the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has disputed claims made by its own disability minister which explained why widespread cuts were made to disabled people’s Access to Work support packages after Labour came to power in July 2024. Disability News Service […]
The business leader heading the government’s efforts to keep ill and disabled people in work has suggested to MPs that he does not believe stricter enforcement of the Equality Act is the way to address disability discrimination in the workplace. Sir Charlie […]
Disabled young people in the UK still face barriers that stop them taking part in school, college and university on an equal basis with non-disabled people, despite ongoing international calls for inclusive education, according to new government-funded research. The research, commissioned under […]
Activists have told an inquiry they fear the government is focusing its attention on “punishing” young disabled people for their needs and challenges, rather than ensuring they receive the support they need. Members of Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) raised […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to explain which disabled people it expects to lose out from nearly £2 billion in new cuts to disability benefits, six weeks after the “savings” were quietly revealed in budget documents. Despite requests […]
Disabled people across the country have backed the chief executive of a disability organisation after she turned down an MBE because of how successive governments have “demonised, dehumanised and scapegoated” disabled people. Tressa Burke, founding chief executive of the disabled people’s organisation […]
Controversial government legislation that has now become law provides no solution to the culture of abuse, neglect and exclusion within the mental health system, or its continued structural racism, say disabled campaigners. The mental health bill received royal assent on 18 December […]
A new consultation on outdated laws covering the use of powered mobility devices on public roads and pavements could lead to greater independence for disabled people across Britain and an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 government […]
The Labour government has been accused of a “truly horrifying” betrayal of disabled people after slashing an accessible housing target proposed by the last Conservative government. On 18 March 2024, Tory housing minister Felicity Buchan finally promised to introduce new rules that […]
The information commissioner has dismissed attempts by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to describe a disabled journalist as “vengeful” and “vexatious” after he tried to obtain information about its years of safeguarding failings. Disability News Service (DNS) editor John Pring […]
Labour ministers considered the possibility of means-testing personal independence payment (PIP) last year, but then ruled out the option, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted. A decision notice issued by the information commissioner reveals that ministers considered means-testing PIP […]
The much-anticipated disability rights plan for Wales has left it to the next Welsh government to come up with a strategy to tackle the long-term barriers disabled people face in their daily lives. When the Welsh government published its long-awaited plan on […]
The Labour peer trying to steer the assisted suicide bill through the House of Lords has rejected attempts to remove eligibility from disabled people who are homeless, in prison or pregnant, and from many young disabled people. Lord Falconer rejected amendments – […]
The government’s housing and regeneration agency has failed to explain why its new five-year strategy fails to mention disabled people, or the need to address the accessible housing crisis. Homes England published its five-year strategic plan last week. It came just days […]
Disabled campaigners have dismissed a watchdog’s “misleading” new league table that claims to show the best performers in assisting disabled rail passengers. The “benchmarking” report by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) claims that two of the best-performing train companies for […]
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 state […]
The work and pensions secretary has bragged about cutting disabled people’s support, three days after launching a child poverty strategy which warned that more than a million children in families where someone was disabled were living in “deep material poverty”. Pat McFadden […]
The disability minister has refused to apologise after misleading MPs about concerns over nearly £2 billion in new cuts to disability benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has added to these transparency concerns by itself providing misleading information about the […]
A statutory duty in the new railways bill to ensure ministers and public bodies promote the needs of disabled passengers is “too vague” and must be strengthened as the legislation passes through parliament, MPs were told yesterday (Wednesday). The transport select committee […]
Peers have been urged to “err on the side of caution” and raise the minimum age limit for an assisted death from 18 to 25, as part of a controversial bill that aims to legalise the practice. As the House of Lords […]
The Scottish and UK governments are both failing to uphold the rights of disabled people in key areas, according to an annual report by Scotland’s human rights watchdog. Two of the 10 areas of “urgent concern” highlighted by the Scottish Human Rights […]