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Access to shops, cafes and everyday services

The Disability Discrimination Act gives disabled people important rights of access to everyday services, including shops, cafes, banks, cinemas and places of worship.

• Access to everyday services

Your rights in employment

It is unlawful for employers to discriminate against disabled people for a reason related to their disability, in all aspects of employment, unless this can be justified. Justification is only possible in certain circumstances.

• Employment rights and the Disability Discrimination Act

Your rights in health

The Disability Discrimination Act gives disabled people important rights of access to health services and social services, such as doctors' surgeries, dental surgeries and hospitals.

You also have a right to information about healthcare and social services in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the service provider to provide it in that format.

• Rights of access to health and social care

Your rights in education

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to make it unlawful for education providers to discriminate against disabled pupils, students and adult learners - and to make sure disabled people are not disadvantaged in comparison to people who are not disabled.

• Learning and your rights

Mental health and your rights

Many people with a mental health condition do not think of themselves as 'disabled' - but they have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Mental Health Act 1983 covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition.

The Mental Capacity Act aims to protect people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. It provides clear guidelines for carers and professionals about who can take decisions in which situations.

• Mental health and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
• The Mental Health Act
• The Mental Capacity Act

Your rights - motoring and transport

Disabled people have important rights of access in relation to motoring, transport and travel infrastructure, such as railway stations and airports, under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Disability Discrimination Act also means that you have a right to information about transport - timetables, for example - in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the transport provider to provide it in that format.

• Your rights - motoring and transport