Origin

• The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 1995 by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The main purpose was to make it unlawful for employers to discriminate against disabled people. It also was made illegal for employers to offer less pay or fewer benefits to employees because of their disabilities.
  
  

Business Practices and Education

• The law made it illegal for business to offer different services based on someone's disability. The law amended previous education acts, requiring schools to offer annual reports on admission of disabled students.
  
  

Update in 2005

• In 2005, the Parliament amended the Disability Discrimination Act. It applied similar requirements to public authorities, including the Greater London Authority and certain county councils. The law expanded to include businesses that provide vehicles to citizens.
  
  

Current Status

• In 2010, the majority of the Disability Discrimination Act was replaced by the expansive Equality Act. The new law helped streamline previous legislation on discrimination. It includes a list of protected characteristics, including disabilities, race and sex.