Most people take
it for granted that they can go to the shops, get an education at
school or college, and use a bank or library. But for the large numbers of
people with disabilities, using services like these things can be very
difficult, or even impossible, so Britain has taken action with some new
guidelines.
Since October 2004, disabled people
in Britain should have better access to services such as shops. The
Disability Discrimination Act is designed to give disabled people
equal rights to use services and businesses. It means that service
providers will have to make changes to allow people with
disabilities to use their facilities. Some of the people specified in
the Act are those who have difficulties with movement for example, people who
use wheelchairs, or who have sight or hearing problems, and sufferers of mental illness.
The law was
originally passed in 1995, but has been rolled out in
various stages. Ever since 1996, it has been unlawful to discriminate against
somebody applying for a job because of their disability. But from October
2004, businesses and organisations are required to make reasonable physical adjustments to
their premises to assist disabled users.
The businesses
and organisations affected include shops, banks, libraries, places of
worship, restaurants, and schools. They may have to make changes like
building ramps to replace stairs, widening door-ways,
or having Braille signs
or menus.
However, public
transport is currently exempted from the law. This has angered some
disability groups, who say that public transport is very difficult to use.
For the London Underground and rail companies the problem is that many
stations were built decades ago,
and would be very difficult to change. However, the government has said that
all buses, trains and taxis should be accessible to
wheelchair users in 13 years' time.
Vocabulary
take it for
granted : to know or believe you can do something without
thinking about it.
Disabilities : health problems
which affect someone's ability to do things that other people can
Disabled : unable to do
some things that other people can.
to discriminate :
to treat someone
differently, usually in a bad way, because of their skin colour, sex, age,
religion, ability etc.
service
providers : any organisation or business offering something to
people (e.g. help, education, things to buy, information)
specified: named, included
passed: agreed by the
government, became legal
to suffer from: to be ill with,
to have an illness
rolled out :
gradually
established
unlawful: illegal, against
the law
adjustments: changes
places of
worship : religious buildings like churches, temples, and
mosques.
Ramps: smooth slopes
(which can be used instead of steps)
Exempted: excluded from,
not included in the law
Angered : made someone
angry
Accessible : possible to
access or use
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1 March 2012
Disability Discrimination Act
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