Law

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2020-01-27, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 203 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Meaning of “disability” and “disabled person”.
  3. 2 Past disabilities.
  4. 3 Guidance.
  5. 3A Meaning of “discrimination”
  6. 3B Meaning of “harassment”
  7. 4 Discrimination against applicants and employees.
  8. 4A Employers: duty to make adjustments
  9. 5 Meaning of “discrimination”
  10. 6 Duty of employer to make adjustments.
  11. 7 Exemption for small businesses.
  12. 4B Contract workers
  13. 4C Office-holders: introductory
  14. 4D Office-holders: discrimination and harassment
  15. 4E Office-holders: duty to make adjustments
  16. 4F Office-holders: supplementary
  17. 4G Occupational pension schemes: non-discrimination rule
  18. 4H Occupational pension schemes: duty to make adjustments
  19. 4I Occupational pension schemes: procedure
  20. 4J Occupational pension schemes: remedies
  21. 4K Occupational pension schemes: supplementary
  22. 6A Partnerships: discrimination and harassment
  23. 6B Partnerships: duty to make adjustments
  24. 6C Partnerships: supplementary
  25. 7A Barristers: discrimination and harassment
  26. 7B Barristers: duty to make adjustments
  27. 7C Advocates: discrimination and harassment
  28. 7D Advocates: duty to make adjustments
  29. 8 Enforcement, remedies and procedure.
  30. 9 Validity of certain agreements.
  31. 10 Charities and support for particular groups of persons.
  32. 11 Advertisements suggesting that employers will discriminate against disabled persons
  33. 12 Discrimination against contract workers.
  34. 15 Appeal against refusal of exemption certificate.
  35. 13 Trade organisations: discrimination and harassment
  36. 14 Trade organisations: duty to make adjustments
  37. 14A Qualifications bodies: discrimination and harassment
  38. 14B Qualifications bodies: duty to make adjustments
  39. 14C Practical work experience: discrimination and harassment
  40. 14D Practical work experience: duty to make adjustments
  41. 15A Interpretation of sections 15B and 15C
  42. 15B Authorities and their members: discrimination and harassment
  43. 15C Authorities and their members: duty to make adjustments
  44. 16 Alterations to premises occupied under leases.
  45. 16A Relationships which have come to an end
  46. 16B Discriminatory advertisements
  47. 16C Instructions and pressure to discriminate
  48. 17 Occupational pension schemes.
  49. 17A Enforcement, remedies and procedure.
  50. 17B Enforcement of sections 16B(1) and 16C
  51. 17C Validity of contracts, collective agreements and rules of undertakings
  52. 18 Insurance services.
  53. 18A Alterations to premises occupied under leases.
  54. 18B Reasonable adjustments: supplementary
  55. 18C Charities and support for particular groups of persons.
  56. 18D Interpretation of Part 2
  57. 18E Premises provided otherwise than in course of a Part 2 relationship
  58. 19 Discrimination in relation to goods, facilities and services.
  59. 20 Meaning of “discrimination”
  60. 21 Duty of providers of services to make adjustments.
  61. 21ZA Application of sections 19 to 21 to transport vehicles
  62. 21A Employment services
  63. 21B Discrimination by public authorities
  64. 21C Exceptions from section 21B(1)
  65. 21D Meaning of “discrimination” in section 21B
  66. 21E Duties for purposes of section 21D(2) to make adjustments
  67. 21F Discrimination by private clubs etc.
  68. 21G Meaning of “discrimination”
  69. 21H Duty to make adjustments
  70. 21J “Member”, “associate” and “guest”
  71. 22 Discrimination in relation to premises.
  72. 22A Commonholds
  73. 23 Exemption for small dwellings.
  74. 24 Meaning of “discrimination” .
  75. 24A Let premises: discrimination in failing to comply with duty
  76. 24B Exceptions to section 24A(1)
  77. 24C Duty for purposes of section 24A(2) to provide auxiliary aid or service
  78. 24D Duty for purposes of section 24A(2) to change practices, terms etc
  79. 24E Sections 24C and 24D: supplementary and interpretation
  80. 24F Let premises: victimisation of persons to whom premises are let
  81. 24G Premises that are to let: discrimination in failing to comply with duty
  82. 24H Exceptions to section 24G(1)
  83. 24J Duties for purposes of section 24G(2)
  84. 24K Let premises and premises that are to let: justification
  85. 24L Sections 24 to 24K: power to make supplementary provision
  86. 24M Premises provisions do not apply where other provisions operate
  87. 25 Enforcement, remedies and procedure.
  88. 26 Validity and revision of certain agreements.
  89. 27 Alterations to premises occupied under leases.
  90. 28 Conciliation of disputes.
  91. 28A Discrimination against disabled pupils and prospective pupils
  92. 28B Meaning of “discrimination”
  93. 28C Disabled pupils not to be substantially disadvantaged
  94. 28D Accessibility strategies and plans
  95. 28E Accessibility strategies and plans: procedure
  96. 28F Duty of education authorities not to discriminate
  97. 28G Residual duty: supplementary provisions
  98. 28H Tribunals
  99. 28I Jurisdiction and powers of the Tribunal - England and Wales
