Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 comes into force

Implementation date: 31 December 2006

The Order amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 by changing the definition of disability so that mental illness need no longer be clinically well recognised to be a mental impairment. The Order also places a general duty on public authorities in carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment; promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons; and to take steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities (even where this involves treating disabled persons more favourably than others). The Order can be viewed on the OPSI website.