Your rights if you have a disability
Find out about disability discrimination in everyday life and the rights of people with disabilities, including in employment, health and education.
Access to goods, premises and services
Disability discrimination law gives people with disabilities important rights not to be discriminated against:
- in accessing everyday goods and services like shops, cafés, banks, cinemas and places of worship
- in buying or renting land or property
- in accessing certain private facilities, such as those owned by private clubs (with 25 or more members)
- in accessing important social goods and services, such as healthcare, housing, education and transport
- in how public bodies carry out some of their other functions, such as policing and the issuing of licences
- Access to everyday services
- Protection against disability discrimination
Employment
It is unlawful for employers to discriminate against job-seekers and employees with disabilities. This includes failing to make reasonable adjustments and subjecting people with disabilities to disability-related harassment.
Health
It is unlawful for healthcare providers and social services, such as doctors' surgeries, dental surgeries and hospitals to discriminate against people with disabilities who wish to use their services.
This includes failing to make reasonable adjustments and offer reasonable ancillary aids and services. These may include sign language interpreters, hearing loops and publications, such as timetables in different formats - where needed and where it is reasonable to offer.
Education
It is unlawful for education providers, such as schools, colleges and universities to discriminate against pupils, prospective pupils, students and prospective students with disabilities.
This includes failing to make reasonable adjustments and also for further and higher education colleges and universities, disability-related harassment. It also makes it unlawful for certain qualification awarding bodies to discriminate.
Buying and renting property
It is unlawful for owners, landlords and estate agents, who are selling or letting or managing premises, to discriminate against people with disabilities who wish to buy or rent properties, in certain circumstances. This includes housing providers like the Housing Executive and housing associations.
Discrimination may include, in the case of leasehold property, failing to meet a duty to make reasonable adjustments.
Mental health
Many people with a mental health condition may not think of themselves as having a 'disability'. But, they may be and if so will have the right not to be subjected to disability discrimination.
More protections cover the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition.
Motoring, travel and transport
It is unlawful for transport providers, such as bus, coach and train operators, and taxis, to discriminate against people with disabilities who wish to use their services.
This includes failing to make reasonable adjustments and offer reasonable ancillary aids and services. These may include sign language interpreters, hearing loops and publications, such as timetables in different formats - where needed and where it is reasonable to offer.
Transport providers, such a taxi drivers, must also carry wheelchairs and guide dogs.
Help and advice
The Equality Commission offers free and confidential advice and help to people who believe they have been discriminated against because of their disability.