for you
Anyone with cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS) or HIV is now protected against unfair treatment in the workplace, education, housing or in accessing services from the point of diagnosis.
If you are treated unfairly because of a past disability – for example because you had cancer in the past – you are also protected.
On this page you will find a summary of the main points it's useful for you to know. More detail is available in the downloads and through the useful links at the bottom of this page.
What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
The DDA is a law that aims to end the discrimination and prejudice which many disabled people, and people with long term health conditions, face in their everyday lives. It makes it unlawful for you to be discriminated against in:
- employment and occupation
- trade organisations and qualifications bodies
- access to goods, facilities and services
- the management, buying or renting of land or property
- education
There are also DDA regulations dealing with buses, coaches and trains which set out access standards for those vehicles to help people with mobility impairments, sensory impairments or learning disabilities.
Protection at work
You are protected against less favourable treatment and direct discrimination where this is related to your disability or condition. You also have the right to reasonable adjustments to practices and premises if these place you at a substantial disadvantage.
If a colleague supports your disability discrimination case they are also protected against victimisation.
- Employment rights and the DDA information on the DirectGov website
- Access to Work scheme information on the DirectGov website
Protection in education
It is unlawful for schools, colleges and universities to treat you less favourably than others because of your disability or condition. You also have the right to certain types of reasonable adjustments to provision where you might otherwise be substantially disadvantaged.
There are particular rules about when an education provider is discriminating if they do not know that a person is covered by the DDA.
In 2006, there were some changes to discrimination in post-16 education (such as the introduction of direct discrimination).
Protection in housing provision
People who manage, lease or sell premises cannot treat you less favourably than others for a reason relating to your disability or condition.
Accessing services
You have the right to receive services that are of the same standard as those received by others who do not have a disability or condition. Service providers are also required to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to use their services.
What adjustments are reasonable?
What is reasonable is judged in terms of the resources available to the organisation needing to make the adjustments. Other factors include disruption to other people.
Do you have to tell your employer about your condition?
You are not required to tell your employer about your MS/HIV/Cancer unless your condition constitutes a health and safety risk. However if your employer is not aware of your condition they won't be able to make any 'reasonable adjustments' you may require.
Downloads
- A guide to the DDA for people with HIV, cancer and MS (word version) [228kb]
- A guide to the DDA for people with HIV, cancer and MS (pdf version) [57kb]
Useful links
- More about the DDA from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
- What to do if you suspect you've been discriminated against (DRC)
- General rights information on the DirectGov website
- Cancer and the DDA from Macmillan Cancer Relief
- Cancer and work from CancerBacup
- HIV and the DDA pdf download from the National AIDS Trust (NAT)
- Multiple Sclerosis and employment from the MS Society
- Information on the Access to Work scheme from the Job Centre
Please note: The information on this site is not intended to be an alternative to seeking professional help and advice. The information contained herein is for educational use only.
