Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act: Know Your Rights

- What is disability discrimination?

Disability discrimination is when a person with a disability is treated less favourably than a person without the disability in the same or similar circumstances.

For example, it would be ‘direct disability discrimination’ if a nightclub or restaurant refused a person entry because they are blind and have a guide dog.

It is also disability discrimination when there is a rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on people with a particular disability.

- This is called ‘indirect discrimination’.

For example, it may be indirect disability discrimination if the only way to enter a public building is by a set of stairs because people with disabilities who use wheelchairs would be unable to enter the building.

- How can I be protected from disability discrimination?

The Disability Discrimination Act makes it against the law to treat you unfairly because of your disability.You are also covered if you had a disability in the past, may develop a disability in the future or if people think you have a disability. People who are relatives, friends and carers of people with a disability are also protected by the Disability Discrimination Act.

- What does the Disability Discrimination Act do?

If you have a disability, the Act protects you against discrimination in many areas of public life, including:

• employment  – getting a job, terms and conditions of a job, training, promotion, being dismissed

• education – enrolling or studying in a course at a private or public school, college or university

• accommodation  – renting or buying a house or unit

• getting or using services  – such as banking and insurance services, services provided by government departments, transport or telecommunication services, professional services like those provided by lawyers, doctors or tradespeople, services provided by restaurants, shops or entertainment venues

• accessing public places  – such as parks, government offices, restaurants, hotels or shopping centres.

The Act also protects you if you are harassed, because of your disability, in employment, education or in getting or using services.

You can read this paper in full here.