Former social worker Dennis Robertson has become the first blind person to be elected to the Scottish parliament since it sat for the first time in 1999. Robertson, who represents Aberdeenshire West for the SNP is a former pupil of Edinburgh’s […]
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Mayor told to improve focus on access in his plan for London
London’s mayor has been told to make a stronger commitment to accessible transport and housing in his masterplan for the city’s development over the next 20 years. The report by the Planning Inspectorate calls for the mayor’s London Plan to make […]
Politicians plan to fight back against attacks on equality
MPs and peers have called for action to fight back against government attacks on equality legislation. Members of the all party parliamentary groups (APPG) on equalities, disability, ageing and older people, and race and community were discussing a series of assaults […]
Deaf children facing cuts to education services
Nearly a fifth of local authorities in England have cut education services for deaf children, according to new research. The figures obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) are the latest evidence of cuts to services being carried out by […]
Work Programme bid winners ‘should do more on prejudice’
The organisations that have won major contracts under the government’s new Work Programme should do more to overcome the “prejudices” that still exist in the jobs market, according to a new report by MPs. The work and pensions committee’s report says […]
Government presides over Access to Work slump
The coalition government has presided over a dramatic slump in the number of disabled people granted new funds to make their workplaces more accessible. Government statistics show the number of “new customers” granted funding for adaptations and equipment under the Access […]
Police chiefs dismiss calls for Taser review
Police chiefs have dismissed a call by an independent watchdog to review policies on using “Taser” stun-guns on people experiencing “serious medical episodes”. The call by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) came as it published a report on how a […]
Government’s policies ‘are putting independent living at risk’
Government policies risk “turning back the clock” on independent living by 40 or 50 years, according to a disabled peer. Baroness [Jane] Campbell told fellow peers that three key policies meant the government was breaching its duties under the UN Convention […]
Campaigners pledge to ‘ignore emotion and win the big argument’ on euthanasia
Leading disabled activists have pledged to defeat the campaign to legalise euthanasia by winning “the big argument” rather than copying the “emotional” tactics of their opponents. Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick, of Not Dead Yet UK (NDY UK), told a House of Lords […]
Fall in inspections raises fears over abuse
A sharp drop in inspections by the social care regulator has raised concerns that the impact of public sector spending cuts could make it harder to detect abuse in disabled people’s homes and residential facilities. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried […]