Disability Discrimination Policy

Disability Discrimination Policy

Muslim Weight Management is committed to ensuring that disabled participants, speakers, and staff are not discriminated against and can access our online CME/CPD activities on an equal basis. We aim to identify and remove barriers to participation and to foster an inclusive digital learning environment for everyone, in line with the Equality Act 2010 and applicable data protection law, as well as Islamic principles of justice, dignity, and protection from harm.

Scope and commitment

This policy applies to all individuals engaging with Muslim Weight Management’s online CME/CPD activities and related digital services, including participants, speakers, volunteers, staff, contractors, and partners.

All activities are delivered online only and, at present, are provided free of charge. No fees are payable for access, enrolment, participation, assessments, or certificates. If this changes, any fees will be clearly communicated and will not diminish our commitment to non‑discrimination and accessibility.

This policy sits alongside our Equal Treatment Policy and our Complaints Policy, and should be read in conjunction with them, as part of our wider commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

In line with the Equality Act 2010, we seek to prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation related to disability and to take reasonable steps to make adjustments so that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with non‑disabled people.

Principles

Muslim Weight Management will:

  • Ensure that no person is treated less favourably because of disability in relation to access to online CME/CPD activities, enrolment, assessment, certification, or use of our digital platforms and services.
  • Consider and implement reasonable adjustments where a disabled person might otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with non‑disabled people, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
  • Anticipate common access needs when designing, scheduling, and delivering online activities, rather than relying solely on individual requests.
  • Recognise that disability can be visible or non‑visible and that needs may change over time; we will listen to and respect what individuals tell us about their own access requirements.
  • Not victimise or subject to detriment any person who raises a concern about disability discrimination, requests an adjustment, or supports another person in doing so.
  • Handle all requests and concerns sensitively and in line with our data protection obligations, recognising that health and disability information is particularly sensitive.
  • Respect participants’ dignity and modesty, including by allowing camera‑off participation where appropriate and not requiring disclosure of unnecessary personal details about disability or health.

As an organisation guided by Islamic ethical values, we consider supporting inclusion, removing avoidable hardship, and treating disabled individuals with respect as part of our moral and professional duty.

Reasonable adjustments

We will consider and implement reasonable adjustments where a disabled person might otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage when accessing our online activities and platforms. What is reasonable will depend on the nature of the activity, the effectiveness of the adjustment, our resources, and any impact on the integrity of assessments or accreditation requirements.

Examples of reasonable online adjustments may include, where practicable:

  • Providing learning materials in accessible digital formats, such as:
    • Screen‑reader compatible slides and documents.
    • Large‑print or high‑contrast PDFs.
    • Simple, clear layouts and headings.
  • Enabling live or automated captioning for webinars and online sessions, and/or providing transcripts or recordings after the event.
  • Allowing additional time for online assessments, quizzes, or Q&A where appropriate, or providing equivalent alternative formats to demonstrate learning outcomes.
  • Designing sessions so that participants can pause, replay, or revisit content on demand where possible.
  • Scheduling reasonable breaks in longer live sessions to support concentration, fatigue management, and access needs.
  • Supporting the use of participants’ own assistive technologies (for example screen readers, alternative input devices, or voice recognition), and avoiding platform configurations that unnecessarily interfere with such tools.

As an online‑only provider, we are not able to make adjustments to participants’ physical workplaces, clinical environments, or equipment. Participants should seek appropriate workplace adjustments from their employers or responsible organisations where relevant.

Requesting support and adjustments

Participants, speakers, or staff who require adjustments are encouraged to contact us as early as possible, ideally at registration or before the relevant session.

Requests can be made via our online contact form at:
https://muslimweightmanagement.com/contact

To help us respond effectively, please include:

  • Your name and contact details.
  • The title and date of the activity.
  • A brief outline of your access needs and, if you wish, examples of adjustments that have worked well for you before.

We will discuss your needs with you where appropriate, consider what adjustments are reasonable in the circumstances, and confirm what support we can provide in advance of the activity where possible.

We normally rely on what individuals tell us about their disability and access needs and will only request supporting evidence where strictly necessary and proportionate (for example, for complex or long‑term adjustments).

Each request is considered on an individual basis, balancing:

  • The needs and preferences of the disabled person.
  • The nature, format, and timing of the activity.
  • Our technical, operational, and accreditation responsibilities.

Any health or disability information you provide will be treated as confidential and as special category data under data protection law, used only for arranging and reviewing reasonable adjustments and stored in line with our Data Protection Policy.

Raising concerns about disability discrimination

If you believe you have experienced disability discrimination, harassment, victimisation, or that reasonable adjustments were not provided or were removed without good reason, you are encouraged to raise this with us under our Complaints Policy.

We will investigate concerns promptly and fairly, and where issues are identified we will take appropriate steps, which may include:

  • Adjusting how future activities are designed or delivered.
  • Updating our online materials or platforms to improve accessibility.
  • Providing additional training or guidance to our team and speakers.
  • Clarifying or amending our policies and procedures where needed.

No one will be treated unfavourably or suffer detriment for raising a concern in good faith or for supporting someone else to do so.

Monitoring and improvement

We review feedback, requests for adjustments, and complaints relating to disability and accessibility to identify themes and areas for improvement in our online CME/CPD provision.

Where appropriate, we will update our formats, content design, platform configuration, and internal guidance to enhance accessibility and inclusion over time.

We will periodically review this policy to reflect developments in law, accessibility best practice, CPD/CME standards, and Islamic ethical guidance, and to ensure that our approach continues to support equitable participation for disabled people.

Governing law

This policy is governed by the law of England and Wales. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and mandatory local law where you are based, mandatory local law will prevail to the extent of that inconsistency.