The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995):

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_Discrimination_Act_1995

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995) is a UK parliamentary act of 1995, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people in respect of their disabilities in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, education and transport.

It is a civil rights law.

Other countries use constitutional, social rights or criminal law to make similar provisions.

The British Government set up the Disability Rights Commission to provide support for the Act.

Equivalent legislation exists in Northern Ireland, which is enforced by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission.

It is still permissible for employers to have reasonable medical criteria for employment, and to expect adequate performance from all employees once any reasonable adjustments have been made.

In addition to imposing obligations on employers, the DDA 1995 places duties on service providers and requires reasonable adjustments to be made when providing access to goods, facilities, services and premises.

Disability Discrimination Act Legislation Information

The duties on service providers have been introduced in three stages:

Since 2nd December 1996 - It has been unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability;

Since 1st October 1999 - Service providers have had to make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled people, such as providing extra help or making changes to the way they provide their services.

Since 1st October 2004 - Service providers may have to make other 'reasonable adjustments' in relation to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995): www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/1995050.htm

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50): 1995 CHAPTER 50:

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/1995050.htm

Meaning of “disability” and “disabled person”:

(1) Subject to the provisions of Schedule 1, a person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

(2) In this Act “disabled person” means a person who has a disability.

Past Disabilities:

(1) The provisions of this Part and Parts II and III apply in relation to a person who has had a disability as they apply in relation to a person who has that disability.

(2) Those provisions are subject to the modifications made by Schedule 2.

(3) Any regulations or order made under this Act may include provision with respect to persons who have had a disability.

(4) In any proceedings under Part II or Part III of this Act, the question whether a person had a disability at a particular time (“the relevant time”) shall be determined, for the purposes of this section, as if the provisions of, or made under, this Act in force when the act complained of was done had been in force at the relevant time.

(5) The relevant time may be a time before the passing of this Act.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995): www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/1995050.htm

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50): 1995 CHAPTER 50:

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/1995050.htm

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995):

The Disability Discrimination Act and you: www.dwp.gov.uk/employers/dda

The Disability Discrimination Act applies to all employers and everyone who provides a service to the public, except the Armed Forces.

It is a law designed to end discrimination against disabled people.

It also meets the needs of small to medium sized businesses because it is flexible enough to take account of your business's individual circumstances.

We know you are short on time, so this website concentrates on the most important things you have to know about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

It is intended as a quick guide and it is not an authoritative statement of the law.

It highlights your responsibilities and illustrates how easy it is to make changes that will benefit you and your business.

Go to our better business checklist: www.dwp.gov.uk/employers/dda/checklist.asp for some suggested changes.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005) builds on and extends earlier disability discrimination legislation, principally the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The changes are important and you should check how the DDA 2005 affects you: www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/dda_2005.asp

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995):

Provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005: www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/provisions-dda.pdf

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 builds on and extends earlier disability discrimination legislation, principally the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

In this fact sheet, the earlier Act is referred to as the 'DDA', and the later Act as 'the DDA 2005'.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995):

Provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005: www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/provisions-dda.pdf

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995):

What is the definition of disability?: www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/yourright...es/Introduction.aspx

The Disability Discrimination Act says a disabled person is someone with ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.

Examples include cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and heart conditions; hearing or sight impairments, or a significant mobility difficulty; and mental health conditions or learning difficulties.

People in these circumstances and some others (such as people with a facial disfigurement) are likely to have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to protect them from discrimination.

However, only the courts can say if a particular individual is defined as disabled under the legislation.

Based on research, around one in five people of working age are considered to be ‘disabled’.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995): www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Righ...ityRights/DG_4001068