Changing the definition of disability
The current definition of disability within the DDA 1995 defines a disabled person as ‘a person with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
The DDA 1995 also states that an impairment is to be taken to affect the ability of a person to carry out normal day-to-day activities only if it affects that person in respect of one or more of the following:
- mobility - moving from place to place
- manual dexterity - use of hands, wrists or fingers
- physical co-ordination
- continence
- ability to lift, carry or otherwise move every day objects
- speech, hearing or eyesight
- memory or ability to concentrate
- ability to learn or understand
- ability to recognise the risk of physical danger
- taking part in normal social interaction
- forming social relationships
The above list is referred to as a ‘list of capacities’.
“The change will make it easier for disabled people to fall within
the definition of disability"
The Equality Commission recommends the removal of the list of capacities in total from the definition of ‘disability’ within the DDA 1995. The changes will make it easier for disabled people to fall within the definition of disability, and are also in line with changes to the definition which have been implemented in Great Britain.