DDA

The Disability Discrimination Act is a piece of legislation that promotes civil rights for disabled people and protects disabled people from discrimination.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act has been significantly extended, including by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. It now gives disabled people rights in the areas of:

• - employment
• - education
• - access to goods, facilities and services, including larger private clubs and land-based transport services
• - buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations
• - functions of public bodies, for example issuing of licences

The DDA makes it illegal to discriminate against disabled people, examples of this include refusing to serve someone on grounds of disability, providing a poorer service or charging more for a disabled guest than a non-disabled guest. As a 'Service Provider' you are required to make reasonable adjustments.  What is termed 'reasonable' must take into account financial, human and physical factors. The DDA recognises that different approaches need to be used to take into account size and nature of a particular business.

The types of auxiliary aids or services a 'Service Provider' may be expected to provide includes:

• - An induction loop on the TV in a communal lounge for guests with hearing aids
• - Well situated light at reception to assist reading
• - Pen and writing pad to assist communication
• - Vibrating alarm system
• - Allowing assistance dogs
• - Use of colour contrast to aid the visually impaired

Click here to view the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005