The government has been defeated by peers again on its welfare reform bill, this time over a proposal that was set to punish disabled people in social housing who have spare bedrooms. The bill returned to the Lords this week through […]
CPS wins praise over disability hate crime efforts
New figures show the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is making good progress in prosecuting disability hate crimes successfully, say disabled activists. Last year (2010-11), the number of successful convictions for disability hate crime-related offences rose from 483 to 579 across England […]
Disability movement loses ‘visionary leader’
The disability movement is mourning the loss of one of its “quiet leaders”, Stephen Bradshaw, the first director of the user-led Spinal Injuries Association (SIA). Leading figures in the SIA and other disabled activists have been paying tribute to Bradshaw as […]
Completion of 2012 tennis venue marks 200 days to London’s Paralympics
The only London 2012 venue built solely for the Paralympics has been completed just as organisers marked 200 days to go until the games begin. The 10,500-capacity Eton Manor, at the northern end of the Olympic Park, will host wheelchair tennis […]
Court’s ruling leaves disabled air passengers ‘defenceless’
A ruling by the court of appeal has left disabled air passengers with no protection from discrimination during their flight, the equality watchdog has warned. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the court’s ruling, which dismissed discrimination cases against […]
‘Fantastic opportunity’ of direct payments ‘could be derailed by colleges’
Pilot schemes that will give direct payments to disabled students so they can choose their own support should be a “fantastic” opportunity for them to flourish in mainstream further education (FE), say inclusive education campaigners. The schemes – part of the […]
Letter warns government that scrapping ILF would ‘wreck lives’
Campaigners have handed the government a letter signed by hundreds of user-led organisations and disabled activists, in an effort to save the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The letter, written by the campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), warns that scrapping […]
Austerity is undermining independent living across Europe, MEPs are told
Activists have told MEPs that “austerity” measures are undermining disabled people’s right to independent living across Europe. The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) held a hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels aimed at defending the right to independent living, […]
MPs with disability interests branded ‘hypocrites’ over welfare reform votes
Coalition MPs who play leading roles in disability-related parliamentary groups – but still voted to slash disabled people’s benefits – have been accused of hypocrisy. At least five Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs voted to overturn four disability-related amendments to the […]
Frustrated peers still fighting for a fairer bill
Disabled peers believe they could still help to secure improvements to the welfare reform bill, despite their anger and frustration with the government over how it has handled the legislation. The bill is due to return to the Lords on Tuesday […]