What is Discrimination?
The Equality Act 2010 (which incorporates the former Disability Discrimination Act – DDA) came into force in October 2010. The new Act was introduced to amalgamate and harmonise all the other strands of discrimination legislations under a single unified umbrella. The other strands of protected characteristics are: age, sex, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.
The legal definition of discrimination is when –
A person is treated less favourably than someone else and that the treatment is for a reason relating to the person’s protected characteristic (e.g. disability)
Definition of a Disabled Person - Section 6(1) of the Equality Act states:
“A person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.
Types of Disability Discrimination:
Direct Disability Discrimination
Discrimination arising in consequence of a person’s disability
Indirect Disability Discrimination
Failure to make reasonable adjustments
Harassment
Victimisation
If you are disabled or have had a disability, the Equality Act makes it unlawful for you to be discriminated against in:
Employment
Access to goods, facilities and services
The Management, buying or renting of land or property
Education
And there is additional legislation, apart from the Equality Act that protects your rights of equal access to:
Health and Social care entitlements
The Disability Law Service has over 30 years of experience in challenging discrimination, and has won cases and consequential rulings that continue to benefit the lives of disabled people in this country.
If you feel that you are being discriminated against then contact our advice line.