Disability Discrimination Act 1995 facts for kids
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| Long title | ... |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1995 c 50 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales; Scotland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 1995 |
| Repealed | 1st October 2010 (England and Wales; Scotland). |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Equality Act 2010 |
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Status: Unknown
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (often called the DDA) was a very important law in the United Kingdom. It was created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to stop unfair treatment against people with disabilities. This law made it illegal to treat people unfairly because of their disability in many areas of life.
The DDA aimed to make sure that people with disabilities had the same chances as everyone else. It covered things like getting a job, going to school, using shops and services, and travelling.
This law has now mostly been stopped and replaced by a newer law called the Equality Act 2010. However, the Disability Discrimination Act still applies in Northern Ireland.
Contents
What Was the Disability Discrimination Act?
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was a law passed in the UK. Its main goal was to protect people with disabilities from being treated unfairly. Before this law, it was much harder for people with disabilities to get jobs, access buildings, or use public services.
The DDA was a big step forward for disability rights. It meant that businesses, schools, and public services had to make "reasonable adjustments" to help people with disabilities. This could include things like adding ramps for wheelchairs or providing information in different formats.
Why Was the DDA Important?
The DDA was important because it gave people with disabilities legal rights. If someone was treated unfairly because of their disability, they could use this law to challenge it. It helped to change attitudes and make society more inclusive.
Before the DDA, many places were not accessible for people with disabilities. For example, some shops might not have had ramps, or some employers might have refused to hire someone just because they had a disability. The DDA helped to change these situations.
What Did the DDA Cover?
The DDA covered several key areas where discrimination often happened:
- Employment: It made it illegal for employers to treat job applicants or employees unfairly because of their disability. Employers had to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled workers.
- Goods and Services: Shops, restaurants, banks, and other service providers could not refuse to serve someone or treat them badly because of their disability. They also had to make reasonable adjustments to make their services accessible.
- Education: Schools and colleges had to ensure that disabled students were not treated unfairly. They also had to provide extra support if needed.
- Transport: The law aimed to make public transport more accessible for people with disabilities.
Who Was Protected by the DDA?
The DDA protected anyone with a physical or mental impairment that had a "substantial and long-term adverse effect" on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This definition was quite broad and included many different types of disabilities.
What Happened to the DDA?
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was largely replaced by the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act brought together many different anti-discrimination laws into one single law. This made it easier to understand and apply the rules against discrimination.
The Equality Act 2010 continues to protect people from discrimination based on disability, along with other characteristics like age, gender, and race. So, while the DDA itself is no longer the main law in Great Britain, its ideas and protections are still very much alive in the new law.
The DDA in Northern Ireland
Even though the DDA was replaced in England, Scotland, and Wales, it still applies in Northern Ireland. This means that the rules and protections from the 1995 Act are still the main law for disability discrimination there.
Images for kids
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The poles and grab handles on this Class 165 train are of a contrasting colour to assist visually impaired passengers. This is a reasonable adjustment in respect of the DDA.
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At St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, the ramp to the right of the stairs was added to comply with the DDA.
