Quick Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act
1. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) made it unlawful for service providers, landlords and other persons to discriminate against disabled people in certain circumstances.
2. From 1 October 2004, any physical feature making it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to access services must either be removed or altered or alternative means of accessing the services must be made available.
3. A service provider is any person, organisation, or entity providing services (including goods and facilities) to the public or a section of the public.
4. A disabled person is someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (includes mental illness, learning disabilities and diabetes).
5. The DDA applies to a wide range of services including communication and information services, banking, insurance, entertainment and recreation facilities (even if free).
6. Treating a disabled person in a less favourable manner than you would another person without justification is discrimination.
7. Discrimination may only be justified in certain circumstances specified in the DDA, including where there are health or safety issues and where the service provider is otherwise unable to provide the service to the public.
8. In shared premises the landlord is likely to be the service provider and must make the common parts of the premises accessible.
9. Any tenant providing services to the public must make those services accessible either by asking the landlord to alter common parts where necessary or by providing alternative means of access.
10. A landlord cannot unreasonably withhold consent to alterations proposed by a tenant to comply with DDA.
The information contained in this article is given for general information only and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.