The government has given listed status to the gravestone of a disabled man who was brought to the court of King George I in 1726 after being discovered as a teenager living wild in a German forest. The man – known […]
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Signs of hope for job-sharing MPs campaign
Activists who want disabled people to be able to become job-sharing MPs are pushing the deputy prime minister to reopen a parliamentary inquiry, so that it can discuss the idea again. Campaigners want parliament to introduce new laws that would allow […]
Questions raised over failure to include access in rail station scheme
Campaigners have asked the government why a major scheme to build a new platform at a busy rail station failed to include work to make the station accessible to disabled people. The £2.5 million project is taking place at Alexandra Palace, […]
Annual day celebrates ‘independence’ for wheelchair-users
A disabled campaigner is hoping disabled people in the UK and around the world will use an annual day to celebrate the independence provided by their wheelchair. Steve Wilkinson launched International Wheelchair Day five years ago, and although it has yet […]
Jobcentre ‘harassed’ woman as she received emergency blood transfusion
A disabled woman awaiting a second kidney transplant was “harassed” by her local jobcentre during an emergency blood transfusion, because they wanted to know when she would be well enough to attend a back-to-work interview. Annemarie Campbell says the jobcentre in […]
Hunt ‘ignores Dilnot’ on funding care for working-age disabled people
The government looks set to force tens of thousands more working-age disabled people to pay towards their long-term care and support than was recommended by an independent commission. The coalition announced this week its long-awaited reforms to how older people should […]
Unum bragged about ‘driving government thinking’ on incapacity benefit reform
An insurance company set to make huge financial gains from incapacity benefit (IB) reform bragged about “driving” the government towards those reforms, evidence obtained by Disability News Service (DNS) has revealed. The US insurance giant Unum has repeatedly denied attempting to […]
DWP disability report is ‘mine of information’ for campaigners
A major new government report has painted the “most comprehensive overview” since 2005 of the disadvantage and barriers faced by disabled people in the UK. The 106-page report aims to raise awareness, “inform public understanding”, and prompt debate about the issues […]
Minister’s ‘hypocrisy’ over pledge on transport barriers
A minister has been accused of hypocrisy after pledging to break down the barriers to disabled people’s access to public transport, only days after confirming lengthy delays to new European bus and coach access rules. The European regulation would have given […]
Autistic boy’s swimming pool horror ‘might not be last’ police rights abuse
One of the Metropolitan police’s own disabled advisers has warned that cases of discrimination and human rights abuse by the force’s own officers could become more common because of government funding cuts. Anne Novis a member of the force’s Disability Independent […]