About Orbis   Orbis was established in 2005 to provide life assurance, travel insurance and financial products for people with “impaired lives”.   Disability Discrimination Act 1995   By the 1990’s it had become widely recognised that people with disabilities were facing discrimination. However, there was no legislation protecting their rights as there was for race and sex discrimination. Disabled people began a vigorous campaign for anti-discrimination legislation. Their voices were strengthened and inspired to the comprehensive legislation set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990.   Although the Act was passed in 1995, disability rights campaigners find the present Disability Discrimination Act flawed and inadequate in scope. In 1995 the Disability Rights Task Force recommended numerous changes, the Government are currently consulting on possible amendments.   DDA… How it impacts on Insurance   Insurance comes within the goods and services provisions in part III of the Disability Discrimination Act. There is a need for insurers to be allowed to distinguish between individuals when they are carrying out their “risk assessment”. However, it is up to the insurer to prove that there is an additional risk associated with a disabled person arising from their disability. The Disability Discrimination Act Code of Practice states that the blanket assumptions should be avoided. The Association of British Insurers has issued its own Guide to the DDA for life and disability insurers, which makes the same point.   www.mind.org.uk  national association for mental health   Orbis Insurance Services Ltd…   is a private company and is not endorsed by any organisation. It has, however, worked closely with the “Office of the Deputy Prime Minister” to create a range of insurance products for people who have difficulty in obtaining cover. These include Term Assurance and Travel Insurance for people with “impaired lives” and whilst they cannot guarantee to cover everybody, they will look sympathetically at every risk.   Tel: 01424 220110  Fax: 01424 217107  E-mail: cover@orbis-insure.co.uk Orbis Insurance Services Ltd, Charter House, 43. St. Leonards Road. Bexhill-on-sea, East Sussex,TR40 1JA   Registered in London 5165829 – 6-8, Underwood Street, London, N17 7QJ. orbis insurance services ltd are a member of BIBA and regulated by the FSA. No.439530