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According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, a disability is defined as a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
The Equality Act 2010 outlines when someone is considered disabled and protected from discrimination. The definition is quite broad, so it is important to check even if you do not think you are disabled. For example, you might be classified as disabled if you have a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or autism.
The definition in Section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 states:
"You are disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment and/or if that impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."
Some impairments are automatically treated as disabilities under the Equality Act 2010. These include:
These conditions are covered in Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and Regulation 7 of the Equality Act 2010 Disability Regulations 2010.
The Equality Act 2010 also provides definitions for what constitutes substantial and long-term impairments.
A substantial impairment is more than minor or trivial. For example, it may take much longer than usual to complete a daily task such as getting dressed.
A long-term impairment means the condition has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or more. For example, a breathing condition developed as a result of a lung infection.
