The Law

Information for civil servants about the law and disabled people. Remember it’s not just customers – disabled people can include your colleagues, stakeholders, and Ministers

Civil servants need to know how the law relates to disabled people. This will help you to understand your duties and obligations. It will also help your department to contribute to the government’s work on disability equality.

Civil servants should be particularly aware of:

Equality Act 2010
UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People.

Equality Act 2010

The Act streamlines and strengthens existing legislation to make it easier for everyone to understand their rights and obligations. When the Act comes into force, it will replace the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which includes the Disability Equality Duty

The Government Equalities Office has overall responsibility for the Act but ODI is responsible for the parts relating to disability.

Find out more about the Equality Act
Find out more about the Disability Discrimination Act (opens in the Equality and Human Rights Commission website)
Find out more about the Disability Equality Duty.

UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People

The Convention is an international human rights treaty that makes it clear that disabled people have, and should be able to enjoy, the same human rights as others.

Find out more about the UN Convention.

Know your rights

Disabled people can find information about disability rights on the Directgov website.