Disabled people’s human rights are being breached because of the government’s failure to implement their right to independent living, a committee of MPs and peers has been told. The parliamentary joint committee on human rights was hearing evidence from leading disabled […]
Fiona Pilkington report: Police praised for learning from mistakes
A disabled people’s organisation has praised the police force at the centre of a highly critical report into its failings over disability hate crime for taking positive steps to learn from its mistakes. The Independent Police Complaints Commission’s (IPCC) report this […]
Fiona Pilkington report: Force’s failings ‘should act as warning’
A report into how the failings of a police force led to a disabled teenager’s death should act as a “warning” to other public bodies to take action over the targeted harassment of disabled people, say campaigners. The Independent Police Complaints […]
Government reforms ‘risk turning watchdog into nit-picking factory’
Government plans to reform the equality watchdog risk turning it into a weak and “nit-picking compliance factory”, its chair has warned. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was responding to a Government Equalities Office (GEO) consultation on plans to slash […]
Government’s UN report ‘wilfully ignores’ spending cuts
A government report on how it is implementing the United Nations disability convention fails to include a single mention of how the coalition’s spending cuts and welfare reforms will undermine disabled people’s rights. The draft version of the report – the […]
Birmingham legal victory ‘could open door for other cuts cases’
A landmark legal victory for four disabled people could open the door for others across the country to challenge their local authorities over cuts to care services. The court case was brought by the families of four disabled people who had […]
MP asks Atos bosses why their company is ‘feared and loathed’
Bosses at the company that carries out “fitness for work” tests for the government have been asked by MPs to explain why their organisation is so “feared and loathed” by disabled people. The three senior executives from Atos Healthcare were asked […]
Minister ‘must stop making false claims’ on cuts to support
Labour’s social care spokeswoman has accused a government minister of making “false claims” about cuts to care and support services. The MP spoke out in a parliamentary debate on social care, days after thousands of disabled people had marched through London […]
MEPs back calls for international treaty on accessible books
A decision by MEPs to back calls for an international treaty that would make more books available in accessible formats has increased pressure on EU leaders to reverse their opposition to such an agreement. Campaigners say that millions of blind EU […]
Outdated system and underfunding are key barriers to personalisation
Disabled people are routinely having their human and civil rights undermined because of years of underfunding and an outdated care system, according to one of the authors of a groundbreaking new book on personalised support. Supporting People: Towards A Person-Centred Approach […]