Disabled access to goods, services and facilities - briefing

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) made it unlawful for service providers to discriminate against disabled people in certain circumstances. 

On 1 October 2010, the Equality Act 2010 (EA) replaced most of the DDA. The duty on providers of goods, services and facilities was replaced with a duty to make reasonable adjustments in order to avoid a disabled person being placed at a “substantial disadvantage” compared with non-disabled people when accessing services and facilities.

The EA does not prescribe what a reasonable adjustment might be – this is to be determined by the particular circumstances in each case. 

A House of Commons briefing paper has just been published setting out the law and providing an overview of the duties owed by providers of goods, services and facilities to ensure that they do not discriminate against disabled people in accessing these goods, facilities and services.

It can be found here: 'Disabled access to goods, services and facilities: Briefing Paper'.

Source: House of Commons Library