  100. 28IA Jurisdiction and powers of the Tribunal – Wales
  101. 28IC Advice and information — Wales
  102. 28ID Resolution of disputes — Wales
  103. 28IE Independent advocacy services — Wales
  104. 28J Procedure
  105. 28JA Appeal from the Welsh Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal
  106. 28K Admissions
  107. 28L Exclusions
  108. 28M Roles of the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers
  109. 28N Civil proceedings
  110. 28P Validity and revision of agreements of responsible bodies
  111. 28Q Interpretation
  112. 28R Discrimination against disabled students and prospective students
  113. 28S Meaning of “discrimination”
  114. 28SA Meaning of “harassment“
  115. 28T Responsible bodies' duties to make adjustments
  116. 28U Further education etc. provided by local authorities and schools
  117. 28UA Relationships which have come to an end
  118. 28UB Instructions and pressure to discriminate
  119. 28UC Discriminatory advertisements
  120. 28V Enforcement, remedies and procedure
  121. 28W Occupation of premises by educational institutions
  122. 28X Validity and revision of agreements
  123. 29 Education of disabled persons.
  124. 30 Further and higher education of disabled persons. 1992 c.13.
  125. 31 Further and higher education of disabled persons: Scotland. 1992 c. 37.
  126. 31A Interpretation
  127. 31AA General qualifications bodies: discrimination and harassment
  128. 31AB Meaning of “discrimination”
  129. 31AC Meaning of “harassment”
  130. 31AD General qualifications bodies: duty to make adjustments
  131. 31ADA Enforcement, remedies and procedures
  132. 31ADB Alterations to premises occupied under leases
  133. 31AE Chapter 2A: claims, leased premises and certain agreements
  134. 31AF Chapter 2A: duty to consult before making regulations
  135. 31B Conciliation for disputes
  136. 31C Application to Isles of Scilly
  137. 32 Taxi accessibility regulations.
  138. 36 Carrying of passengers in wheelchairs.
  139. 36A List of wheelchair-accessible vehicles providing local services
  140. 37 Carrying of guide dogs and hearing dogs.
  141. 37A Carrying of assistance dogs in private hire vehicles
  142. 38 AppealsAppeal against refusal of exemption certificate
  143. 39 Requirements as to disabled passengers in Scotland.
  144. 40 PSV accessibility regulations.
  145. 41 Accessibility certificates.
  146. 42 Approval certificates.
  147. 43 Special authorisations.
  148. 44 Reviews and appeals.
  149. 45 Fees.
  150. 46 Rail vehicle accessibility regulations.
  151. 47 Exemption from rail vehicle accessibility regulations.
  152. 48 Offences by bodies corporate etc.
  153. 49 Forgery and false statements.
  154. 49A General duty
  155. 49B Meaning of “public authority” in Part 5A
  156. 49C Exceptions from section 49A(1)
  157. 49D Power to impose specific duties
  158. 49E Duties under section 49D: compliance notices
  159. 49F Enforcement of compliance notices
  160. 49G Improvements to let dwelling houses
  161. 49H Conciliation of disputes
  162. 49I Conciliation of disputes: rented housing in Scotland
  163. 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  164. 51 Codes of practice prepared by the Council.
  165. 52 Further provision about codes issued under section 51.
  166. 53A Codes of practice.
  167. 54A Codes of practice.
  168. 53 Codes of practice prepared by the Secretary of State.
  169. 54 Further provision about codes issued under section 53.
  170. 55 Victimisation.
  171. 56 Help for aggrieved persons in obtaining information etc.
  172. 57 Aiding unlawful acts.
  173. 58 Liability of employers and principals.
  174. 59 Statutory authority and national security etc.
  175. 59A National security
  176. 60 Appointment by Secretary of State of advisers.
  177. 61 Amendment of Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.
  178. 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  179. 63 Restriction of publicity: Employment Appeal Tribunal.
  180. 64 Application to Crown etc.
  181. 64A Police
  182. 64B Other police bodies
  183. 65 Application to Parliament.
  184. 66 Government appointments outside Part II.
  185. 67 Regulations and orders.
  186. 67A Exercise of discretion under section 67(5A)
  187. 67B Annual report on rail vehicle exemption orders
  188. 68 Interpretation.
  189. 69 Financial provisions.
  190. 70 Short title, commencement, extent etc.
  191. SCHEDULE 1 Provisions Supplementing Section 1
  192. SCHEDULE 2 Past Disabilities
  193. SCHEDULE 3 Sections 17A(8) and 25(6), 31ADA Enforcement and Procedure
  194. SCHEDULE 3A VALIDITY OF CONTRACTS, COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AND RULES OF UNDERTAKINGS
  195. SCHEDULE 3A VALIDITY OF CONTRACTS, COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AND RULES OF UNDERTAKINGS
  196. SCHEDULE 4 Premises Occupied Under Leases
  197. SCHEDULE 4A RESPONSIBLE BODIES FOR SCHOOLS
  198. SCHEDULE 4B RESPONSIBLE BODIES FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
  199. SCHEDULE 4C MODIFICATIONS OF CHAPTER 2 OF PART 4
  200. SCHEDULE 5 The National Disability Council
  201. SCHEDULE 6 Consequential Amendments
  202. SCHEDULE 7 Repeals
  203. SCHEDULE 8 Modifications of this Act in its application to Northern Ireland

