The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
For the purposes of the Act:
- substantial means neither minor nor trivial
- long term means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months (there are special rules covering recurring or fluctuating conditions)
- normal day-to-day activities include everyday things like eating, washing, walking and going shopping
- a normal day-to-day activity must affect one of the 'capacities' listed in the Act which include mobility, manual dexterity, speech, hearing, seeing and memory
Some conditions, such as a tendency to set fires and hay fever, are specifically excluded.
People who have had a disability in the past that meets this definition are also covered by the scope of the Act. There are additional provisions relating to people with progressive conditions.
The DDA 2005 amended the definition of disability. It ensured that people with HIV, 
Cancer and multiple sclerosis are deemed to be covered by the DDA effectively from the point of diagnosis, rather than from the point when the condition has some adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
The Disability Discrimination Act
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act has been significantly extended, including by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. It now gives disabled people rights in the areas of:
- employment
- education
- access to goods, facilities and services, including larger private clubs and land-based transport services
- buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations
- functions of public bodies, for example issuing of licences
The Act requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. It also allows the government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website offers further information, including details on the changes made by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) closed on 28 September 2007, but the website is still available and has plenty of information, including a brief overview with the key points of the Act. It also provides full versions in PDF (both Acts) and word (DDA 2005 only) format.
- Department for Work and Pensions - the Disability Discrimination Act Opens new window
- Disability Rights Commission - DDA and related statutes
You can find further information about your rights and view or order the Disability Discrimination Act at www.direct.gov.uk
Source: www.direct.gov.uk
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