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Councils and other public bodies across England are failing to consult disabled people before approving “discriminatory” measures designed to aid social distancing and encourage cyclists and pedestrians, say campaigners. They have warned that public bodies are ignoring their duties under the Equality […]
The equality and human rights watchdog failed to consult its board, or its disabled advisers, before deciding to delay an inquiry into the government’s work capability assessment and its links with the deaths of benefit claimants, new documents have revealed. The decision […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to release figures showing how many disabled people will lose out when universal credit (UC) is fully implemented, even though ministers have repeatedly stated how many will gain from the new system. DWP’s […]
A disabled woman of colour had her disability benefits removed for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment, even though she had repeatedly explained that she was not well enough to attend because she was being treated for cancer. Rita* has now been […]
The multi-national company behind Holiday Inn is to investigate why one of its hotels made the “discriminatory” decision to remove a ceiling hoist from its only accessible bathroom. Holiday Inn’s Bloomsbury hotel in central London – close to two major London hospitals […]
At least 41 local authorities across England have unlawful policies that prevent autistic children from obtaining an assessment of their support needs, according to a new report. The report (PDF) by Disability Law Service, Leeds University’s School of Law, the disability charity […]
Disabled people who have been shielding from coronavirus since March are expressing significant doubts about government advice that says that – from Saturday (1 August) – they will no longer need to do so. The government announced on 22 June that the […]
MPs who have been shielding from coronavirus are set to lose their right to play a significant part in parliamentary proceedings, unless they attend parliament in person. MPs are not due to return to the House of Commons until 1 September, but […]
Further research showing how many disabled people have died during the later stages of the coronavirus pandemic is not likely to be published until October, according to a government department. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) finally produced figures on 19 June […]
The government has been accused by MPs of a “reckless and negligent” approach to the social care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report by the Commons public accounts committee contrasts the government’s early actions to protect the NHS with its delayed, […]
The equality and human rights watchdog is facing pressure to launch an inquiry into how the UK government breached the rights of disabled people in at least 17 different ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) did […]
A disabled campaigner says his high court victory over the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shown that it is possible to “put the rule of law into the hands of ordinary people”. Michael Connor spoke out after a judge ruled […]
Deaf actors who use British Sign Language (BSL) have described how they feel like “outsiders” because of the barriers they face within the industry. A trio of Deaf actors spoke out at the online launch of new guidance for the industry yesterday […]
Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey has rejected calls from her own social security advisers to give claimants of employment and support allowance (ESA) the same £1,000 increase in their annual allowance given to those receiving universal credit. The increase, which will […]
New research by Disability News Service (DNS) shows how the UK government has breached the rights of disabled people in at least 17 different ways during the coronavirus pandemic. From restricting their rights in its emergency Coronavirus Act, to failing to ensure […]
Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey has been accused of dodging key questions about links between her department and the suicides and other deaths of benefit claimants, during an evidence sessions with MPs. Coffey repeatedly told members of the Commons work and […]
Disabled people have raised serious concerns about the rising tide of coronavirus-related disability hate crime, amid fears that this could increase even further when new laws on the wearing of face coverings go live tomorrow. From tomorrow (Friday), it will be compulsory […]
A German coach company that has just launched a service in England is refusing to accept that it is breaking the law by telling wheelchair-users to book tickets days in advance of their journey. FlixBus is even facing the threat of a […]
Levels of satisfaction with working-age disability benefits plummeted in the two years to spring 2019, new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) research has revealed. The DWP figures show a huge 15 per cent fall in the proportion of claimants of personal […]
The courts are not much more accessible than they were a quarter of a century ago, a disabled campaigner has told lawyers and fellow campaigners. Natalya Dell (pictured) has been collecting information about disabled people who take civil cases through the courts, […]
Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed three years of funding that will help move people with learning difficulties and autistic people out of mental health hospitals and into homes in the community. The £62 million (£20 million this year, […]