Disabled activists in Ukraine have been kidnapped and killed, residential institutions have been shelled, and Deaf people have been unable to escape to shelters because they cannot hear the air raid warnings, a conference has heard. Representatives of leading disabled people’s organisations […]
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DPO gives stark warning to disabled people about Covid pandemic
A disabled people’s organisation (DPOs) has delivered a stark warning about the continuing seriousness of the Covid pandemic, and its impact on disabled people and DPOs. Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) has been working to inform disabled people in Buckinghamshire and wider afield […]
Covid inquiry ‘must examine catastrophic impact of pandemic on disabled people’
The COVID-19 public inquiry must dedicate “time and resources” to hearing directly from disabled people themselves so that it can examine the “catastrophic” impact the pandemic has had on them, according to a leading user-led organisation. Inclusion London spoke out this week […]
Mayor’s ‘ultra low emission zone’ plans ‘will impact tens of thousands of disabled people’
Plans to widen the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in the capital will discriminate against tens of thousands of disabled Londoners and cause significant harm to many of them, a senior representative of the mayor of London has been told. Disabled people’s organisations […]
Disabled activists will push for changes to draft mental health bill that ‘breaches rights’
Disabled activists have pledged to push for changes to the government’s new draft mental health bill because it is set to retain “fundamental human rights breaches”. Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid this week published the draft bill, which he said […]
DWP yet to sign claimant deaths legal agreement with watchdog
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has yet to agree to sign a legal agreement with the equality watchdog, after “serious concerns” were raised about its treatment of disabled people claiming benefits. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced in […]
‘Huge barrier’ of care charges is forcing disabled people into poverty, peers are told
A House of Lords committee has been told how the “huge barrier” created by social care charges is forcing disabled people into poverty. Andy McCabe, who himself uses council-funded support, told the adult social care committee that the charges being demanded by […]
DWP ignored ‘hugely alarming’ research that linked WCA with 600 suicides, MPs are told
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ignored leading academics after they published “hugely alarming” research that linked the work capability assessment with 600 suicides in just three years, MPs have been told. The failure is just the latest evidence to show […]
Transport secretary silent after misleading MPs about tactile safety markings
Under-fire transport secretary Grant Shapps is refusing to say if he will apologise after misleading MPs about the government’s progress in installing life-saving tactile paving on railway platforms across the country. Shapps is already at the centre of a fierce political row […]
DWP’s ‘failing assessment system is increasing poverty and worsening mental health’
The government’s “failing” and “pseudo-scientific” benefits assessment system is increasing disability poverty and worsening claimants’ mental health, MPs have been told by leading academics. Professor Ben Barr, from the University of Liverpool, and Dr Ben Baumberg Geiger, from the University of Kent, […]
Ticket office closures report sparks fresh access fears
Parts of the rail network are set to become even more inaccessible to many disabled people if the government presses ahead with proposals to close all ticket offices in England, campaigners have warned. The Sunday Times reported this week that plans had […]
It’s ‘unfair’ to say our accessible transport strategy is failing, says government
The Department for Transport (DfT) has said it is “unfair” to suggest that the government’s accessible transport strategy is failing, despite three high-profile incidents involving disabled air and rail passengers last week. In one incident, a disabled passenger in his 80s died […]
Research shows how tens of thousands of disabled staff are ‘managed out’ of jobs
New research shows why tens of thousands of disabled people every year are being “managed out” of their jobs by disablist employers. The researchers concluded that the Equality Act was “failing to live up to its potential”, with many employers failing to […]
Government eases concerns over cost-of-living payment care charge fears
The government has eased concerns that cost-of-living support for hundreds of thousands of disabled people in England announced by the Treasury last month – which should be worth hundreds of pounds – could have been snatched back by local authorities. Chancellor Rishi […]
Co-production projects are ‘driving change’ in Wiltshire, says DPO
A new campaign by a disabled people’s organisation is highlighting how a string of projects are driving change in their local community through the principles of co-production. Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living (WCIL) launched its Listen Up Wiltshire campaign in 2019 to […]
Theatre company marks 25 years with new emphasis on visually-impaired leaders
A disabled-led theatre company is marking its 25th anniversary by launching a new three-year focus on addressing the lack of visually-impaired leaders in the industry. Extant will also be working with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) to research and evaluate the […]
‘Feeble’ human rights watchdog should lose its ‘A’ rating, DPAC tells international body
Disabled activists have told an international human rights alliance that the UK’s “feeble” human rights body should have its prestigious “A” rating removed, because it has become a cheerleader for the UK government. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) said the Equality and […]
Government ‘pauses’ disability policies over ‘unlawful’ national strategy
The government has “paused” some of its disability policies after being told by a court in January that its National Disability Strategy was unlawful. In a letter sent out to stakeholders this week, and in a statement to parliament, the minister for […]
Disabled duo launch legal challenge to government’s ‘outrageous’ Grenfell move
Two campaigners have launched a legal challenge over the Home Office decision to reject a key recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that would have ensured they and other disabled residents could safely evacuate blocks of flats. Georgie Hulme and Sarah Rennie, […]
New chair of DPTAC must be disabled, say transport access campaigners
Campaigners have warned the government of the vital importance of choosing a disabled person to head its influential committee of advisers on accessible transport. The warning comes as the committee is set to assume an important new role as part of the […]
Minister defends use of misleading jobs figures at UN
The minister for disabled people and a senior civil servant have defended the use of misleading figures about the government’s performance on disability employment at a United Nations event in New York. They made the comments yesterday (Wednesday) at an event hosted […]