The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is often failing to allow people with mental health problems to give evidence in court, according to an inquiry by a committee of MPs. The Commons justice committee said in its report that it was “concerned” […]
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Ofsted to be forced to improve on disability
Ofsted will have new legal duties to use its inspections to investigate how well schools are supporting disabled children and those with special educational needs (SEN). The pledge was announced by Ed Balls the children, schools and families secretary. His move […]
Taxi access victory for campaigners
Wheelchair-users are celebrating a court victory over their local council that should lead to them being able to use a more accessible make of taxi. Campaigners in Liverpool had asked Liverpool City Council to licence the Peugeot E7 taxi, which they […]
Success for Changing Places as campaign hits the 100 mark
The campaign for more accessible public toilets for severely disabled people has reached a landmark, with the opening of the UK’s 100th Changing Places facility. Changing Places offer more space and equipment – including a hoist and a height-adjustable changing bench […]
Liberty takes to the air again
London’s Liberty disability arts festival is set to bring aerial dance, moving beds, Fisher Price tape decks and a water garden to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 5 September. The free festival – attended last year by 20, 000 people – will […]
Shock and anger over McKinnon’s court defeat
Campaigners have reacted with shock and anger to the failure of the two latest legal bids to prevent the extradition of a disabled man to the US. Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger’s syndrome, faces a trial for allegedly hacking into US […]
Purdy wins Lords assisted suicide appeal
A disabled woman has succeeded in her legal fight to force the government to clarify the law on assisted suicide. But anti-euthanasia campaigners have warned that the ruling could add to the fear many disabled people feel over attempts to weaken […]
Pressure mounts on EHRC boss
The pressure on Trevor Phillips to resign as head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has intensified, with another commissioner standing down over concerns about his leadership. Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights charity Stonewall, is the […]
Government ignores pleas to halt deportation of disabled asylum-seeker
A disabled asylum-seeker has been deported to Afghanistan, despite desperate last-minute pleas from disability rights campaigners. The charity RADAR wrote to Alan Johnson, the home secretary, calling for Abbas Sharifi’s deportation to be postponed. And members of the Disabled Asylum Seekers […]
Angry campaigners attack RCN for change of stance on assisted suicide
Disabled activists have attacked the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) for weakening its policy on assisted suicide, despite only receiving backing for the move from about 0.15 per cent of its members. The RCN has changed its position from opposition to […]