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Disability discrimination: Schizophrenia sufferer was disabled person under DDA

This report relates to 1 case(s)

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    Goodwin v The Patent Office [1999] IRLR 4 EAT (2 other reports)

    • Guidance on disability definition

      Date:
      1 March 1999

      In Goodwin v Patent Office the EAT has given detailed guidance on the proper approach to determining whether an applicant under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) satisfies the definition of having a "disability".

    • Guidance on meaning of disability

      Date:
      1 January 1999

      In Goodwin v The Patent Office (21 October 1998) EOR83E, the EAT has issued detailed guidance on analysing whether an applicant falls within the Disability Discrimination Act's definition of disability.

An employee who suffered from schizophrenia, and as a result experienced difficulties in concentrating and communicating, was a disabled person within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act, holds the EAT in Goodwin v The Patent Office [1999] IRLR 4. An employment tribunal was wrong to hold that he did not fall within the definition of "disability" because he was able to cope with the practicalities of living alone.