Legislation - The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and your rights

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was aimed at giving disabled people more rights. It covered broad areas such as employment, access to goods and services, property and transport. The key themes of all the legislation are based upon better public access for disabled people to general public services and basic human rights.

Before discussing the DDA and other laws relating to disabled people, there is a general explanation of key disability rights theory. As disabled people we felt it was necessary to include such information so that disabled people using this guide could feel more empowered and understand the roots of our struggle.

Social Model

The social model suggests it is society that disables people with impairments. This is in the sense of not equipping them with the adequate facilities for example, access to buildings. This model is more socially friendly towards disabled people, as it highlights their difficulties when attempting to function in the outside world.

Medical Model

The medical model of disability refers to the idea of disabled people being weakened or devalued if they have a disease or an impairment that classifies them as disabled. It concentrates on the medical condition of the person and segregates them from the "normal" people in society. Therefore they are seen as not worthy. This model generates oppressive views and perceptions. The medical model reveals the rest of society«s ignorance of disabled people's needs.

Part 1: Definition of Disability

The Act defines a disabled person as someone with "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities".

Part 2: Employment

Originally employers with more than 15 employees had to make changes to the physical features of their premises. This was amended to include all employers. An employer is acting unlawfully if they treat an employee less "favourably" than other employees because of a disability.

Part 2: Duties of Trade Organisations

This part of the act is intended to protect disabled people in employment by ensuring trade organisations and qualifications bodies do not discriminate against them. The idea is that for disabled people to secure and maintain employment that may have to join trade organisations and obtain professional qualifications. So all ruling bodies have a duty to ensure equal access and services are available to all.

Part 3: Access to Goods and Services

Disabled people have new rights to access everyday services. Service providers cannot treat disabled people "less favourably" than others. They also have to make "reasonable adjustments" to their delivery of services to cater for disabled people's needs. They also have to make physical alterations to premises to allow better access to all disabled people.

For more information on the DDA contact The Disability Rights Commission. They offer information guides on all aspects of the legislation and disability law in general.

Disability Rights Commission
DRC Helpline
FREEPOST MID2164
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 9BR

tel: 08457 622 633
fax: 08457 778 878
mincom: 08457 622 644
web: www.drc.org.uk

Other organisations you could contact to find out more about your employment rights and disability related issues include:

Citizens Advice Bureau (Atherstone)
the Parish Rooms
Welcome Street
Atherstone
Warwickshire
CV9 1DU

tel: 0870 120 2464
fax: 01827 712852
e-mail: nwcab.advice@btclick.com

Citizens Advice Bureau (Bedworth)
25 Congreve Walk
Warwickshire
Bedworth
CV12 8LX

tel: 024 76 64 0710
fax: 024 76 31 1119
e-mail: bedworth.cab@virgin.net
web: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau (Rugby)
32 North Street
1st Floor Chestnut House
Rugby
CV21 2AG

tel: 01788 541000
fax: 01788 544903
Open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10.00am - 4.00pm and Wednesday and Saturday 10.00am -12.00pm.

Citizens Advice Bureau (Southam)
the Grange
Coventry Road
Warwickshire
Southam
CV47 1QB

tel: 01789 293299

Citizens Advice Bureau ( Stratford upon Avon)
7a Rother Street
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 6LU

web: www.stratforduponavoncab.org.uk

Coventry Citizen«s Advice Bureau
4th Floor
Coventry Point
Market Way
Coventry
CV1 1EA)

tel: 0845 1202920
fax: 024 76525315

Council of Disabled People
Social Justice Team
Room 6
Unit 15, Koco Buildings
Spon End
Coventry
CV1 3JQ

tel: 02476 716 217 / 02476 712 984
e-mail: paultolley@cdp.org.uk

DIAL
The Ramsden Centre
School Walk
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 4PJ

tel: 024 7634 9954
e-mail: enquries@nbdial.com