A thalidomide survivor has spoken of his mixed emotions as he watched from the House of Commons public gallery while a government minister apologised for the damage caused by the drug half a century ago. Guy Tweedy is one of hundreds […]
Archives for 2010
Writer’s university experiment will capture voices in poetry
A disabled writer is to produce a series of experimental poems that aim to capture the lives and voices of disabled people, during a nine-month stint as a university department’s artist-in-residence. Allan Sutherland, a writer and performance poet and a leading […]
Peers call for legal duty on accessible information
A new, explicit legal duty to provide accessible information should be included in the government’s equality bill, according to peers. The amendments to the bill were proposed by the disabled peer Lord [Colin] Low during its committee stage in the Lords. […]
Rights campaigner to head EHRC’s disability committee
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has chosen a disability rights campaigner as the new chair of its disability committee. Mike Smith, who has been a member of the committee since 2007, replaces acting chair Alun Davies, who stepped down […]
McKinnon wins latest round in extradition court battle
Disabled computer hacker Gary McKinnon has won the latest round in his legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States. A high court judge has ruled that there should be a judicial review of home secretary Alan Johnson’s failure to […]
Personal care bill passes Commons hurdle
A government bill to introduce free personal care at home for disabled people with the highest needs has completed its progress through the Commons. But elements of the personal care at home bill faced severe criticism, particularly from Conservative MPs. The […]
Government faces criticism over mental health jury ban
The government has refused to explain its failure to fulfil a long-standing promise to reconsider the ban on people with mental health conditions serving on juries. Under the Juries Act, anyone receiving treatment for a mental health condition from a medical […]
Disabled women take over makeover show
Three disabled women who want to feel better about their bodies and how they look and dress are set to feature in a Channel 4 makeover show. The three-part “special”, How to Look Good Naked…With a Difference, also takes aim at […]
Blue badge improvements for Wales
The Welsh government has outlined plans to clamp down on the abuse of accessible parking bays, as part of improvements to the disabled people’s blue badge parking scheme. The five-year action plan also includes measures to extend eligibility for a badge […]
Commons committee calls for more disabled MPs
Action must be taken to prevent discrimination against disabled people who want to become parliamentary candidates, and provide them with financial and practical support, according to a committee of MPs. The historic Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation was set up to […]