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

203 provisions

24G Premises that are to let: discrimination in failing to comply with duty

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24H Exceptions to section 24G(1)

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24J Duties for purposes of section 24G(2)

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24K Let premises and premises that are to let: justification

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24L Sections 24 to 24K: power to make supplementary provision

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24M Premises provisions do not apply where other provisions operate

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25 Enforcement, remedies and procedure.

(1) A claim by any person that another person— (a) has discriminated against him in a way which is unlawful under this Part; or (b) is by virtue of section 57 or 58 to be treated as having discriminated against him in such a way, may be made the subject of civil proceedings in the same way as any other claim in tort . . . for breach of statutory duty. (2) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that damages in respect of discrimination in a way which is unlawful under this Part may include compensation for injury to feelings whether or not they include compensation under any other head. (3) Proceedings in Northern Ireland shall be brought only in a county court. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) The remedies available in such proceedings are those which are available in the High Court . . . . (6) Part II of Schedule 3 makes further provision about the enforcement of this Part and about procedure. (6A) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a claim by a person that another person— (a) has discriminated against him in relation to the provision under a group insurance arrangement of facilities by way of insurance; or (b) is by virtue of section 57 or 58 to be treated as having discriminated against him in relation to the provision under such an arrangement of such facilities. (7) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a claim by a person that another person— (a) has discriminated against him in relation to the provision of employment services; or (b) is by virtue of section 57 or 58 to be treated as having discriminated against him in relation to the provision of employment services. (8) A claim— (a) of the kind referred to in subsection (6A) or (7); or (b) by a person that another— (i) has subjected him to harassment in a way which is unlawful under section 21A(2), or (ii) is by virtue of section 57 or 58 to be treated as having subjected him to harassment in such a way, may be presented as a complaint to an industrial tribunal. (9) Section 17A(1A) to (7) and paragraphs 3 and 4 of Schedule 3 apply in relation to a complaint under subsection (8) as if it were a complaint under section 17A(1) (and paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 3 do not apply in relation to such a complaint).

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26 Validity and revision of certain agreements.

(1) Any term in a contract for the provision of goods, facilities or services or in any other agreement is void so far as it purports to— (a) require a person to do anything which would contravene any provision of, or made under, this Part, (b) exclude or limit the operation of any provision of this Part, or (c) prevent any person from making a claim under this Part. (1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to— (a) any term in a contract for the provision of employment services; (b) any term in a contract which is a group insurance arrangement; or (c) a term which— (i) is in an agreement which is not a contract of either of those kinds, and (ii) relates to the provision of employment services or the provision under a group insurance arrangement of facilities by way of insurance. (2) Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) do not apply to an agreement settling a claim to which section 25 applies. (3) On the application of any person interested in an agreement to which subsection (1) applies, a county court or a sheriff court may make such order as it thinks just for modifying the agreement to take account of the effect of subsection (1). (4) No such order shall be made unless all persons affected have been— (a) given notice of the application; and (b) afforded an opportunity to make representations to the court. (5) Subsection (4) applies subject to any rules of court providing for that notice to be dispensed with. (6) An order under subsection (3) may include provision as respects any period before the making of the order.

