The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995)

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act gives disabled people rights in the areas of:
access to goods, facilities and services.


The Act also allows the government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily.
Some of the most important new rights under the DDA will apply to all blind and partially sighted people, and not just those of working age.

For example you are entitled to ask service providers such as banks, restaurants etc for information in an accessible format.


The Disability Equality Duty was introduced on 4th December 2006 and will have a major impact on the lives of disabled people and will radically shift the way public authorities deliver their services.


The DED is meant to ensure that all public bodies - such as central or local government, schools, health trusts or emergency services - pay 'due regard' to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work. Under the specific duties, they should have produced and published a Disability Equality Scheme by 4 December 2006.  They should have considered what disabled people need when planning their services.  This is a move away from individual disabled people having to complain about discrimination after an incident has taken place.


The DED is a new way of helping the public sector make a real, positive change to the lives of disabled users and employees, ensuring that they are treated fairly and equally.


The DED will help public bodies become more efficient and save money because it involves providing services that disabled people need.


If you want to know more information about the DDA or the DED or if you feel you are being discriminated against then you can contact us at the Institute or the Disability Rights Commission directly.


CIB have now set up access plus who are able to carry out access audits and provide training and consultancy to organisations around the DDA and the DED.