The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) works to protect people with disabilities – including blind and partially sighted people – from discrimination. Please note that the DDA now only applies in Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales are covered by the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations.
The Equality Act states that if you are placing someone at a substantial disadvantage, you have a duty to make reasonable adjustments.
Typically with listed buildings it was very difficult to make "reasonable adjustments" where the fabric of the building needs to be altered to accommodate a wheelchair lift. English Heritage, The Planning department for example would block a more conventional lift or ramp being installed in a listed staircase. This is where the Sesame bespoke wheelchair lift comes into its own. We have installed Sesame lifts in many listed buildings including grade 1 listed buildings.
Below is a list of the provisions relating to disability in the Equality Act
- extending protection against indirect discrimination to disability
- introducing the concept of “discrimination arising from disability” to replace protection under previous legislation lost as a result of a legal judgment
- applying the detriment model to victimisation protection (aligning with the approach in employment law)
- harmonising the thresholds for the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people
- extending protection against harassment of employees by third parties to all protected characteristics
- making it more difficult for disabled people to be unfairly screened out when applying for jobs, by restricting the circumstances in which employers can ask job applicants questions about disability or health