Disabled people increasingly believe that coverage of welfare reform and other disability issues in national newspapers is helping to fuel hate crime according to a new report. Disability Rights UK (DR UK), which published the report this week, called on the […]
News Archive
Anger as editor tells Motability-users to ‘hang heads in shame’ after London 2012
The editor of a local newspaper has angered disability hate crime campaigners by telling users of Motability vehicles that they should “hang their heads in shame” in comparison with medal-winning Paralympians. Two editorials written in consecutive weeks by Toby Hines, owner […]
Disabled people’s organisations wary over ministerial reshuffle
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have responded warily to a string of new appointments to key posts in the coalition’s first ministerial reshuffle. Maria Miller, the much-criticised minister for disabled people, who has become the new culture secretary, will be replaced by […]
MP calls for inquiry into police protest violence
An MP has called for an inquiry into the “violence” of police officers against disabled activists who took part in a protest at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Labour MP John McDonnell made the call during a Commons […]
Inspectorate and watchdog could intervene in disabled prisoner’s health ordeal
Health experts from the prisons inspectorate are set to visit a disabled man whose life is at risk after being denied – his family say – the 24-hour care he needs for a serious health condition. The Equality and Human Rights […]
Disabled claimants feel ‘persecuted’ by WCA system, say MPs
A disabled Labour MP has delivered a passionate appeal for the government to fix the “fundamental” problems with its “fitness for work” assessment. Dame Anne Begg who chairs the Commons work and pensions committee, was speaking in a Commons debate for […]
London 2012: LOCOG ‘has let disabled people down’ on accessible info
London 2012 organisers have repeatedly refused to provide information for disabled visitors to the Olympic Park in accessible formats, Disability News Service (DNS) can reveal. Ron Newman, co-ordinator of the London 2012 disability advocate group (DAG) – set up to support […]
COMMENT: Putting their bodies on the line for precious metal
If it didn’t quite match Team GB’s Super Saturday in terms of precious metal, the third day of competition demonstrated what Britain’s Paralympians will put their bodies through for a chance to win a medal. Perhaps most striking was powerlifter Jason […]
London 2012: Activist finds helpline less than helpful
A prominent disabled activist has criticised organisers of the London 2012 Paralympics after telephone helpline staff were unable to tell her if there was an electricity charging point for her powerchair anywhere on the Olympic Park. Ruth Bashall said the helpline […]
COMMENT: Day two brings sublime sporting skill, and heartbreak
They were two moments of sporting emotion each of them the result of raw talent, years of dedication to their craft, and a refusal to accept defeat. The first spine-tingling moment came on Friday afternoon, just after 4pm, as the ParalympicsGB […]