Homepage > Citizenship > Disability Discrimination
What is disability discrimination?
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, amended in 2005, ensures the prevention of discrimination that treats disabled people less favourably than non-disabled people.
What is a ‘disability’?
The DDA defines a disability as a physical or mental condition that has a long-term, adverse affect on your day-to-day life.
What are my rights?
The DDA details the rights of disabled people in the areas of:
- employment
- access to goods
- facilities and services
- buying or renting land or property
- education
- transport
You can read more about a disabled person’s rights in every day life at the Directgov website.
Employer’s responsibilities
An employer has a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to make sure a disabled person is not put at a disadvantage by employment arrangements or any physical feature of the workplace. You should discuss this with your employer and reasonable adjustments may include:
- providing specialist training or equipment such as a screen reader or speech browser software
- providing a reader or sign language interpreter at meetings
- modified equipment such as a lowered desk
- allocating some of the disabled person's duties to another person such as heavy lifting
- adjusting premises by installing ramps and automatic doors
- providing information in different formats, such as in Braille
You need to remember that any adjustments made should be reasonable and balance against other factors including:
- cost
- practicality
- disruption
- the effectiveness of the adjustment
Connexions publications
Information provided in all Connexions publications is available in audio format and can be translated, and/or made available in alternative formats, on request through your local Connexions Centre/One Stop Shop or by emailing cnx.webmaster@essex.gov.uk. Our website can be read out to you for free using Browsealoud.
Connexions Centres
Our Connexions Centres/One Stop Shops provide special services to help those with disabilities. These may include hearing systems, disabled access including accessibility to a wheelchair user and to a mobility impaired walker.
Help Lines
- Equality and Human Rights Commission - 08457 622 633 textphone: 08457 622 644. (Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 9am-5pm, Wed 8am-8pm)
Useful Websites
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The DRC site has information about employment laws, education laws, and a question and answer section.
Disability Essex
Improving life for disabled people.
Essex Coalition of Disabled People
Local organisation promoting independent living and campaigning on important issues for disabled people.
Disabled Rights Commission
The DRC site has information about employmentlaws, education laws, and a q&a section.
Essex Disabled People's Association
The EDPA offer information on all aspects of disability, newsletters, guide to local services.
Essex Coalition of Disabled People
Local organisation promoting independent living and campaigning on important issues for disabled people.
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