Definition:
A person (P) has a disability if—
P has a physical or mental impairment, and
the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
A reference to a disabled person is a reference to a person who has a disability.
In relation to the protected characteristic of disability—
a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person who has a particular disability;
a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons who have the same disability.
This Act (except Part 12 and section 190) applies in relation to a person who has had a disability as it applies in relation to a person who has the disability; accordingly (except in that Part and that section)—
a reference (however expressed) to a person who has a disability includes a reference to a person who has had the disability, and
a reference (however expressed) to a person who does not have a disability includes a reference to a person who has not had the disability.
A Minister of the Crown may issue guidance about matters to be taken into account in deciding any question for the purposes of subsection (1).
Schedule 1 (disability: supplementary provision) has effect.
The Act has two main purposes – to harmonise discrimination law, and to strengthen the law to support progress on equality.
11. The Act brings together and re-states all the enactments listed in paragraph 4 above and a number of other related provisions. It will harmonise existing provisions to give a single approach where appropriate. Most of the existing legislation will be repealed. The Equality Act 2006 will remain in force (as amended by the Act) so far as it relates to the constitution and operation of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; as will the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, so far as it relates to Northern Ireland.