Your rights

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) covers your rights to employment, access to goods, facilities and services and buying and renting land or property. The DDA, was introduced in 1995 to protect the rights of disabled people and covers everyone who has a 'physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day to day activities'. Sense believes that virtually all deafblind and dual sensory impaired people will be covered by the Act.

Access to goods, facilities and services It is unlawful for companies to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability. Service providers also have to provide extra help or make changes to the way they provide their services, so disabled people can use the services easily.
Employment If you work for, or wish to work for, an employer who has 15 or more staff, they are obliged to treat you in a non-discriminatory way. There are some exemptions but most employers and employees are covered.
Employment exemptions The employment provisions apply to people who hire staff from employment businesses, trustees of occupational pension schemes, landlords who lease buildings to employers, charities and supported employment.
Disability living allowance and deafblindness Disability Living Allowance is designed to meet the extra cost of having a disability, and all deafblind people should be encouraged to claim it if eligible.
Deafblind Guidance under Section 7 In June 2009, the government reintroduced new guidelines to make sure deafblind people receive the support and services they require from their local authority.
Frequently asked questions FAQs on the Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) definition of disability and how it applies to deafblind people.
Services from local authorities