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Multiple Sclerosis

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This section of the site contains more information on how the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), as amended by the DDO 2006, can affect individuals with MS, and the duties on employers, schools, colleges, universities and service providers to ensure best practice.

If you have a disability yourself, are the parent or carer of someone with a disability, or support or advise people with disabilities, the DDO 2006 may affect you as it provides new rights. If you are an employer or service provider who has to comply with disability discrimination law, the DDO may have implications for the way you treat disabled job applicants and employees, pupils, students or customers.

This is not a complete guide to the resources and information available and we would welcome any comments or suggestions for further links in the your say section of the website.

How has the definition of disability changed?

In the Disability Discrimination Order (DDO) 2006, the definition of disability was changed to cover people from the point of diagnosis of MS.

The DDA defines disability as 'a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person's ability to perform normal day-to-day activities'. From 31 October 2007, the rules for people diagnosed with MS became simpler. Before this, there were special rules for people with progressive conditions which meant they had to prove they had symptoms which affected their day-to-day activities. Now, people with MS have protection from the point of diagnosis and they do not have to prove it affects their day-to-day activities.

Employers, service providers and education providers are often unsure of how to manage people's experience of MS.

Accessing work, staying in work, accessing services and educational opportunities can be difficult for people with MS as they have to manage their condition while facing hurdles caused by such uncertainty and lack of information.

The DDA aims to end discrimination against people with long term health conditions or disability, and break down these structural and attitudinal barriers.

Information for a person with MS

Do you think you have been discriminated at work, in accessing services or housing, or as a member of a union, at school or in further or higher education because of the diagnosis of MS? If you are disabled, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO) make it unlawful for you to be discriminated against in:

  • employment
  • access to goods, facilities and services
  • the management, buying or renting of land or property
  • education

Download a Guide for Everybody - Revised
Download our easy-to-read Guide for Disabled People - Revised

More information: What is a disability? |
What does the DDA mean for me? |
Do I have to declare that I have a diagnosis of MS? |
Reasonable adjustments in employment |
Your rights when accessing services and premises |
Your rights in school |
Your rights in further and higher education |
More support and information |

Information for employers

It is unlawful for any employer regardless of size to discriminate against current, prospective or past employees. The DDO means that people with MS are covered by the law from the date of diagnosis. This means employers have to make reasonable adjustments for people with MS and direct discrimination against disabled people cannot be justified.

Download an overview of employer's duties - Fact Sheet 6 - Revised

More Information What is a disability? (for employers) |
Disability discrimination in Employment |
Reasonable adjustments in employment for people with MS |
Information and support for employers |

Information for schools, colleges and universities

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO) is the law which relates to disability discrimination in education in Northern Ireland. SENDO and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) use the same definition of disability. Since September 2005, it is against the law for schools and institutions of further and higher education to discriminate against a pupil/student for a reason relating to their disability which it cannot justify. Disabled students and learners have rights not to be discriminated against and a right to reasonable adjustments in further and higher education.

Downland changes to SENDO in relation to further and higher education (from 1 September 2006) - Briefing document
Year: 2006 (70kb, 7 pages)

Download a summary guide to Disability Discrimination duties for the schools sector
Year: 2006 (1.8mb, 300kb, 36 pages)

More Information What is a disability? (for schools) |
Disability discrimination in education |
Reasonable adjustments for students with MS |
Information and support for schools |

Information for service providers and housing

Service providers have a duty under the DDA not to discriminate without justification against a disabled person. They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to the way services are provided and they have to identify and overcome physical features which make it difficult for disabled people to use their services. All services which are open to the public or a section of the public are covered by the DDA. It does not matter if the service is paid for or free.

Downloads: What service providers need to know guide |
Year: 2006 (615kb, 31 pages)

More Information What is a disability? (for service providers) |
Changes to service provision |
Information and support for service providers |

Useful Links

www.mssociety.co.uk |
www.actionms.co.uk |

Key Statistics

  • 4,000 people with MS in Northern Ireland
  • 85,000 in the UK
  • Most people diagnosed between 20 and 40 years old

Downloads: A guide to the DDA for people with HIV, cancer and MS (word version)
[228kb]
A guide to the DDA for people with HIV, cancer and MS (pdf version)
[57kb]