| The Disability Discrimination Act 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. See Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 for corresponding USA legislation - though this does not have
a positive equality duty. 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 Act places duties on service providers and requires reasonable
adjustments to be made when providing access to goods, facilities, services and premises (Part 3 of the Act).
The Act was amended by the following legislation:
- The Disability Rights Commission Act 1999, which replaced the National Disability Council with the Disability Rights
Commission;
- The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 inserted new provisions in Part 4 of the Act in connection with
disability discrimination in schools and other educational establishments;
- The Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Act 2002, which prevented operators of such vehicles refusing to take
assistance dogs, or making additional charges for such dogs; and
- The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Pensions)
Regulations 2003 which amended the DDA in line with the EU employment directive.
The Disability Discrimination Bill (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldbills/006/2005006.htm) was introduced in
the House of Lords on 26 November 2004. It would make further changes, including the introduction of a positive duty on public
authorities to promote equality of opportunity. The details of the positive duty to promote equality are discussed in Delivering Equality for Disabled People (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2004/equality/)
A consultation document on the use of other regulation-making powers was launched on 16 December 2004, and can be found
here (http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm64/6402/6402.htm)
See Ontarians with Disabilities
Act for the corresponding legislation in Ontario, Canada.
External links
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