List of Not Reasonable adverse effects

An illustrative and non-exhaustive list of factors which, if they are experienced by a person, it would not be reasonable to regard as having a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities. 

Source: Office of Disability Issues (recommended by the EHRC) 

Whether a person satisfies the definition of a disabled person for the purposes of the Act will depend upon the full circumstances of the case.  That is, whether the substantial adverse effect of the impairment on normal day-to-day activities is long term. 

  • Inability to move heavy objects without assistance or a mechanical aid, such as moving a large suitcase or heavy piece of furniture without a trolley;

  • Experiencing some discomfort as a result of travelling, for example by car or plane, for a journey lasting more than two hours;

  • Experiencing some tiredness or minor discomfort as a result of walking unaided for a distance of about 1.5 kilometres or one mile;

  • Minor problems with writing or spelling;

  • Inability to reach typing speeds standardised for secretarial work;

  • Inability to read very small or indistinct print without the aid of a magnifying glass;

  • Inability to fill in a long, detailed, technical document, which is in the person’s native language, without assistance;

  • Inability to speak in front of an audience simply as a result of nervousness;

  • Some shyness and timidity;

  • Inability to articulate certain sounds due to a lisp;

  • Inability to be understood because of having a strong accent;

  • Inability to converse orally in a language which is not the speaker’s native spoken language;

  • Inability to hold a conversation in a very noisy place, such as a factory floor, a pop concert, sporting event or alongside a busy main road;

  • Inability to sing in tune;

  • Inability to distinguish a known person across a substantial distance (e.g. across the width of a football pitch);

  • Occasionally forgetting the name of a familiar person, such as a colleague;

  • Inability to concentrate on a task requiring application over several hours;

  • Occasional apprehension about significant heights;

  • A person consciously taking a higher than normal risk on their own initiative, such as persistently crossing a road when the signals are adverse, or driving fast on highways for own pleasure;

  • Simple inability to distinguish between red and green, which is not accompanied by any other effect such as blurring of vision;

  • Infrequent minor incontinence;

  • Inability to undertake activities requiring delicate hand movements, such as threading a small needle or picking up a pin.