What Is the Disability Discrimination Act 1995?
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits the discrimination of disabled people, who are accompanied by a person with a service animal or an assistant, in employment, education, housing and other aspects of society. The act also covers a range of circumstances including not making reasonable adjustments or not having an authorised representative. In these cases, a person may have a legal case against a company.
Mental health problems are also included under the ADA. Examples of mental health conditions covered include bipolar disorder, panic disorders, schizophrenia and depressive conditions. Employers with more than fifteen employees must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate applicants with a disability. While the list of possible adjustments is not exhaustive, companies should consult with legal counsel for help identifying what modifications may be necessary. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for reasonable adjustments.
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Businesses should make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to ensure their accessibility. This includes providing staff assistance and alternative methods of transportation, as well as temporary and permanent features to the premises. The building can be any type of structure. In some cases, a building could also need to make some physical adjustments to accommodate a disabled customer. In general, however, businesses must make reasonable efforts to ensure their premises are wheelchair accessible. However, a landlord may only make these modifications if they believe that the action is necessary for the health or safety of a disabled customer.
What Is the Disability Discrimination Act 1995?
Despite these challenges, mass protests helped to pressure the government into making disability discrimination illegal. Since the act was introduced, the rights of disabled people have come a long way. Before the act was implemented, ITV held bi-annual telethons to raise money for charities. Although many disabled people deemed these fundraisers patronising, many felt that they were portrayed as objects of pity. In response, hundreds of disabled people demonstrated outside of the studios and sang to raise awareness.
While the disability discrimination Act 1995 protects people with disabilities, it also protects those with mental health problems. The Act provides important protections for people with mental health issues and sets a standard for acceptable behaviour. Mental health service users with a disability or their caregivers may be able to use the act as leverage to negotiate for better treatment. If discrimination in the workplace is a cause of a mental health problem, it could be a good way to ensure the patient’s rights are upheld.
Despite the DDA’s recent expansion and improvements, it is still unclear what it will mean for employers. Companies with fewer than 15 employees may no longer refuse to hire a disabled employee. However, firms with more than 15 employees cannot discriminate against anyone due to their disability. The law was implemented in three phases. The first phase involved the implementation of a quota system, which required firms with more than 15 employees to hire disabled people.