Equality Act and Disability Discrimination Act – explained

In England, Wales and Scotland there is the Equality Act 2010 covering 9 protected characteristics including disability.

In Northern Ireland they still have the Equality Act’s predecessor, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and various amendments.

Who can enforce the law?

In most cases, only a disabled person (or their legal proxy) who is personally affected by the access issue or discrimination is able to enforce the Equality Act or DDA.

There are two main exceptions:

  • Discrimination by association with a disabled person.

  • Discrimination because you are perceived to be disabled.

Equality Commission Northern Ireland (ECNI) and the Equality Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have various enforcement powers, but do not necessarily use them regularly.

Disability is also the only characteristic that requires a legal claimant to prove their status as part of the legal process

What can the law do?

If you make a legal disability discrimination complaint, the main remedy you are required to ask for compensation for “injury to feelings”.

You can also ask for things like removal of barriers, changes to policies and practices or evidence staff have received training.

As the law requires that a a lot amount of effort has been made to resolve cases before the legal stages, you can also suggest creative remedies and things such as mediation.

Types of discrimination

Discrimination is classified into types which are used for all characteristics

  • Direct discrimination.

  • Indirect discrimination.

  • Harassment.

  • Victimisation.

Disability has one extra type under the DDA and two under the Equality Act:

  • Failure to make reasonable adjustments.

  • Discrimination arising from disability (GB, Equality Act only).

Resources on the different types of discrimination

Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable Adjustments are one of the most important elements of the Equality Act and DDA. Organisations providing services or public functions, education providers and employers all have a duty to make reasonable adjustments.

Anticipatory duty

The duty to make reasonable adjustments is anticipatory in services. This means service providers should have considered common disability access needs and implemented solutions before any disabled person needs or asks for them.

Some examples of common reasonable adjustments that could and should be anticipated:


  • Ramp to get up a step.

  • Providing a loop system.

  • Policies allowing a PA/carer free entry.

  • Having large print information.

  • Providing staff assistance to a blind customer in a shop.

  • Policies and practices telling disabled people how to request adjustments that they need.

So if you are having to complain about access failings – the organisation has already left it too late!

Who is entitled to make reasonable adjustments?

A disabled person is entitled ‘reasonable adjustments’ if:

  • Equality Act – they would be “substantially disadvantaged”

  • DDA – it would be “unreasonably difficult” for them

    • compared to a person without that disability.

    This does not mean something has to be completely impossible, it could be difficult, painful, dangerous or very slow.

    Sometimes proving disability by DDA or Equality Act standards (which are broadly similar) can be complicated.

    What makes an adjustment reasonable?

    In deciding whether a reasonable adjustment is reasonable an organisation should consider factors such as:

  • Effectiveness of adjustment at “preventing disadvantage”.

  • How practical the adjustment is to provide.

  • Cost of providing the adjustment (in relation to the *entire* organisations income).

  • Disruption providing adjustment might cause to others.

  • Availability of financial or other support.

  • Nature of the organisation’s services.


    • An organisation cannot refuse an adjustment just because they don’t want to do it. Ignorance of the law by individuals or the wider organisation is not a justification either.

    Classification of reasonable adjustments in law

    Reasonable adjustments are classified into three types in the law:

    1. Provision Criteria or Practice (PCP) Equality Act OR Practice, Policy or Procedure (PPP) DDA

      Policies, practices and “how things are done”. A common example is permitted assistance dogs into a space which otherwise does not allow dogs or allowing disabled people to avoid a queue.


    2. Physical features

      Anything about a building or built-environment which causes disadvantage.
      Examples may be steps or lighting.


    3. Provision of an auxiliary aid or service.

      Equipment, items or human support.
      Examples include a sign language interpreter or large print menu.

    You need to be able to identify the correct type of discrimination (which can be tricky) if you go legal, which is why this matters.

    Resources on reasonable adjustments