Rights for People with Disabilities

• 01. Introduction

• You don't have to put up with discrimination or harassment because you have a disability. There are powerful laws to stop this happening. This leaflet explains your legal rights, and what to do if you are discriminated...

• 02. When discrimination can happen

• Discrimination happens when someone is treated worse ('less favourably' in legal terms) than another person in the same situation. Discrimination may happen: at work; when buying or using goods and services; when buying or renting somewhere to...

• 03. What the law says

• The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 protects you against discrimination you may face as a person with a disability. The Act says that discrimination happens when you are treated less favourably than someone else because of your disability, without a good...

• 04. What counts as a disability?

• The Disability Discrimination Act says that a disabled person is someone with a physical or mental 'impairment' which has 'a substantial and long-term adverse effect upon their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. The exact meaning of this is...

• 05. Discrimination at work

• If you have a disability, it is unlawful (illegal) for an employer to discriminate against you when: choosing someone for a job; and considering people for promotion, dismissal or redundancy. For example, when you are applying for a job, an...

• 06. Discrimination when renting or buying a house or flat

• It is unlawful for someone to discriminate against you because of a disability when they are selling or letting property. So a landlord cannot refuse to let a house to you just because you are disabled, without having a good reason. It is also unlawful for a...

• 07. Discrimination at school or college

• For now, the Disability Discrimination Act does not cover discrimination against pupils and students in schools and colleges. However, they must give information on using the school or college buildings for people with mobility problems (problems getting...

• 08. Discrimination when buying and using goods and services

• It is against the law for organisations to discriminate against you as a person with a disability in the 'goods, facilities and services' they provide. This means refusing a service to you, or deliberately not providing it on the same terms and of the same...

• 09. What you can do about discrimination

• If you have been discriminated against, first think about what you want to be done. Depending on how you were discriminated against, you may want: your job back; compensation; an apology; or a clear sign that an organisation won't discriminate...

• 10. Going to an employment tribunal

• If you want to make a complaint under the Disability Discrimination Act, you must send your complaint either on form ET1 or in a letter to the Regional Office of Employment Tribunals. You can get this form from a jobcentre or the Disability Rights...

• 11. Going to court

• If you want to take a case to court, you must start your case within six months, minus one day from when the discrimination first happened. The court can give you copies of the claim form N1 and more information about procedures. How will I pay for my...

• 12. The Human Rights Act

• The Human Rights Act 1998 has a wide-ranging discrimination provision which includes types of discrimination that are not covered in other discrimination laws. However, it can be used only when it is part of one of the other 'articles' (the pspecific...

• 13. Further Help

• Citizens Advice Bureau A Citizens Advice Bureau can offer advice and help with a range of problems. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau is listed in the phone book. Information is also available on its website at: The website of Citizens Advice...