Home > Resources > HR compliance > Discrimination > Disability discrimination: Definition of disability
Two individuals working at a desk in an office setting, with one person reviewing papers and writing, and another person working on a laptop in the background.

Disability discrimination: Definition of disability

A guide explaining how disability is defined under the Equality Act 2010 and who is protected from disability discrimination.

Share this:

By the Brightmine Content Team

This guide explains the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010, which determines who is covered by protection from disability discrimination.

Sign up today to get:

  • Definition of disability
    • Meaning of “impairment”
    • Meaning of “substantial”
    • Meaning of “long term”
    • Meaning of “normal day-to-day activities”
    • Examples of the application of the definition of disability
  • Specific conditions
    • Severe disfigurement
    • Progressive conditions
    • Deemed disabilities
  • Medical evidence of disability
    • Future developments

Want to see more?

For full access, sign up to a HR and Compliance Centre subscription today.

Latest updates

This resource is kept under review and updated in line with developments.

Navigate HR complexity with confidence

With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organisation up for a brighter future.

Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.

You may also be interested in…

Events

Meet Brightmine at the HR Consultancy Festival 2026

Brightmine is sponsoring and attending the HR Consultancy Festival 2026, a one‑day event bringing together HR consultants, practitioners …

Webinars

Pay and labour market update, June 2026

Learn how to build transparent reward frameworks that promote fairness, consistency and employee trust across pay and total …

Commentary and Insights

Employment Rights Act 2025: How do you prepare for the unknown?

Employers and workers are trying to make sense of the new rules on guaranteed hours for zero and …

About the author

Brightmine

With more than 10,000 customers, Brightmine is a leading global provider of people data, analytics and insight – empowering HR leaders to deliver brighter business outcomes.

For more than two decades, Brightmine, formerly XpertHR, has continued to help HR leaders confidently navigate the evolving world of work through our unique combination of critical workforce data, AI-enabled technology, and trusted HR expertise.

Brightmine is a division of LexisNexis Data Services within RELX®, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools. RELX serves customers in 180+ countries with 35,000+ employees. Ticker: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.

Sign up to receive expert HR insights from Brightmine

Join our community and stay updated with industry trends, expert insights, valuable resources, webinar invites… and much more.

Sign up now and receive regular updates straight to your inbox!

    *Brightmine is a tradename of LexisNexis Risk Solutions. By registering your details, you understand that your personal data will be handled according to our Privacy Policy.