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27 Alterations to premises occupied under leases.

(1) This section applies where— (a) a provider of services , a public authority (within the meaning given by section 21B) or an association to which section 21F applies(“the occupier”) occupies premises under a lease; (b) but for this section, the occupier would not be entitled to make a particular alteration to the premises; and (c) the alteration is one which the occupier proposes to make in order to comply with a section 21 duty or a duty imposed under section 21E or 21H. (2) Except to the extent to which it expressly so provides, the lease shall have effect by virtue of this subsection as if it provided— (a) for the occupier to be entitled to make the alteration with the written consent of the lessor; (b) for the occupier to have to make a written application to the lessor for consent if he wishes to make the alteration; (c) if such an application is made, for the lessor not to withhold his consent unreasonably; and (d) for the lessor to be entitled to make his consent subject to reasonable conditions. (3) In this section— “lease” includes a tenancy, sub-lease or sub-tenancy and an agreement for a lease, tenancy, sub-lease or sub-tenancy; and “sub-lease” and “sub-tenancy” have such meaning as may be prescribed. (4) If the terms and conditions of a lease— (a) impose conditions which are to apply if the occupier alters the premises, or (b) entitle the lessor to impose conditions when consenting to the occupier’s altering the premises, the occupier is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1) as not being entitled to make the alteration. (5) Part II of Schedule 4 supplements the provisions of this section.

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28 Conciliation of disputes.

(1) The Commission may make arrangements with any other person for the provision of conciliation services by, or by persons appointed by, that person in relation to disputes arising under this Part. (2) In deciding what arrangements (if any) to make, the Commission shall have regard to the desirability of securing, so far as reasonably practicable, that conciliation services are available for all disputes arising under this Part which the parties may wish to refer to conciliation. (3) No member or employee of the Commission may provide conciliation services in relation to disputes arising under this Part. (4) The Commission shall ensure that any arrangements under this section include appropriate safeguards to prevent the disclosure to members or employees of the Commission of information obtained by a person in connection with the provision of conciliation services in pursuance of the arrangements. (5) Subsection (4) does not apply to information relating to a dispute which is disclosed with the consent of the parties to that dispute. (6) Subsection (4) does not apply to information which— (a) is not identifiable with a particular dispute or a particular person; and (b) is reasonably required by the Commission for the purpose of monitoring the operation of the arrangements concerned. (7) Anything communicated to a person while providing conciliation services in pursuance of any arrangements under this section is not admissible in evidence in any proceedings except with the consent of the person who communicated it to that person. (8) In this section— “the Commission” means the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and “conciliation services” means advice and assistance provided by a conciliator to the parties to a dispute with a view to promoting its settlement otherwise than through the courts.

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28A Discrimination against disabled pupils and prospective pupils

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28B Meaning of “discrimination”

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28C Disabled pupils not to be substantially disadvantaged

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28D Accessibility strategies and plans

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28E Accessibility strategies and plans: procedure

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28F Duty of education authorities not to discriminate

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28G Residual duty: supplementary provisions

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28H Tribunals

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28I Jurisdiction and powers of the Tribunal - England and Wales

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28IA Jurisdiction and powers of the Tribunal – Wales

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28IC Advice and information — Wales

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28ID Resolution of disputes — Wales

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28IE Independent advocacy services — Wales

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28J Procedure

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28JA Appeal from the Welsh Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal

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28K Admissions

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28L Exclusions

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28M Roles of the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers

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28N Civil proceedings

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28P Validity and revision of agreements of responsible bodies

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28Q Interpretation

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28R Discrimination against disabled students and prospective students

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28S Meaning of “discrimination”

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28SA Meaning of “harassment“

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28T Responsible bodies' duties to make adjustments

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28U Further education etc. provided by local authorities and schools

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28UA Relationships which have come to an end

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28UB Instructions and pressure to discriminate

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28UC Discriminatory advertisements

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28V Enforcement, remedies and procedure

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