RNIB

Employment

April 19, 2018 0

Charities delivering DWP’s work programme ‘must promise not to attack McVey’

Disability charities that sign up to help deliver the government’s new Work and Health Programme must promise to “pay the utmost regard to the standing and reputation” of work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, official documents suggest. The charities, and other organisations, must also promise never to do anything that harms the public’s confidence

Transport

Cars crossing a flat space, with bollards and surrounding buildings

January 11, 2018 0

Review calls for more inclusive approach to ‘shared space’ schemes

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A disabled peer has welcomed a new industry review of so-called “shared space” street designs, which has concluded that local authorities should adopt a more “inclusive approach” to them. The report by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) looked at 11 shared space developments across England, but found evidence that only one

Human Rights

Polling station sign attached to metal railings

August 17, 2017 0

Blind voters unable to vote secretly and independently at election, says survey

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Only one in four blind and partially-sighted people who voted in June’s general election was able to do so independently and in secret, according to a new report. The disability charity RNIB said its Turned Out 2017 report showed that blind and partially-sighted voters “continue to face the same barriers to exercising their democratic

Human Rights

June 15, 2017 0

Polling station ‘discrimination’ fuels calls for online voting

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The experience of a partially-sighted voter who believes he was discriminated against at a general election polling station last week has added to calls for disabled people to be allowed to vote online. Dan Williams, director of Visualise Training and Consultancy in Cardiff, had asked Cardiff council in advance if he could vote using

Activism and Campaigning

Paul Farmer speaking to protesters outside Mind's headquarters

December 8, 2016

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Big disability charities ‘are selling out disabled people’ by seeking DWP contracts

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The country’s largest disability charities have been accused of “selling out” disabled people, as they look set to play a significant role in providing back-to-work services under the government’s new Work and Health Programme. Disability News Service (DNS) has contacted seven of the largest disability charities – most of which are not user-led –

Transport

May 5, 2016

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Campaigners call on minister to reject rail access funding delay

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Campaigners have called on the transport secretary to ignore recommendations from the head of Network Rail that would delay tens of millions of pounds of investment in making rail stations more accessible. The seven organisations, headed by the user-led charity Transport for All, are furious that Sir Peter Hendy (pictured), the chair of Network

Benefits and Poverty

A wheelchair-user at a protest holding a placard saying 'You Can't Cut This'

February 11, 2016

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Anger at Osborne’s working-age benefits freeze

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Campaigners say the government’s decision to enforce a freeze on working-age benefits from April – even though older people will see their pensions increase by 2.9 per cent – will further entrench disability poverty. The annual “uprating” of working-age benefit rates were decided last October, and are based on the CPI (consumer price index)

Transport

Outside view of the Houses of Parliament

November 20, 2015

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Transport boss apologises after ‘misleading’ comments to peers on access

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The boss of a public transport lobbying organisation has apologised to campaigners after being criticised for two “misleading” comments made to peers investigating the impact of the Equality Act on disabled people. Simon Posner chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), which represents the bus and coach industry, gave evidence to the

Independent Living

July 17, 2015

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Private sector ‘shames government on Equality Act’

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The private sector has implemented the Equality Act far better than central and local government a committee of peers has been told by a prominent disabled campaigner. The peers were told that the focus on disability discrimination had faded since the “generic” Equality Act replaced legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act, and the

Employment

March 27, 2015

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Residential training colleges face uncertain future after government shake-up

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Four of the country’s nine specialist residential training colleges for disabled people are facing an uncertain future after the government announced a huge shake-up of specialist employability support. The contracting process, completed in less than 15 working days after years of “discussion and consideration”, saw five colleges succeed with their bids, while the other

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