Where, under the same circumstances, someone with a disability is treated less favourably than a person without a disability, discrimination is said to have occurred. Discrimination also exists where a condition is imposed which, although the same for everyone, unfairly disadvantages people with a disability. It's not unlawful to treat people with a disability differently if the intention is to ensure that their special needs are met.
Disability includes physical disability or illness.
It also includes intellectual or psychological impairment, psychiatric illness, or other loss or abnormality of psychological or anatomical structure or function. Reliance on a guide-dog, wheelchair, or other remedial means is included. The presence in the body of organisms capable of causing illness is also covered - e.g., the HIV virus. The Act covers disabilities which people may have presently, have had in the past, may have in the future or which they are believed to have. It is also unlawful to discriminate against associates of people with a disability, because of that disability - e.g., a spouse, carer or business partner.