Disability Rights Commission

Creating a society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens

What's the Disability Rights Commission?

The Disability rights Commission (DRC) was formed in April 2000 to help protect disabled people's rights. They are an independent organisation, led by 14 Commissioners, two thirds of whom are disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) gives disabled people some limited rights. This includes the right not to be discriminated against in terms of employment and when you try to get a service or product. The DRC is committed to improving the cover given by the DDA. We are working for the Disability Rights Task Force in 1999. More than anything, they are working hard to achieve a society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens.

What is disability?

Some people wrongly think that disability is about wheelchair users only. This is probably because the majority of disability related signs used in Great Britain in the past show a logo of a wheelchair. In fact, wheelchair users make up a very small proportion - less than 5% - of disabled people.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines disability. This definition is not perfect, but it does help in bringing, for example, Mental health, cancer, AIDS, dyslexia, severe disfigurement and epilepsy under the terms of the Act.

The act covers any disability if it is going to, or has lasted, for more than one year and, regardless of ways you use to cope, it has a substantial effect.

The definition even covers disability that has occurred in the past. In any event, if you are at all unsure and you think you have a potential case of discrimination to tell them about, you should assume that the disability is covered and call the DRC's helpline.

The DRC Helpline - Tel: 08457 622633

The DRC Helpline provides comprehensive and up to date information on your rights as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The helpline operators are a highly trained and accessible team of people. They can talk you through discrimination and provide a referral to the DRC's Casework Team if you appear to have a case of discrimination. All calls to the helpline are totally confidential.

The helpline can:

• Refer you to other expert disability organisations when you have a non-discrimination question
• Discuss any potential cases of discrimination
• Provide referrals to the DRC's Casework Team when you bring a case of discrimination to us
• Send you single or bulk copies of any DRC publication in your required format and language

The Legal Directorate

The Legal Directorate will further investigate the case and provide more analysis of the finer points of law involved on the case. The case may then be supported by the DRC when:

• The case has a good chance of success in the courts or tribunals and
• It helps to make the law clearer, or
• It provides a test of particular part of the law, or
• It meets one of the key areas, such as supporting cases where discrimination has occurred when an attempt has been made to get a service or a product. They estimate they will support about 75 cases every year.