Campaigners and disabled peers say two key sets of government amendments to the equality bill will transform disability rights in employment and education. One series of amendments will tighten the ban – added to the bill at an earlier stage … Continue reading →

The new head of the UK’s leading disabled people’s organisation has described his appointment as a “fantastic opportunity” to help rebuild its credibility. Jaspal Dhani is the first permanent chief executive of the United Kingdom’s Disabled People’s Council (UKDPC) since … Continue reading →

New government figures have confirmed that only a small proportion of people applying for out-of-work disability benefits are “passing” the strict new test, the work capability assessment (WCA). The government claimed the figures showed that “thousands of people are now … Continue reading →

A leading disabled campaigner has welcomed government plans to bring in new laws on “safeguarding” adults, but has called for professionals to do far more to listen to people with learning difficulties. His call came after care services minister Phil … Continue reading →

Campaigners have called for a “tidal wave of desire for change” in the disability movement to encourage more young disabled people to become the leaders of the future. The call comes in the report Pushing for Change, part of a … Continue reading →

Campaigners have accused the government of trying to back out of a commitment to change the law to ensure all UK buses and coaches include audio and visual passenger information. The Talking Buses campaign, led by the charity Guide Dogs … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →