What do we mean by Disability?
In 2006 legislation called the Disability Equality Duty was introduced to protect disabled people from discrimination. It aims to do this by reducing the barriers that many people encounter because they are 'disabled' and by actively promoting disability equality.
Under the legislation you are protected and have certain rights if you have a physical impairment, mental health difficulty, health concerns or learning difficulty that has lasted or is likely to last for 12 months or more and that has a significant impact on your ability to carry out your day to day activities.
- A physical impairment is a condition affecting the body, perhaps through sight or hearing loss, a mobility difficulty or a health condition such as asthma, diabetes or HIV etc.
- A mental impairment is a condition affecting 'mental functioning', for example a learning disability or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or mental health conditions such as depression or eating disorders etc.
So although you may not think of yourself as a disabled person, you might have an impairment or a condition that impacts on your every-day life. You may be entitled to protection under the law, and support from the University.
