071131L - OUTLINE OF THE UK DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACTS

Compiled by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. for Year 2 Sem 2 PPSD Session on Wednesday 31^st January 2007

THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1995

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act gives disabled people rights in the areas of:

·         employment

·         education

·         access to goods, facilities and services

·         buying or renting land or property

The Act also allows the government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily.

CHANGES TO THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT IN OCTOBER 2004

From 1 October 2004, Part 3 of the DDA 1995 has required businesses and other organizations to take reasonable steps to tackle physical features that act as a barrier to disabled people who want to access their services. Examples include:

·         putting in a ramp to replace steps

·         providing larger, well defined signs for people with a visual impairment

·         improving access to toilet or washing facilities

THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 2005

In April 2005 a new Disability Discrimination Act was passed by Parliament, which amends or extends existing provisions in the DDA 1995, including:

·         making it unlawful for operators of transport vehicles to discriminate against disabled people

·         making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations

·         making sure that private clubs with 25 or more members cannot keep disabled people out, just because they have a disability

·         extending protection to cover people who have HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis from the moment they are diagnosed

·         ensuring that discrimination law covers all the activities of the public sector

·         requiring public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people