Disability Action Centre (DAC)

fact sheet



Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)
Rights and responsibilities

Did you know? 
* There are over 9 million disabled people in the UK. 
* Eighteen per cent of the working age population are disabled. 
* These figures are increasing. 
* Seven out of ten disabled people in employment acquire their disability during their working lives. 
* Fewer than five per cent of disabled people are wheelchair users. 

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) employees, job applicants and customers who are disabled, or who have had a disability, have the right not to be discriminated against because of their disability. 

Royal Mail responsibilities 
* To ensure fair and proper treatment of disabled applicants, employees and customers. 
* Not to discriminate against disabled people. 
* To make all services and products which are available to the public accessible to disabled customers as is reasonably possible, which includes the need to make reasonable adjustments to services, products and premises ('services') to ensure that disabled customers are not unfairly prevented from accessing them. 
* To make reasonable adjustments to aspects of employment, when the need arises for disabled people. 
* To treat as an offence the harassment or victimisation of anybody who supports their own or another's rights under the DDA. 

Individual responsibilities 
To inform your line manager, personnel or seek advice from the Royal Mail Disability Helpline if you think you have a disability which may benefit from reasonable adjustments.

* To co-operate to ensure the implementation of any reasonable adjustments when the need arises. 
* To inform your line manager, personnel or seek advice from the Royal Mail Disability Helpline if you are aware of discrimination, harassment or victimisation taking place. 
* Not to harass or victimise anybody who supports their own or another's rights under the DDA. 
* Harassment, victimisation or discrimination of anybody on the grounds of his/her disability will not be tolerated and any breach of the above duties may result in action under the conduct procedure. 

Resolving problems 
* Most problems are likely to be solved amicably through consultation and a common sense approach. 
* If you feel you have been discriminated against, it is our intention to remedy the situation as fairly and as quickly as possible. 
* Where it is not possible to resolve the problem informally, formal grievance procedures are available. 
* In the unlikely event that internal procedures fail to resolve the situation, individuals have the right to seek information, advice and redress externally.
    
Where to seek help and advice:
Line Manager; Personnel; Union; Disability Helpline; Employee Health Service (EHS)


Whilst we endeavour to ensure the accuracy of information given in this fact sheet, it is intended for guidance only. Inclusion of supplier/organisation details does not imply Royal Mail Group plc approval. Any prices/terms/conditions must be confirmed direct with service provider. 

If you require this fact sheet in an alternative format, please contact the DAC via:

Royal Mail Disability Helpline     Telephone:  0114 241 4731   Fax: 0114 241 4534  
Calls are welcome through RNID Typetalk and BT Text Direct
Email: dac@royalmail.com   Website: www.royalmail.com/dac

Royal Mail is a trading name of Royal Mail Group plc. Registered number 4138203. 
  
Registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 148 Old Street, LONDON, EC1V 9HQ