Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 1995 to help end discrimination faced by disabled people. It aims to protect disabled people in the areas of employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services and the selling or renting of land or premises
The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 1995 to help end discrimination faced by disabled people. It aims to protect disabled people in the areas of employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services and the selling or renting of land or premises.
Some disabled people have described the Act as weak and offering 'second class rights', however it is now law and requires employers and service providers to make, sometimes significant, changes to make themselves accessible to disabled people.
Since December 1996, the Act has made it unlawful for service providers (such as businesses and organisations) to treat disabled people less favourably than other people for a reason related to their disability. Since October 1999, they have had to make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled people. From 2004, they may have to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of premises to overcome physical access barriers.
The Act also requires schools, colleges and universities to provide information for disabled people, and for the government to set minimum standards to assist disabled people to use public transport.
The Disability Rights Commission provide extensive and user-friendly information about this legislation, much of which can be found on their website and downloaded free of charge. Visit www.drc-gb.org
You can also call the Commission's help line, open 8.00 am - 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, on:
Telephone: +44 (0)8457 622 633
Fax: +44 (0)8457 778 878
Textphone: +44 (0)8457 622 644
Alternatively, write to them at:
DRC Helpline
Freepost MID 02164
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 9HY
Or email: ddahelp@stra.sitel.co.uk
The Arts Council of England have produced three papers about the Disability Discrimination Act and the Arts, which are free to download from their website and can be found in the publications section of their website. Also available are extracts from the Handbook of good practice: employing disabled people, by Annie Delin. Visit www.artscouncil.org.uk for more information.
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Animated: Summer 2002