What is the definition of disability under the Equality Act?

Asked by: Monty Cruickshank  |  Last update: April 6, 2026
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Under the Equality Act 2010, a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, with "substantial" meaning more than minor/trivial, and "long-term" meaning lasting 12 months or more, or likely to last that long or for life. This protects a wide range of conditions, including progressive illnesses (like MS, cancer, HIV), neurodevelopmental conditions (like autism, ADHD), and mental health issues (like depression), and also protects those with past disabilities or perceived disabilities.

What is the definition of a disability under the Equality Act?

The definition is set out in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010. It says you're disabled if: you have a physical or mental impairment. your impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to do normal day-to-day activities.

What is the current definition of disability?

Physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This is used to define those people covered by the disability sections of the Equality Act 2010. Substantially and permanently disabled.

What is legally defined as a disability?

The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Have a disability as defined in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010?

You're disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

Does Stress Qualify As A Disability Under the Equality Act 2010?

31 related questions found

What are the 4 categories of disabilities?

The four main types of disabilities are generally categorized as Physical, Sensory, Intellectual/Developmental (Cognitive), and Mental Health/Behavioral, though specific classifications can vary, encompassing challenges with mobility, sight/hearing, learning/thinking, and emotional/psychological well-being, respectively, all impacting major life activities.
 

What is a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 depression?

A mental health condition is considered a disability if it has a long-term effect on your normal day-to-day activity. This is defined under the Equality Act 2010. Your condition is 'long term' if it lasts, or is likely to last, 12 months.

What are the 7 types of disabilities?

Different types of disabilities

  • vision Impairment.
  • deaf or hard of hearing.
  • mental health conditions.
  • intellectual disability.
  • acquired brain injury.
  • autism spectrum disorder.
  • physical disability.
  • dyslexia.

What conditions are not considered a disability?

Other Examples of Non-covered Conditions

Broken limbs, sprains, concussions, appendicitis, common colds, or influenza generally would not be disabilities.

What is the definition of disability in the disability Discrimination Act?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) defines disability broadly as: total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; or. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or.

What is the UN definition of a disability?

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines persons with disabilities as 'those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others'.

How to prove disability?

To prove disability, you need strong medical evidence (records, tests, doctor statements detailing limitations) and proof your condition prevents work, supported by consistent treatment, a clear work history, and honest descriptions of daily functional limits, often requiring detailed physician reports on your specific restrictions (like lifting, sitting) to show a severe impairment. 

What is Section 6 of the Employment Equity Act?

S. Every employer must take steps to promote equal opportunity in the workplace by IO eliminating unfair discrimination in any employment policy or practice. 6. (I) No person may unfairly discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee.

What is the new definition of disability?

Our Definition of Disability. To meet our definition of disability, you must not be able to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a medically determinable physical or mental disability(ies) that is either: Expected to result in death.

What are the 4 types of discrimination under the Equality Act?

If you're disabled. If you're disabled under the Equality Act, you're protected from all the main types of discrimination - direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. You can check if you're disabled under the Equality Act.

What are the 9 grounds of the Equality Act?

The protected grounds are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief or lack of belief, age, disability, race including nationality, and membership in the Traveller community.

What are the 4 main disabilities?

The four main categories of disabilities generally recognized are Physical, Sensory, Intellectual/Developmental, and Mental Health/Behavioral, encompassing challenges with mobility, senses (sight/hearing), learning/cognitive function, and emotional/thinking processes, respectively, though specific definitions can vary.
 

What doesn't qualify for disability?

If a disability won't last at least a year or cause death, it usually doesn't qualify. Conditions that are not severe: A condition must be serious enough to limit a person's ability to work. If it's not, it usually won't qualify.

What are the 13 disability categories?

These conditions are autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment including blindness.

What conditions automatically qualify you for disability?

The types of conditions that qualify for disability listed in the Blue Book include musculoskeletal disorders, special senses and speech, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular system disorders, digestive system, genitourinary disorders, hematological disorders, skin disorders, endocrine disorders, congenital disorders ...

What are the 10 most common disabilities?

The top disabilities vary by source but consistently include musculoskeletal issues (arthritis, back pain), mental health conditions (depression, PTSD, anxiety), cognitive impairments (dementia, learning disabilities), hearing loss, vision impairment, and chronic health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disorders), with mobility and cognitive disabilities being most common overall, especially in older adults, while mood disorders are frequent in younger populations.
 

What are four hidden disabilities?

Hidden disabilities include diabetes, heart disease, chronic diseases, vision and hearing issues, mobility issues, developmental disorders and emotional disorders. Another misconception is that hidden disabilities affect people less than a readily apparent disability, such as mobility issues that require a wheelchair.

Does depression and anxiety count as a disability?

When depression is severe and long-lasting, making it hard to work, sleep, eat, or participate in hobbies you once enjoyed, it can be considered a disability. Like anxiety, for depression to be recognised as a disability, it needs to be a diagnosed medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity.

What is the Disabilities Act 2025?

President Bush signs the ADA into law. July 26, 2025 marks 35 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in both the private and state and local government sectors.

What is a disability under the Equalities Act?

(1)A person (P) has a disability if— (a)P has a physical or mental impairment, and. (b)the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. (2)A reference to a disabled person is a reference to a person who has a disability.