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Disability
Discrimination Act

For many years access to and within public buildings has been difficult and sometimes impossible for disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act is an Act of Parliament that was introduced in 1995 with the aim of reducing discrimination against disabled people.

The Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as:
A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day to day duties.

General Information:

• There are approximately 8.7 million disabled people in Britain today.
• Disabled people experience many discriminatory barriers on a daily basis, i.e. travelling to and from work, at work, shopping, visiting the doctors or dentist

Part I was introduced in 1995
Was aimed at creating awareness towards ending the discrimination disabled people face during their day to day activities.

Part 2, 1996
Currently applies to employers where 15 or more people are employed and requires that disabled people are not treated unfavourably in employment as a reason relating to their impairment. The onus was placed on employers to develop solutions to enable disabled persons to be employed.

Part 3, Since December 1996
It has been unlawful for Service Providers to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason relating to their disability. This has been introduced in sub-sections:

• From 1st October, 1999 Service Providers have had to make 'Reasonable Adjustments' for disabled people, providing additional help or making the changes to the ways they provide their services, such as making menus available in large print in a restaurant.
• From 1st October 2004, Service Providers will have to make 'Reasonable Adjustments' to the physical features of their premises to overcome the physical barriers to access, such as providing a platform lift.

The Special Educational Needs Act of 2001 brought education within the remit so that disabled pupils and prospective pupils are not discriminated against in the provision of education and associated services in schools.

Further Information Reference Sites

• Lift & Escalators Industry Association [www.leia.co.uk]
• College of Occupational Therapists [www.cot.co.uk]
• Disabled Living Foundation [www.dlf.org.uk]
• Disabled Living Centres Council [www.dlcc.org.uk]
• Centre for Accessible Environments [www.cae.org.uk]
• RADAR [www.radar.org.uk]
• Age Concern [www.ageconcern.org.uk]
• For Disabled People (4DP) [www.4dp.com]
• Disability Discrimination Act [www.disability.gov.uk]
• Department of Health [www.doh.gov.uk]