Some interesting statistics about the impact the DDA is having on the population according to www.disabilitynow.or.uk:

Nearly three-quarters of adults are now aware of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), according to new government figures.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that awareness of the act is higher among the general UK population than among disabled people.

The ONS said 68 per cent of disabled people are aware of the act, compared with 75 per cent of non-disabled people. This compares with 40 per cent of the general population in 1996, a year after the act was passed.

The data – taken from national surveys that took place between 1996 and 2006 – also showed that around a quarter of disabled respondents still have problems using public transport.

The proportion of disabled people facing difficulties accessing goods and services dropped from 42 per cent in 1996 to 34 per cent by 2006.

The survey also found that disabled people who are not in paid work are less likely to be aware of the DDA and more likely to have experienced difficulties accessing goods, services and transport.

But less than one in a hundred disabled people had been told they could not buy or rent a property because of their impairment.

The government said the research proved the act had improved the lives of disabled people “across the board” since it was passed in 1995.

Minister for disabled people Anne McGuire (pictured) said: “I’m particularly pleased to see the act making a real difference to the everyday lives of disabled people – whether it’s getting on a bus or going to the corner shop.”

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