The proportion of disabled people playing sport regularly has increased by more than a fifth since London won the right to stage the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to new figures. Increasing disabled people’s participation in sport, and addressing the […]
Angry activists boycott Pride London over access failure
Outraged disabled activists are boycotting next week’s Pride London gay rights parade because they believe organisers have failed to tackle major access problems faced at last year’s event. Pride London only included access information on its new website this week, less […]
DPOs avoid key question over Remploy factory closures
Two of the country’s leading disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have been unable to say whether they would continue to back the closure of 36 Remploy factories if they lead to disabled workers becoming unemployed. The position of Breakthrough UK and Disability […]
Weary activists call again for action after Winterbourne View abuse report
Leading self-advocates have called once again for government action to improve care standards for people with learning difficulties, but say they are not surprised by a report highlighting how many services are failing national standards. The report by the Care Quality […]
Disabled artists call for support for ground-breaking national archive
Campaigners are seeking support for a project that will create the world’s first collection and archive of the work of disabled artists. The disabled artist Tony Heaton first came up with the idea of a national disability arts archive more than […]
Fewer than 100 disabled volunteers to take part in Paralympics ceremony
Organisers of this summer’s Paralympics opening ceremony have faced heavy criticism after admitting that fewer than 100 of the 3, 000 adult volunteers set to take part will be disabled people. The volunteers will take roles as dancers, actors, percussionists and […]
Sir Bert warns of threat to accessible transport if DPTAC is scrapped
One of the original architects of a pioneering government advice body has warned that coalition plans to scrap it would see accessible transport “disappear off the agenda”. Sir Bert Massie drafted the amendment to the transport bill in 1984 that led […]
Bus protest brings fears over DLA cuts to heart of Westminster
A direct action protest in the heart of Westminster has demonstrated the mobility problems that hundreds of thousands of disabled people across the country could face because of government cuts to spending on disability living allowance (DLA). Scores of disabled campaigners […]
Birthday honours: OBE proves the only way is Essex, says DPO boss
The boss of a leading disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has described his OBE as a vindication of his pioneering approach. Mike Adams, chief executive of ecdp (Essex Coalition of Disabled People), was included in the Queen’s birthday honours, with an OBE […]
Birthday honours: Campaigners win recognition
Disabled campaigners mentioned in the Queen’s birthday honours have spoken of their shock at having their work recognised. George Glass is to receive an MBE, after years of campaigning for the rights of blind and partially-sighted people in Stockton-on-Tees. He lived […]