Disabled people are being taught how to scavenge for free food in supermarket skips and dustbins because they can’t afford to feed themselves, as a result of the government’s cuts and welfare reforms. The workshops are being run in south Wales […]
News Archive
TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference: Activists demand ‘fight back’ against cuts
Disabled union activists began a new “fight back” against government cuts by flooding out of their annual conference and taking part in a protest that brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill in London’s West End. Their conference had been addressed by […]
TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference: Fighting talk could lead to direct action
Disabled union activists have used their annual conference to launch a fresh fight back against government cuts to disability benefits and services. The TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference in London heard from a string of union delegates who spoke of the impact […]
Campaigners ask: Just who are the Atos champions?
New “champions” introduced by the government to improve the treatment of people with mental health conditions and learning difficulties through the controversial “fitness for work” test appear to have had little or no impact, say campaigners. The Mental Function Champions (MFCs) […]
Court decision on WCA ‘vindicates’ fears and concerns of thousands
Disabled activists say the fears and concerns of thousands of people with mental health conditions have been “vindicated”, after a tribunal ruled that the government’s “fitness for work” test was discriminating against them. The judgment should eventually force the Department for […]
Care bill ‘is culmination of 25 years campaigning for independent living’
Disabled peers have welcomed the government’s new care bill, but have warned that passing the legislation will mean nothing without action to solve the social care funding crisis. The bill’s lengthy journey through parliament began this week with its second reading […]
Council’s residential care threat policy will go to judicial review
A disabled teenager has been given the go-ahead to challenge a cost-cutting local authority that is set to force more disabled people into residential care, rather than paying for them to receive support in their own homes. Disabled campaigners reacted furiously […]
Government admits there can be no PIP online applications
New fears have been raised about how disabled people will be expected to apply for a new disability benefit, after it emerged that the government is not offering a way to claim for it online. Earlier this month, Disability News Service […]
Civil servants ‘forced to quit’ over ICT access ‘brick walls’
Disabled people who use assistive technology have been forced to quit their civil service jobs because of the government’s failure to deal with their access needs, Disability News Service has been told. Because security takes priority over every other issue – […]
Survey brings new evidence of benefits of personalisation
A new survey offers fresh evidence that using personal budgets to organise their social care increases disabled people’s independence and dignity and their ability to choose and control their support. The survey of more than 3, 300 personal budget-holders and carers […]