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11 April 2005 - Amendment to DDA 1995
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A Royal Assent was given to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
Regulations recently to introduce amendments to the existing DDA 1995 as
follows:
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Introduction of a new positive duty on public bodies to promote
equality of opportunity for disabled people.
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To provide protection for more people diagnosed with the
progressive conditions of HIV, MS and cancer.
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Removal of the requirement that mental illnesses must be
“clinically well-recognised”.
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Ensure that all functions of public authorities (eg issuing
licences) are covered by the DDA and not just services as now.
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Provision of a power to apply the DDA duties on other service
providers to the provision of transport vehicles.
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Allow an “end date”, no later than 2020, by which all rail
vehicles will have to comply with accessibility regulations, and apply those
regulations to vehicles which are being refurbished.
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Include provisions enabling disabled people to obtain reasonable
adjustments, other than to physical features, when dealing with landlords and
managers of rented premises.
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Ensure that a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse consent where
a disabled tenant wishes to make an adaptation to rented accommodation.
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Provide new rights for disabled local councillors not to be
discriminated against by their local authority including rights to reasonable
adjustments.
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Cover bodies that award general qualifications (like GCSEs and A
Levels).
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Cover larger private members’ clubs (those with 25 or more
members).
These amendments will benefit some 10 million disabled people
within the UK.
Mr. Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Right Commission
commented:
"Many people with mental illnesses have experienced
humiliation and stress when bringing disability discrimination cases. Many
people have not been protected by the law and denied rights because their
condition was not ‘clinically well recognised’. The Act will remove this
perverse injustice.
"It will also mean that people with HIV, MS and cancer will
now be protected from the point of diagnosis. These conditions attract a great
deal of stigma from the point of diagnosis, and it is right that the DDA should
apply from this point.
"We warmly welcome the introduction of the new Act and thank
members from all sides for its cross-party support and swift passage through
Parliament."
Further information on the DDA can be obtained by clicking the
following:
Disability Legislation
An update of the amendments will be available shortly from the
HMSO Website.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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