Information for teens

What is a disability?

You are saying this has nothing to do with me - I have been diagnosed with cancer not a disability. The Disability Discrimination Act was passed to prevent discrimination against disabled people. Research has shown that least 51% of people do not consider themselves disabled but they have the protection of this law.

The Disability Discrimination Act says a disabled person is someone with 'a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'.

From 31October 2007 people diagnosed with cancer will have rights to be protected from discrimination. Discrimination is another word for unfair treatment because you have a disability or you are a boy or a girl or because you are a different race. Click the section where do I have rights to find out more.

Downloads: Click here if you are interested in finding out more about the definition of disability
Click here for the DDA booklet on definition

When do I have rights?

The Disability Discrimination Act says that disabled people have rights to be protected from discrimination at:

• School
• In work placements
• Out shopping
• Going to clubs
• Booking holidays
• Going to college etc

Downloads: Click here for A Guide for Everybody - Revised
Click here for the easy read guide

Schools must not treat disabled pupils unfairly because of their disability, without justification. They must also make reasonable adjustments so that disabled pupils are not disadvantaged compared with pupils who are not disabled. But in making these adjustments they do not have to remove or alter physical features or provide extra aids and services. There is a separate law covering special educational needs which provides auxiliary aids and services like sign language interpreters, Braille, support person etc.

Every aspect of school life is covered from after school activities to library services and school trips.

You cannot be refused a work placement because of your disability (cancer) and the employer has to consider what reasonable adjustments you might need.

You cannot be treated unfairly because of your cancer when accessing services to the public. Services to the public are cinemas, parks, clubs, shops, churches etc. You cannot be charged more for any service because of your disability (cancer). All these services have a duty to consider what reasonable adjustments they can make to help you use the service.

What Service Providers Need to Know - Revised

If you are going to go to college or any type of further or higher education then you also have rights not to be treated unfairly because of your disability (cancer). Further education colleges and universities have to take steps not to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of their disability and to make reasonable adjustments including auxiliary aids and services. This covers everything from examinations to going to lecture and tutorials.

Changes to SENDO in relation to further and higher education (from 1 September 2006) - Briefing document

What do I do?

If you feel you have been treated unfairly in school, college, university, work placements, work or accessing any services then contact the Equality Commission at telephone number 028 90 890 890 or text us at 028 90 500 589 for advice and information. You can also e-mail us.

If you are interested in finding out more about your child's rights at school, or when accessing services then click here and it will take you to section called information for people with cancer.