British cycling Paralympian Darren Kenny has been selected as one of the top six disabled sportspeople of the year. Kenny, who returned from last year’s Beijing Paralympics with four gold medals and a silver in track and road cycling, has been […]
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Mind book shortlist covers drugs, cricket and Marilyn
The mental health problems of Virginia Woolf Sylvia Plath and Marilyn Monroe are used to help chart the study of the female mind over the last 200 years, in one of the books shortlisted for an annual literary award. Mad, Bad […]
New guide features best of UK attractions
Disabled visitors to attractions across the UK are still facing unhelpful staff, poor signage and badly thought-out design, according to reviewers who helped write a new guide book. The second edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, published on 6 […]
Asda starts selling living aids
Asda has become the first supermarket to sell mobility and independent living aids in-store. >From 18 April, the chain began selling 15 different products from the new brand Mobilease in 75 of its stores. It hopes to expand the exclusive range […]
More than half of councils have signed charter for children
More than half of English councils have signed a charter that commits them to providing decent services for disabled children and their families by the end of 2009. The campaign group Every Disabled Child Matters has now persuaded 77 local authorities […]
Autism guidance should help Scottish schools
New guidance and advice published by the Scottish government aims to help schools and councils meet the needs of children with autism. The Autism Toolbox was launched at the National Autistic Society Scotland’s (NASS) Daldoch House School and will be sent […]
Advice charity marks anniversary with new online service
A national disability charity has marked its 40th anniversary by launching a new online service that will offer advice and information built up over the last 40 years. The Disabled Living Foundation’s telephone helpline answers 25, 000 queries a year, but […]
Government reminds trusts to spend money on disabled children
Campaigners have welcomed government action to clarify to primary care trusts (PCT) how they can improve the lives of disabled children with health problems. The government wrote two letters to every PCT in England on 2 April explaining their duties on […]
New mental health strategy ‘will tackle stigma’
The government has announced the launch of a new strategy for people with mental health problems in England. Phil Hope, the care services minister, said the New Horizons strategy would aim to improve services, but there would be a particular focus […]
Some councils must do more on short breaks, says government
The government has threatened to cut funding to some English councils if they don’t do better on providing short breaks for disabled children. The government gave money to 21 “pathfinder authorities” last year to develop best practice in provision of short […]