A to Z of MS
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A to Z of MS Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was legislation that made it illegal for providers of goods and services and for employers to discriminate against people with long-term conditions on the grounds of their condition.
The provisions of the DDA were taken over by the Equality Act, which came into force on 1 October 2010.
Both the DDA and the Equality Act specifically cover MS from the date of diagnosis, regardless of the actual level of disability.
Under the act employers have a duty to consider making 'reasonable adjustments' to make sure employees with MS are not put at substantial disadvantage by employment arrangements or physical features of the workplace.
What is reasonable is judged in terms of the resources available to the organisation needing to make the adjustments and any disruption to other people. Adjustments could include making buildings more accessible or providing appropriate equipment or adaptations, but also making adjustments to hours worked, home working or reallocating tasks.