Anger over government’s ‘pathetic’ election access report
The government’s response to a consultation on how to make voting more accessible to disabled people has sparked anger among disabled campaigners, after it failed to offer a single new measure to improve access. One disabled campaigner branded the government’s report “pathetic” while another said the failure to act had made him “really angry”. The
Hundreds of thousands more PIP claimants would challenge awards… if they could
New government research shows that hundreds of thousands more claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) would have taken further steps to challenge the results of their claims if the system had been less stressful and more accessible. The research, carried out for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by Ipsos MORI, has cast fresh
Hope for major social security ‘brutality’ campaign after ‘breakthrough’ Labour meeting
Many of the disabled activists who have played a key role in exposing the harm caused by the government’s social security cuts and reforms have come together for a “breakthrough” campaign meeting attended by five Labour shadow ministers. Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that he believed that it could
Hope for major social security ‘brutality’ campaign after ‘breakthrough’ Labour meeting
Many of the disabled activists who have played a key role in exposing the harm caused by the government’s social security cuts and reforms have come together for a “breakthrough” campaign meeting attended by five Labour shadow ministers. Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that he believed that it could
Government’s response to ‘human catastrophe’ UN report is ‘deeply unsatisfying’
The government has been accused of publishing a “deeply unsatisfying” response to a devastating report by a UN committee that concluded last year that the UK had been “going backwards” on independent living. One disabled people’s organisation (DPO) said the government had been “clutching at straws” in the response in an attempt to persuade the
Autistic MP calls for change in equality laws to make parliament less hostile
An autistic MP who has only been able to make two speeches in the main Commons chamber since being elected is calling for a change in equality laws to force the authorities to make parliament a more accessible place to work. Jared O’Mara has had a series of requests rejected by the authorities that he
Exhibition of photographs aims to show ‘story arc of Deaf community’
A new exhibition of pictures by two Deaf photographers will highlight the achievements of a dozen Deaf people, and the barriers they face, and help to tell “the story arc of the Deaf community”. Among the 12 subjects to be featured are the award-winning actor and writer Jean St Clair (pictured), who has performed in
MPs win praise for online abuse proposals
MPs have won praise after calling on the government to ensure disabled people finally secure equality in the protection they are offered by hate crime laws. Members of the Commons petitions committee said in a new report that it was not right that it was a crime to incite hatred on the grounds of religion
Minister condemned for ‘woeful’ response to residential special school review
Inclusive education campaigners have condemned the government’s “woeful” response to a review of the experiences of disabled children and young people in residential special schools. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) said the government had again failed to take action that would “turn the tide against increased segregated education” and improve inclusive education in mainstream
Minister condemned for ‘woeful’ response to residential special school review
Inclusive education campaigners have condemned the government’s “woeful” response to a review of the experiences of disabled children and young people in residential special schools. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) said the government had again failed to take action that would “turn the tide against increased segregated education” and improve inclusive education in mainstream
Deaf boss forced to appeal for charity support after Access to Work court defeat
A Deaf chief executive is having to appeal to charity to fund the support he needs to do his job, after the high court decided that a cap the government imposed on Access to Work (AtW) payments did not breach the Equality Act. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) set an annual cap of
Deaths and hospital admissions follow short-notice closure of Leonard Cheshire home
At least two disabled people have died while others have been admitted to hospital following the short-notice closure of a residential home by a disability charity. Leonard Cheshire faced allegations of “insensitive and abusive” behaviour in May over the way its executives told disabled residents that they were about to close their care home because
Train companies could face court over inaccessible rail replacement buses
Train companies are facing possible legal action over their failure to ensure that replacement bus services are accessible to wheelchair-users and other rail passengers with mobility impairments. A leading disabled campaigner believes that access and equality laws mean most rail replacement buses – used when companies scrap train services because of engineering works or other
