Direct discrimination
happens when someone is treated less favourably than someone else because of that individual’s disability. For example, it would be direct discrimination if persons with disabilities were excluded from voting on the basis of their disability. It would also be direct discrimination if persons who are wheelchair users were excluded from attending a sporting event on the basis that they would put others at risk during an emergency evacuation.
Indirect discrimination
happens when a working condition or rule disadvantages one group of persons more than another. For example, holding a job interview in the second floor of a building with no elevator puts wheelchair users at a disadvantage and holding telephone job interviews puts persons who are deaf at a disadvantage unless accommodations are made. Providing voting information on an inaccessible website puts persons with visual impairments at a disadvantage. Indirect discrimination is unlawful, whether or not it is done intentionally.