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You are here: Home / Archives for wheelchairs

wheelchairs

Consultation on electric wheelchairs, scooters and powered attachments could see end to legal confusion

By John Pring on 6th January 2026 Category: Transport

Consultation on electric wheelchairs, scooters and powered attachments could see end to legal confusion
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A new consultation on outdated laws covering the use of powered mobility devices on public roads and pavements could lead to greater independence for disabled people across Britain and an end to legal confusion, say campaigners. The consultation, launched by the […]

Minister rejects pleas from disabled peers for national wheelchair and equipment strategy

By John Pring on 18th December 2025 Category: Independent Living

Minister rejects pleas from disabled peers for national wheelchair and equipment strategy
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The government has dismissed pleas by disabled peers for ministers to introduce a national strategy to address the “untenable” state of wheelchair and community equipment services. A trio of disabled peers told ministers in the House of Lords how the current […]

Disabled people face ‘systemic’ barriers in accessing community equipment, parliamentary inquiry finds

By John Pring on 30th October 2025 Category: Independent Living

Disabled people face ‘systemic’ barriers in accessing community equipment, parliamentary inquiry finds
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A cross-party group of MPs and peers has called on the government to draw up a national strategy to address the “deeply troubling” and “systemic” barriers that prevent disabled people accessing the equipment they need to live independently. Hundreds of disabled […]

Government review of law on mobility aids could prove ‘absolutely transformative’

By John Pring on 7th August 2025 Category: Transport

Government review of law on mobility aids could prove ‘absolutely transformative’
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Disabled campaigners have welcomed the government’s announcement that it will review the laws around powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and examine how new mobility technology could be “safely implemented” for disabled people to use. They believe that better regulations on mobility […]

Government must take firmer grip of ‘inconsistent’ wheelchair services, says report

By John Pring on 21st November 2024 Category: Independent Living

Government must take firmer grip of ‘inconsistent’ wheelchair services, says report
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A new report backed by wheelchair-users has called on the government to take a firmer grip of the inconsistent provision of equipment through NHS wheelchair services in England.  The report, commissioned by The Wheelchair Alliance*, follows years of concerns about the […]

Disabled designer wins $500,000 to develop first intelligent manual wheelchair

By John Pring on 10th January 2019 Category: Independent Living

Disabled designer wins $500,000 to develop first intelligent manual wheelchair
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A disabled entrepreneur and product designer is set to develop a revolutionary prototype of the world’s first “intelligent” manual wheelchair, after winning half a million dollars in funding through a global competition. Andrew Slorance, whose start-up company Phoenix Instinct is based […]

A year on from new taxi discrimination laws… and not a single prosecution

By John Pring on 10th May 2018 Category: Transport

A year on from new taxi discrimination laws… and not a single prosecution
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Local authorities have failed to prosecute a single taxi-driver for discriminating against wheelchair-users under new legislation introduced more than a year ago, according to new figures released under the Freedom of Information Act. The figures show that not one taxi-driver out […]

Finding a wheelchair ‘is expensive, time-consuming and rarely straightforward’

By John Pring on 16th November 2017 Category: Independent Living

Finding a wheelchair ‘is expensive, time-consuming and rarely straightforward’
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Choosing and funding a wheelchair is expensive and time-consuming, and often results in the purchase of unsuitable and uncomfortable equipment, according to new research by a user-led charity. A survey by the spinal cord injury charity Back Up found that nearly […]

Councils ‘should be shamed into action’ on taxi access laws

By John Pring on 27th July 2017 Category: Transport

Councils ‘should be shamed into action’ on taxi access laws
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A disability activist has called on disabled people to shame their local councils into action, after his research showed more than a quarter had no plans to take one simple step that would protect wheelchair-users who use taxis from discrimination. On […]

Setback for taxi wheelchair access, after councils snub new laws

By John Pring on 27th April 2017 Category: Transport

Setback for taxi wheelchair access, after councils snub new laws
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Local authorities are refusing to take simple measures that will provide new legal protection from discrimination for wheelchair-users who want to travel by taxi. On 6 April, the government finally brought into force legislation that imposes fines of up to £1,000 […]

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Image of front cover of The Department, showing a crinkled memo with the words 'Restricted - Policy. The Department. How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence. John Pring.' Next to the image is a red box with the following words in white: 'A very interesting book... a very important contribution to this whole debate' - Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability. plutobooks.com and the Pluto Press logo.

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