About The DDA
The Disability Discrimination
Act (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was passed in 1995 to 
introduce
new measures aimed at ending the discrimination which many disabled people
face. It protects disabled people in the areas of:
- employment
- access to goods, facilities and services
- the management, buying or renting of land or property
- education
Some of these measures became law for employers in December 1996. Others will be introduced over time.
For service providers (e.g. businesses and organisations):
- since December 1996 it has been unlawful to treat disabled people less favourablythan other people for a reason related to their disability
- since October 1999 they have had to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, such as providing extra help or making changes to the way they provide their services;
- from 2004 they may have to make reasonable adjustments to the physical featuresof their premises to overcome physical barriers to access.
For education providers new duties came into effect in September 2002 under Part IV of the DDA as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA). These require schools, colleges, universities, providers of adult education and youth services to ensure that they do not discriminate against disabled people.
In Summing Up
You already have duties to make reasonable adjustments under the DDA, particularly
to consider policies, practices and procedures and provide auxiliary aids
or services where these would help access for disabled people.
From October 2004 these duties will be extended. You have to consider how
to deal with physical features that are making it difficult for disabled
people to use your service. The DRC recommends you start to plan now for
these changes and adopt an inclusive approach.
To view the Act in its entirety please use the link below;
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