disability discrimination
Disability discrimination is when someone unfairly treats you because of something connected to your disability. It can happen in a number of ways, such as if a service provider doesn’t make reasonable adjustments for you. This could be because they don’t know you have a disability or because they think it isn’t necessary to make the changes. It can also happen if someone makes you feel uncomfortable or excluded because of your disability.
You have protection from disability discrimination when using goods, services and facilities provided by public bodies and certain businesses (including banks, building societies, local authorities, insurance companies, advice agencies, pubs, theatres, shops, telesales, railway stations and churches). The duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to these organisations regardless of their size. It also covers goods and services which are not provided by a public body, such as private hire vehicles and some financial products.
Financial inclusion is a critical issue for people with disability. While technology can help overcome barriers, there is still a significant gap between the number of people who use online banking and those who do not. This is exacerbated by a digital divide, which leaves billions of people around the world unbanked, including many people with disability [22].
Can disability discrimination occur in the financial industry?
The Equality Act has several laws that protect you from discrimination in different areas. If you are disabled, you have the right to equality when you use goods and services provided by businesses such as banks, insurance companies, building societies, solicitors, local authorities, advice agencies, pubs, theatres, telesales, railway stations and doctors. These rights include the right to be treated fairly when you buy goods or services, and to be given information in accessible formats. The Act also protects you from discrimination in employment, the education system and when accessing public transport.
You can also be protected from direct disability lawyer toronto because of your disability, if you are made to feel less favoured than other people in similar situations. This can happen if you have a visible disability, such as cerebral palsy, a physical or mental health condition or a long-term illness. You can also be protected if you have a disability which has a lasting impact on your daily life, even if you are now well enough to work and live independently.
If you are unable to work due to a disability, your insurer will arrange an Independent Medical Examination (IME) as part of the process of approving your claim for LTD benefits. This is a legal requirement and it’s important to be co-operative and truthful as the information you provide will be included in the report which goes to the IME doctor. If you are not co-operative, the IME doctor may conclude that you’re not disabled and your claim will be rejected. This is why you should always seek legal assistance from a disability lawyer in Toronto to represent your interests. They can make sure the IME doctor understands your situation and provides an objective opinion about your level of disability.