Search Legislation

The Disability Discrimination (Blind and Partially Sighted Persons) Regulations 2003

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As made)
 Help about opening options

Opening OptionsExpand opening options

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for certain persons to be deemed to have a disability and hence to be disabled persons for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Under regulation 3, a person who is (i) certified as blind or partially sighted by a consultant ophthalmologist, or (ii) registered as blind or partially sighted in a register maintained by or on behalf of a local authority, is deemed to be a disabled person.

In England and Wales, certification must be by a consultant ophthalmologist in accordance with Department of Health Circular LASSL(90)1 entitled “Certification of Blind and Partially Sighted People: Revised Form BD8 and Procedures”. In Scotland, certification must be by a consultant ophthalmologist in accordance with Social Work Services Group Circular SWSG8/86 NHS 1998 (PCS) entitled “Registration of Blind and Partially Sighted People”.

Under regulation 4, conclusive evidence for the purposes of these Regulations may be provided in one of two ways: by a certificate signed by the certifying consultant ophthalmologist; or by a certificate issued by or on behalf of a local authority stating that the person is registered as blind or partially sighted with that authority. (In order to be registered with a local authority, a person must first be certified as blind or partially sighted by a consultant ophthalmologist.)

Any certificate produced for the purposes of regulation 4 is to be presumed to have been validly issued in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.

Back to top

Options/Help