Disability Discrimination Act Definition of Disability

The Act defines a disabled person as 'someone who has a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'.

Discrimination occurs where without justification, and for a reason that relates to the disabled person's disability, a disabled person is treated less favourably than others to whom the reason does not or would not apply. Discrimination may also occur when there is a duty to make a reasonable adjustment and any failure to meet that duty cannot be justified.

However because the act is so wide ranging it can be hard for people to understand what duties are imposed upon them to meet with the spirit of the Act. To help clarify matters each Part of the DDA is supported by one or more Codes of Practice that give guidance on how to meet duties under the Act. Although these Codes of Practice are not authoritative statements of the law and they do not impose legal obligations, they may be referred to in any legal proceedings pursued under the Act.