News

Legislation providing greater protection for people with disabilities moved one step closer to reality, as the Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Bill completed its committee stage at the House of Lords.

The private members bill, introduced by Lord Ashley of Stoke, is intended to extend the scope of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, including the definition of disability, and to close existing loopholes.

Key amendments called for the provisions of the 1995 act to be extended to cover voluntary workers with disabilities, students with disabilities wanting to pursue professional qualifications, pupils with disabilities trying to obtain work experience or sit examinations, and anyone over 18 with a disability wanting to attend a polling station to vote.

The bill would also close a "damaging anomaly" introduced by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, which could result in non-educational services provided by schools being excluded from the protection of the 1995 act. Unless amended, this could mean people with disabilities no longer being covered in relation to careers services, leisure services, parents’ evenings, and other community services provided at schools or colleges of further or higher education.

In terms of widening the definition of disability, the bill calls for a greater understanding of mental health problems and their impact on day to day life.

Only an amendment calling for an extension to the 1995 act to cover the armed forces failed to make it through the committee stage.

The bill will now be scheduled for the report stage, and its third reading in the House of Lords. It will then need to wait for a time slot before it can be heard in the House of Commons.