Thousands of disabled people and other campaigners took part in a series of anti-cuts protests last weekend in more than a dozen towns and cities across the UK. The rallies and marches took place under the banner of The Hardest Hit, […]
Minister and mayor face angry hecklers over cuts and Atos
The minister for disabled people and London’s mayor faced repeated, angry heckling from activists when they addressed a conference held to discuss disability issues in the capital. Maria Miller and Boris Johnson were constantly interrupted in their speeches at the mayor’s […]
Motability rule change means disabled people must drive cheaper cars
Disabled people have reacted angrily after they were told they will no longer be able to drive vehicles worth over £25, 000 through the Motability car scheme. The announcement of tighter new rules by Motability follows a series of inaccurate, hostile […]
Gervais sparks storm over disablist word
Comedian Ricky Gervais has sparked a storm of protest from disabled people and other campaigners after repeatedly using an offensive and disablist word in messages on the social media network Twitter. Gervais sent a string of “tweets” that used the word […]
More news is bad news, says report
There has been a “significant increase” in the number of negative stories about disabled people in national newspapers over the last six years, according to new research. The Bad News for Disabled People report which compared articles from 2004-05 and 2010-11, […]
Wales secures long-awaited independent living strategy
The announcement of a long-awaited strategy for promoting independent living in Wales has been welcomed by disabled campaigners. The Welsh government announced plans to develop a new Framework for Action on Independent Living at a seminar organised by the disabled people’s […]
Government is ‘talking up’ benefit fraud, says Labour shadow minister
Labour’s new shadow minister for disabled people has accused the government of “talking up” the issue of disability benefit fraud as it attempts to push through its sweeping welfare reforms. Anne McGuire, herself a former minister for disabled people told Disability […]
Scope’s DIAL UK closure threatens rift with movement
A disability charity’s decision to close down a national advice organisation, just two years after they merged, has provoked anger among disabled people’s organisations (DPOs). Scope merged in 2008 with DIAL UK, a long-established DPO which supports a network of about […]
Merger leads to concern over new DPO’s name
The UK’s leading disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has raised serious concerns over the new name chosen by a trio of national disability charities that are set to merge. Members of the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL) decided last week to […]
Scheme brings MPs face-to-face with disabled constituents
More than 100 disabled people have raised campaigning issues around disability rights and equality in face-to-face meetings with their local MP, thanks to a scheme that aims to build relationships between politicians and their disabled constituents. Disabled people who took part […]