besides enforcing Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector, state and local governments, and the federal government, the EEOC also enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Equal Pay Act; and sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.