Disability Discrimination Act

The Disability Discrimination Act is a UK parliamentary act of 1995, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people in respect of their disabilities in relation to employment and the provision of goods and services. The British Government has set up a Disability Rights Commission to provide support for the Act.

It is still permissible for employers to have reasonable medical criteria for employment, and to expect adequate performance from all employees once any reasonable adjustments have been made.

The employment section of the Disability Discrimination Act does not cover firms with less than 15 employees. Some 600,000 disabled people working for such companies are unprotected by the Act.

See Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for corresponding USA legislation.