The centre for independent living (CIL) in Britain’s second largest city has collapsed, following months of infighting. Birmingham Centre for Inclusive Living (BCIL) had been receiving more than £400, 000 a year in funding from Birmingham City Council to provide information, […]
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Publishers’ signatures hold out hope for brighter e-book future
UK publishers have signed an “exciting” new agreement that should make it easier for many disabled people to access electronic books. The agreement recommends that all electronic books – e-books – should automatically allow “e-reader” machines to turn the text into […]
EHRC equality review: Watchdog’s ‘wake-up call’ on fairness
A major new review of inequality in Britain has called for action to close the most important “equality gaps” faced by disabled people and other minority groups. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it hoped its triennial review would […]
School sports pilots ‘will include disabled children’
Disabled children are set to take part in a new school sports competition that will be trialled across England from early next year. The “Olympic and Paralympic-style” competition will be piloted in nine areas, involving schools from the Black Country, London, […]
Phone companies fail test on access
Phone companies are failing to tell prospective customers about the services they provide for disabled people, according to the communications watchdog. Ofcom described the performance of the eight companies – BT, Orange, O2, TalkTalk, T-Mobile, Virgin Media, Vodafone and 3 – […]
Conservative conference: Concern over tougher benefits penalties
A leading disabled people’s organisation has raised concerns over a minister’s pledge to introduce “clearer, simpler and tougher penalties” for benefits claimants who refuse government help to find work. Chris Grayling the employment minister told the Conservative conference in Birmingham that […]
Conservative conference: Concerns remain over benefits cap
Disabled people claiming disability living allowance (DLA) will be exempt from a new limit on the amount of benefits any “workless” household can claim, the government has announced. But those disabled people who claim employment and support allowance (ESA) – the […]
Conservative conference: ‘More detail needed’ on benefit reform
Campaigners have tentatively welcomed plans for sweeping reforms to the benefits system, but say they want to see more detail on its “humanity” before they “sign up”. Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the Conservative conference in Birmingham this […]
Conservative conference: Miller pledges ‘important safeguards’
The minister for disabled people has promised that the coalition government will build in “important safeguards for vulnerable groups” to its programme of spending cuts and reforms. Maria Miller pointed to the decision of the chancellor, George Osborne, to exempt anyone […]
EHRC gives government new reminder on spending cuts fairness
The equality watchdog has given government departments and local authorities a fresh warning to put “fairness” towards disabled people at the heart of their decisions on cutting spending. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) warning came in a new guide […]