Channel 4 has pledged that at least half of the presenters it uses for its blanket coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics will be disabled people. It made the promise as it announced initial details of a £500, 000 programme to […]
Archives for 2010
Benefits advisers call in new work test rules for consultation
The government’s benefits advice body is to investigate changes to the controversial work capability test which campaigners believe will make it even harder for disabled people to claim access to the support they need. The social security advisory committee (SSAC) decided […]
Solar Centre abuse scandal: Health trust was ‘named and famed’
The health trust at the centre of allegations of abuse of disabled service-users was given an “excellent” rating by the healthcare regulator three years running, even though the watchdog knew about the allegations. An investigation by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber […]
Solar Centre abuse scandal: Trust took two years to hand over report
The health trust at the centre of allegations of ill-treatment and neglect of people with learning difficulties at a day centre has taken nearly two years to pass its report into the allegations to the healthcare watchdog. The report describes how […]
New firm hopes to create 50 jobs for people with autism
A new social enterprise is aiming to create 50 jobs for people with autism in Scotland, by providing skilled software-testing services to businesses. Specialisterne Scotland, which was launched by Scottish government minister John Swinney this week, is modelled on a Danish […]
Police probe deaths of disabled woman and mother
Police are investigating the deaths of a disabled woman and her mother, whose bodies appear to have been lying undiscovered in their home for several weeks. The bodies of Sam Wolf, 29, and her mother Stephania, 67, were finally discovered this […]
Minister warned chancellor of spending cuts equality duty
Home secretary Theresa May has warned the chancellor that the government’s planned spending cuts could cause it to breach its legal duty to promote disability equality. May wrote to George Osborne on 9 June in her role as women and equalities […]
Government’s welfare reforms win cool reception
Disability organisations have given a cool reception to a government document that pledges sweeping changes to the benefits system. Although the plans outlined in 21st Century Welfare are lacking in detail and include several options for reform, they focus on a […]
Tube cuts ‘could undermine mobility of disabled people’
Planned cuts to hundreds of jobs across London Underground could make it harder for disabled passengers to secure the assistance they need to use the service say campaigners. Three organisations that campaign on disability issues – London Visual Impairment Forum (LVIF), […]
Tanzania project breaks new ground for unions
A unique project – backed by international trade unions – aims to promote the employment rights of disabled people in Tanzania. The pilot programme will find jobs for 20 disabled people, while training existing trade union members in Tanzania to be […]