Disability issues affect everyone in some way. Nearly all of us are related to someone who is disabled, have a friend who is disabled or know a colleague at work who is disabled.
Disability is not necessarily the person who uses a wheelchair or the person who has a visual or hearing impairment. It can be any form of physical, mental, or sensory impairment, which has an impact on a person's ability to access society on the same level of equality as what are commonly referred to as 'non-disabled people'. For example, disability can include things like heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes or epilepsy and other types of illness or condition.
There are approximately 6.9 million disabled people of working age in Great Britain. This equates to about one-fifth of the working age population. This is also about 10% of the national population and is said to be growing at about 300,000 people a year. (Labour Force Survey 2002)
What is discrimination?
Discrimination is said to be where a disabled person is treated less favourably without justification for a reason relating to their disability as compared with someone without their disability. It can also be where there is a failure to make a 'reasonable adjustment' for a disabled person that cannot be justified.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ("DDA") says that if you are disabled or have had a disability it is unlawful for you to be discriminated against in areas such as: -
- Employment - including refusing an application for employment, the terms of any employment offered (including in relation to opportunities for promotion and training) and in respect of dismissal.
- Access to Goods, Services & Facilities - including transport, health & social care and other services which are offered to members of the public.
- Education (since Sept. 2002) - including admissions, exclusions, the level of education and associated/student services offered to pupils/students in schools or Post - 16 education in colleges or Universities.
If you believe that you might have a legal claim relating to Disability Discrimination, please complete the online enquiry form or call 0870 024 0558. Your enquiry will be forwarded to a solicitor who specialises in Disability Discrimination.
If you have any comments in relation to Disability Discrimination, please use the online discussion forum.
Related Areas
I would like to thank everyone at Alexander Harris for the professional but friendly way that they have helped me in pursuing my case: Constance, Lancs
