Disability Legislation

The Disability Discrimination Act

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
  • buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations

The Act now requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. It also allows the government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website offers further information, including details on the changes made by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. 

The  Disability Rights Commission (DRC) closed on 28 September 2007, but the website is still available and has plenty of information, including a brief overview with the key points of the Act. It also provides full versions in PDF (both Acts) and word (DDA 2005 only) format.

Getting hold of a copy of the Disability Discrimination Act

Both Acts are published on the website of the Office of Public Sector Information.

Print copy

A print version of both Acts are published by The Stationery Office (TSO) and can be bought. The ISBN number are ISBN 0105450952 for the 1995 Act and ISBN 0105411051 for the 2005 Act.

Braille and large print versions

You can also order Braille and large print versions of the Act by phoning The Stationery Office on 0870 600 5522 or by emailing customer.service@tso.co.uk. They have the same ISBN as the standard print versions.

Easy Read version

You can order a free Easy Read version (ISBN 0117035998) on the The Stationery Office website or by phoning them on 0870 600 5522  or by emailing them on customer.service@tso.co.uk.

British Sign Language (BSL) video

You may order a free BSL video version of the Act (ISBN 011703598X) on the The Stationery Office website, by phone on 0870 600 5522 or by emailing customer.service@tso.co.uk.

Audio cassette

A free audio cassette (ISBN 0117036005) guide to the Act is available to order on the The Stationery Office website, by phone on 0870 600 5522 or by emailing customer.service@tso.co.uk.