The Disability Discrimination Act
Definition of Disability under the DDA
A disabled person is someone with “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on her / his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination faced by many people with disabilities. There are around 10 million people with disabilities in this country and so this Act provides important rights of access to services and opportunities that able bodied people take for granted. This Act gives rights to people with disabilities in the areas of:
- employment
- education
- access to goods, facilities and services
- buying or renting land or property
In April 2005 a new DDA was passed in parliament extending or amending provisions in the 1995 act.
For further information visit the following site: http://www.drc-gb.org
See how much you really know about the DDA and try this quiz at: Website bbc
So how does it effect you?
Regardless of the number of employees with disabilities ALL EMPLOYERS will need to make sure that they don’t discriminate against disabled people because of their disability. All employers now have the following duties:
- to not treat people with disabilities less favourably
- to not victimise an employee with a disability or allow victimisation by other employees
- to make “reasonable” adjustments to meet the needs of their employees with disabilities and for any person applying for a job who has a disability
Some examples of “reasonable adjustments”:
- allowing time of work during work time for hospital appointments
- installing a bell so that a member of staff can be alerted
- providing specialised equipment e.g. a hearing loop
DDA leaflet from department of work and pensions
For further information visit the following site: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
