Find out about your rights as a person with disabilities in different areas of life, including in employment, health and education.
The Disability Discrimination Act gives people with disabilities important rights not to be discriminated against:
It is unlawful for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities for a reason related to their disability, in all aspects of employment, unless this can be justified. Justification is only possible in certain circumstances.
The Disability Discrimination Act gives people with disabilities rights of access to health services and social services, such as doctors' surgeries, dental surgeries and hospitals.
You also have a right to information about healthcare and social services in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the service provider to provide it in that format.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Order 2005 and subsequent Disability Discrimination Order 2006 (DDO) makes it unlawful for education providers to discriminate against pupils with disabilities - both students and adult learners; and to make sure people with disabilities are not disadvantaged in comparison with people who do not have disabilities.
Under the DDA it is unlawful for landlords and other persons connected with the selling, letting and managing of premises to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability, unless they can show that the treatment is justified.
The Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 amends or extends existing provisions in the DDA 1995 and includes, for example, making it easier for disabled people to rent property and for tenants to make disability-related adaptations.
Many people with a mental health condition may not think of themselves as having a 'disability' - but they have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act.
The Mental Health Act 1983 covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition.
The Mental Capacity Act aims to protect people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. It provides clear guidelines for carers and professionals about who can take decisions in which situations.
People with disabilities have rights of access in relation to motoring, transport and the travel infrastructure (such as railway stations and airports) under the Disability Discrimination Act.
The Disability Discrimination Act also means that you have a right to information about transport (timetables, for example) in a format that is accessible to you, where it is reasonable for the transport provider to provide it in that format.
The Equality Commission can provide free and confidential advice and assistance to people who believe that they have been discriminated against for a reason related to their disability.
It also provides free general advice to employers and service providers on recommended good practice under the Disability Discrimination Act.
You can call the Commission on 028 9050 0600 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
People with disabilities
