Celebrating 20 years since the Disability Discrimination Act

wheelchair disabledNovember marked the twentieth anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) becoming law in Britain.

The DDA came as a result of prolonged campaigning and protesting from thousands of disabled people, throughout the 1990s. Many took to the streets to protest against society’s view that disabled people were helpless. Some blocked roads with their wheelchairs, while others handcuffed themselves to buses.

The introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995 meant that employers could not treat people differently due to their disabilities, and for the first time they had to be allowed into the workplace. Later, the act would also mean that service providers had to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled people, like providing extra help and changing premises to allow disabled access.

This was a huge breakthrough in what could be argued as the final step in the beginnings of equal rights. The Race Discrimination Act and The Sex Discrimination Act had already brought about change for women and people of a different race, but little had been done for the plight of the disabled.

Bela Gor, Legal Director at the British Disability Forum, said, “The DDA was unique in discrimination legislation in recognising that true social change would only be achieved by being proactive. The DDA prohibited discriminatory or less favourable treatment of disabled people but also, more importantly, required employers and service provides to act to remove disabling barriers. The reasonable adjustment provisions of the DDA forced employers and service providers to recognise that treating everyone equally or the same is not enough to level the playing field and enable disabled people to take their rightful place as employees, consumers and citizens.

She continued, “Everyone is different, and twenty years on businesses have come to realise that you have to treat people differently in order to treat them fairly.”

In celebration of the anniversary, the disabled charity, Scope has launched a campaign to bring to light the struggle that many disabled people faced through stories, images and videos. They also give details of how you can get involved with today’s struggle.

You can find out more about Scope’s campaign here. You can also take part in their Twitter campaign by using the #DDA20 or visiting their Twitter.

About the author

Alison is the Digital Content Editor for WeAreTheCity. She has a BA Honours degree in Journalism and History from the University of Portsmouth. She has previously worked in the marketing sector and in a copywriting role. Alison’s other passions and hobbies include writing, blogging and travelling.
Women in Tech Week - Book now image
TechWomen100 Winners banner 2024
Pioneer 20 2024 - Top 20 refugee women in the EU

Upcoming Events

Current Month

October

03oct15:0017:00Black History Month - Reclaiming Narratives Workshop | Trapped in Zone One

05octAll Day06Festival of The Girl 2024

07octAll Day11WeAreTechWomen | Women in Tech Week

07octAll Day11WeAreTechWomen | Women in Tech Week

14oct18:3019:30Black history month: celebrating innovators | RSA Public Talks

17oct18:0021:30UN Women UK Awards 2024

19octAll DayUK Black Business Show

19octAll Day20Stroud Black History Month Festival

26oct10:0014:00Black History Month | Empowering Black women's health matters

Job Board Banner

Related Posts