The Disability Discrimination Act 2005, which amended, and extended duties under, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), introduced three new provisions that might result in criminal offences. Enforcement action would be under powers in the DDA though we are not aware of any prosecutions under these provisions.
With regard to enforcement of the DDA’s civil rights, data from the Employment Tribunal Service show that, in the year ended March 2006, 173 complaints of disability discrimination were upheld. Data from the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal show that, in the year ended August 2006, 20 complaints of disability discrimination were upheld.