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disability rights

If you have a disability the law gives you certain rights, including protection against discrimination.

  • What is a disability?  more...
  • Does the law include a set list of disabilities?  more...
  • What are my disability rights?  more...
  • Who is covered by the Equality Act?  more...
  • How do I know if my disability is covered by the Equality Act?  more...
  • If I meet these conditions, do I automatically qualify?  more...
  • What does 'reasonable adjustment' mean?  more...
  • Are 'reasonable adjustments' expensive?  more...
  • Can I get government help to access work?  more...
  • Am I entitled to time off work to adjust to my disability?  more...
  • What can I do for myself to adjust to my disability?  more...
  • What should my employer do to help me further?  more...
  • What can my GP do to help me with my disability?  more...
  • Where else can I get help on disability?  more...
  • What can I do if my employer won't help me?  more...
  • How am I protected against disability discrimination?  more...
  • What can I expect my employer to do to take into account my disability?  more...
  • How soon should I talk to my employer about my disability?  more...

further information

Official information on your rights at work as a disabled person, including details of the laws prohibiting disability discrimination (now contained in the Equality Act 2010, but previously set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) and the accompanying Code of Practice, is available free on the disability section of the Directgov website.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) website provides advice and information on all aspects of the employment of disabled people, in England, Scotland and Wales. The EHRC also run telephone helplines: 0845 604 6610 (England), 0845 604 5510 (Scotland), 0845 604 8810 (Wales).

In Northern Ireland, you can get help and information from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Helpline: 028 90 890 890.

Mind, the mental health charity, has factsheets and advice on mental health and work for both employers and employees. Mind has two advice services: Mind Infoline (0300 123 3393, info@mind.org.uk) and their Legal Advice Service (0300 466 6463, legal@mind.org.uk). More information on these services is available on the Mind website here.

RADAR, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, is a network of disability organisations. It campaigns on access to work issues, and has published a guide to getting and keeping a job while managing ill-health, injury or disability called Doing Work Differently. Telephone: 020 7250 3222. Email: radar@radar.org.uk.

The TUC's Disability and work: A trade union guide to the law and good practice aims to assist unions in challenging discrimination and in negotiating good policy and practice. It’s available to download free of charge from the TUC website.

The employment section of the RNIB website provides information on rights, support workers, accessibility, assistive technology, financial assistance and more, for people undergoing sight loss. Helpline: 0303 123 9999.

Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) provides resources and training to help deaf and hard of hearing people find and stay in work, including a network of employment advisors. Helpline 0808 808 0123.