Leading campaigners have fiercely criticised the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), after new figures showed it has failed to make vital improvements to the number of disabled people who use its website and helplines. In October 2008, at the end […]
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Mayor failed to consult DPOs over new Routemaster design
Transport for London has admitted failing to consult with disabled people’s organisations on the final design of its new Routemaster bus. The old Routemasters were scrapped by the previous mayor, Ken Livingstone, largely because they were not accessible. Unveiling the “final […]
Government stays silent over rail access budget cuts
The Department for Transport (DfT) has refused to say whether it has slashed the budget of national schemes to improve access at railway stations. The alleged cuts were first exposed in a letter written before the election to the DfT by […]
Queen’s speech: New concerns over coalition’s education plans
Disabled campaigners have raised serious concerns about the impact of government plans to create more self-governing “academy” schools. This week’s Queen’s speech included plans to allow new providers to run state schools, to allow more schools to become academies, and to […]
Artist will create work out of access stress
A disabled artist is to measure disabled people’s temperature heart rate and brain waves to assess their stress levels as they encounter public access barriers. The data gathered – as well as the reactions of non-disabled people making the same journey […]
OFCOM says Big Brother comment was offensive
Campaigners have welcomed the broadcasting watchdog’s decision to overturn its own ruling and condemn the use of offensive, disablist language on a Channel 4 show. Footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones caused outrage when he “joked” on Celebrity Big Brother’s Big Mouth (BBBM) – […]
CPS clarifies hate crime law for people with HIV
New official guidance which makes it clear that people with HIV have the same legal hate crime protection as other disabled people should make it easier for them to report offences, say campaigners. There had been concerns that the Crown Prosecution […]
Coalition’s plans for government: Activists point to equality gap
Campaigners have raised concerns that the new coalition’s “programme of government” for the next five years fails to mention disabled people in its section on equalities. The programme was launched by David Cameron, the Conservative prime minister, and Nick Clegg, the […]
Coalition’s plans for government: Commission to seek care funding solution
Campaigners have delivered a broadly positive response to the new coalition government’s decision to set up a commission to investigate the reform of social care funding. The pledge to set up the independent commission – which will report to the government […]
Coalition’s plans for government: School inclusion fears realised
The fears of inclusive education campaigners have been borne out after the new coalition government pledged to “remove the bias towards inclusion” in disabled children’s education. The government programme for the next five years, published by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat […]