The Disability Discrimination Act  Who is covered by the DDA ? A disabled person is covered by the Act if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. People who have had such a disability in the past are also covered. Responsibilities of service providers under the Act ? The DDA makes it unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably than they would treat other people, for a reason related to their disability, when offering or providing goods, facilities or services. Less favourable treatment is not unlawful if a service provider can show that in his reasonable opinion one of the five conditions set out in section 20 (4) of the DDA has been satisfied. It does not matter whether the service is paid for or free of charge. What duties already apply to service providers ? The first rights of access came into effect on 2 December 1996 and placed a duty on service providers not to refuse service to disabled people; offer a worse service; or offer service on worse terms for a reason related to the persons disability.