Epilepsy, employment and the Disability Discrimination Act. Does legislation make a difference?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 confers limited but significant rights on people with disabilities in the United Kingdom. In this article we focus on the protection that the Act offers to people with epilepsy in the sphere of employment. We examine the exempt categories of employment and the extent to which epilepsy qualifies as a disability for statutory purposes. We go on to explore the impact of the new law on the recruitment and employment experience of people with epilepsy. The shortcomings of the legislation are highlighted and improvements, which would benefit people with epilepsy, are recommended. Claims featuring epilepsy, brought under the Act, are analysed to illustrate how the legislation is being interpreted and applied.