Changes to the Disability Discrimination Act
Changes to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 come into force on 31 October 2007. These changes make improvements in the protection afforded people with disabilities and widen the scope of the existing law.
The definition of disability is amended so that people with cancer, multiple sclerosis or HIV are now covered from the point of diagnosis rather than from the point when the condition has some adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
"The changes being introduced are of particular importance for people who have, until now, found the law was not responsive to their individual circumstances." Fionnuala Devlin, Head of Promotion and Education at the Equality Commission, said. "When any person has a long-term illness, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or HIV, it is a substantial personal setback. People with such illnesses now have clarity about their status under the law from the time of their diagnosis. Similarly, people with mental ill-health benefit from the removal of restrictions which had been in the Disability Discrimination Act."
"The impact these changes will have can be gauged from the fact that 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland each year, 4,000 people living with MS and approximately 200 people living with HIV. " Fionnuala Devlin said. "People affected should be aware that they now have additional rights, and employers also need to be aware of the changes. For example, people in this situation will be entitled to flexibility at work to enable them to meet the demands of dealing with their illness. They may have to make frequent trips to hospital and undergo treatment or tests which require recovery time and may need time off work or a change in working patterns."
The Equality Commission can give information and advice about the law and have launched a micro-site, detailing the changes introduced and explaining how these will operate in practice. This can be accessed at www.youarenowcovered.org.
"The changes being introduced are of particular importance for people who have, until now, found the law was not responsive to their individual circumstances." Fionnuala Devlin, Head of Promotion and Education at the Equality Commission, said. "When any person has a long-term illness, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or HIV, it is a substantial personal setback. People with such illnesses now have clarity about their status under the law from the time of their diagnosis. Similarly, people with mental ill-health benefit from the removal of restrictions which had been in the Disability Discrimination Act."
"The impact these changes will have can be gauged from the fact that 10,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland each year, 4,000 people living with MS and approximately 200 people living with HIV. " Fionnuala Devlin said. "People affected should be aware that they now have additional rights, and employers also need to be aware of the changes. For example, people in this situation will be entitled to flexibility at work to enable them to meet the demands of dealing with their illness. They may have to make frequent trips to hospital and undergo treatment or tests which require recovery time and may need time off work or a change in working patterns."
The Equality Commission can give information and advice about the law and have launched a micro-site, detailing the changes introduced and explaining how these will operate in practice. This can be accessed at www.youarenowcovered.org.