Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to establish rights for disabled people online similar to those in the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 already requires the providers of online services to make reasonable adjustments for their disabled customers - for example those with visual impairments. This is an anticipatory duty, meaning service providers should expect a proportion of their customers to need adjustments and put appropriate systems in place, ready for when they are needed.

A failure to make such adjustments is unlawful disability discrimination under the 2010 Act. Before considering any legal action, a disabled person who may have been discriminated against because of a disability may contact The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns.

The EASS can be contacted via their website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on 0808 8000082 or text phone on 0808 8000084.

The EASS has the ability to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.