Disabled campaigners have raised serious concerns about the impact of government plans to create more self-governing “academy” schools. This week’s Queen’s speech included plans to allow new providers to run state schools, to allow more schools to become academies, and to […]
News Archive
Artist will create work out of access stress
A disabled artist is to measure disabled people’s temperature heart rate and brain waves to assess their stress levels as they encounter public access barriers. The data gathered – as well as the reactions of non-disabled people making the same journey […]
OFCOM says Big Brother comment was offensive
Campaigners have welcomed the broadcasting watchdog’s decision to overturn its own ruling and condemn the use of offensive, disablist language on a Channel 4 show. Footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones caused outrage when he “joked” on Celebrity Big Brother’s Big Mouth (BBBM) – […]
CPS clarifies hate crime law for people with HIV
New official guidance which makes it clear that people with HIV have the same legal hate crime protection as other disabled people should make it easier for them to report offences, say campaigners. There had been concerns that the Crown Prosecution […]
Coalition’s plans for government: Activists point to equality gap
Campaigners have raised concerns that the new coalition’s “programme of government” for the next five years fails to mention disabled people in its section on equalities. The programme was launched by David Cameron, the Conservative prime minister, and Nick Clegg, the […]
Coalition’s plans for government: Commission to seek care funding solution
Campaigners have delivered a broadly positive response to the new coalition government’s decision to set up a commission to investigate the reform of social care funding. The pledge to set up the independent commission – which will report to the government […]
Coalition’s plans for government: School inclusion fears realised
The fears of inclusive education campaigners have been borne out after the new coalition government pledged to “remove the bias towards inclusion” in disabled children’s education. The government programme for the next five years, published by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat […]
Union activists call for public inquiry into disability hate crime
Union activists have called on the government to set up a public inquiry into the way the police deal with disability hate crime. Delegates to the TUC’s annual disability conference unanimously backed the motion, proposed by the University and College Union […]
Recession has led to ‘huge rise in discrimination’
The recession has led to a huge increase in discrimination faced both by disabled people in work and those looking for jobs, according to a leading union activist. Diana Holland, an assistant general secretary of Unite, Britain’s biggest union, told the […]
Press watchdog launches probe into ‘offensive’ article
The press watchdog has launched an investigation into a newspaper article in which journalist Janet Street-Porter describes depression as “the latest must-have accessory” for “trendy women”. The article sparked a torrent of complaints from people with mental health conditions, both on […]