Disability
Disability is defined as:
A physical or mental impairment which has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative impact on a person’s ability to do normal daily activities.
Substantial means more than minor, For example: it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed.
Long-term means 12 months or more. For example: a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection.
A progressive condition is one that gets worse over time. People with progressive conditions can be classed as disabled.
You would automatically meet the disability definition under the Equality Act 2010 from the day you are diagnosed with:
- HIV infection
- cancer
- multiple sclerosis
Watch the Disability Toolkit webinar for more information:
You can switch on subtitles once you have started to play the video. A menu will appear on the video screen.
Page last updated: 26 February 2024
