Three disabled people who could play significant – but contrasting – roles in this year’s London 2012 Paralympics have been recognised in the New Year Honours. Joyce Cook, chair of Level Playing Field, the user-led charity representing disabled sports fans, receives […]
News Archive
New Year Honours: Activist pledges to use OBE to fight cuts
A leading disabled activist recognised with an OBE in the New Year Honours is to use the award to campaign against government cuts to disability benefits. Jim Elder-Woodward, convenor of Independent Living in Scotland, a disabled people’s organisation set up to […]
Report uncovers scores more NHS ‘discrimination deaths’
A new investigation has uncovered evidence that NHS failings have caused or contributed to the deaths of more than 70 people with learning difficulties. The charity Mencap, which collaborated with the investigation by the Guardian newspaper, said the cases highlighted the […]
Politicians and DWP combine to block answers on Unum links
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the three main political parties are refusing to say how often ministers have met with an insurance company set to make huge financial gains from incapacity benefit reform. Disability News Service (DNS) submitted […]
Disabled people ‘must play part’ in fighting blue badge abuse
Disabled people must play a part in efforts to cut the misuse and abuse of blue parking badges, according to leading activists. New measures to cut abuse of the disabled people’s blue badge parking scheme came into force on 1 January, […]
NHS trust refuses to say where abuse scandal doctor is working
An NHS trust is refusing to identify the surgery where a doctor is working, even though his negligence allowed scores of disabled people to be raped, drugged, assaulted and neglected at two residential homes. The primary care trust has admitted that […]
Denial of campaigner’s benefit claim fuels DLA fears
The decision to reject a leading disabled activist’s application for disability living allowance (DLA) has fuelled fears that the government is deliberately turning down eligible claims as part of its programme of spending cuts. Sue Marsh has had seven life-saving operations […]
London’s new bus is now more accessible, say transport bosses
Transport bosses say they believe design changes made to the successor to London’s Routemaster bus will make it more accessible for wheelchair-users. A prototype of the new “bus for London” – championed by the mayor, Boris Johnson – was seen in […]
Award decision rewards ‘driven’ duo
Two “driven and creative” disabled businessmen – who both run companies selling independent living aids – have been declared joint winners of a lucrative annual award. The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs is run by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou the founder of […]
Remploy battle ‘could lead to occupation of factories’
Government decisions on the future of the remaining 54 Remploy sheltered factories could lead to strike action and even occupation of their workplaces by disabled people, MPs have heard. The warning was issued by the Labour MP John McDonnell, who was […]