The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) –
An Outline of Its Implications for Churches

In 1995, the British parliament passed the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in order to protect the rights of disabled people.  Its aim is to create greater equality in society between non-disabled and disable people alike.  The Act is consequently being implemented in three stages.

   1)   From 1996, to treat a disabled person less favourably because they have a disability is illegal.

   2)   From October 1999, service providers (including churches) have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to the delivery of their services in order to make them accessible to people with disabilities at the same level at which they are accessible to non-disabled people.

   3)   From 2004, service providers must have made reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their buildings in order to make them accessible to people with disabilities.

It is illegal, therefore, for churches to discriminate against disabled people for a reason that is related specifically to their disability.  Churches also need to be making adjustments to the ways in which services (meaning the whole of the church’s life together) are offered.

Examples

   *   If a person requests that all printed material (including service sheets, church council minutes, etc)  be given to her in a large print format, then a church is required to respond to this need.

   *   If coffee is usually served in a room that is down a flight of stairs with no other way of entering the room, then moving the place where coffee is served to another accessible location is acceptable.

   *   A person should not be barred from becoming a church steward or a lay minister because they have a disability.

Thus most of what a church can do to become more accessible to people with disabilities and to comply with the Act really does take little effort and little cost.

From 2004, churches will need to make reasonable adjustments to their buildings in order to make them accessible.  This includes:  installing ramps at both the entrance and at any raised area of the church, including handrails where there are stairs, making the route to the church level, and installing a loop system to aid audibility.

All services that a church offers that are open to any member of the public should take place in an accessible location with accessible facilities because no one can predict whether a person with disabilities will attend or not.  By 2004, churches should have made reasonable adjustments to their buildings in order to make them accessible.  A meeting which is closed to the public (such as a Parochial Church Council meeting) at which it is known no person with a disability will attend does not need to be in an accessible location.  However, should a person with a disability be elected on to the PCC, then everything reasonable should be done to make the venue accessible.  Alternatively, the venue could be changed.

The term ‘reasonable adjustments’ is important for churches to bear in mind when they are considering making any adjustments to their services or buildings.  Issues that need to be taken into account when considering whether an adjustment is reasonable or not include:

   *   To what extent is the adjustment practical?

   *   How much will it cost?

   *   Is the building listed and if so, has the church sought permission from English Heritage?

No church will be forced to close if it is unable practically to make adjustments to its buildings or services or if the members simply cannot afford it.  Churches will, however, be expected to do as much as they can to make their services and buildings as accessible as possible.

The most useful thing which a church can do is to talk to people with disabilities and learn from them about how best to make services and buildings accessible.  They will have first-hand experience of difficulties with access, and practical suggestions about how to overcome the difficulties.

For further information on the DDA, access issues and information on grants contact:

Church Action on Disability

50 Scrutton Street

London

EC2A 4XQ                          Telephone:  020 7452 2085