Discrimination

The kinds of unlawful treatment covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Sample content. This summarises official sources listed below. It is information, not legal advice.

Key points

Direct discrimination: being treated worse than someone else because you are disabled.
Discrimination arising from disability: being treated badly because of something connected to your disability, such as needing a support dog or having disability-related absence.
Indirect discrimination: a rule that applies to everyone but puts disabled people at a disadvantage without good reason.
Failure to make reasonable adjustments is itself a form of discrimination.
Harassment and victimisation are also unlawful, including being treated badly for complaining.
Northern Ireland is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 rather than the Equality Act 2010.
A worked example: a cafe that will not let a blind customer bring in their guide dog, without a genuine health and safety reason, is very likely acting unlawfully and should be challenged through a complaint and, if needed, a county court claim (small claims for lower-value cases).
See also the goods and services rights topic for more detail on shops, banks and other providers.

Write down what happened, when, who was involved and who else saw it.
Use the organisation's complaints process first where you safely can.
Get advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service, Citizens Advice or a solicitor.
Check time limits early: six months less one day for most services claims, and three months less one day for employment.