Attitudes towards disabled people appear to be improving slightly, according to figures from a national survey. The Public Perceptions of Disabled People report by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) found that just 17 per cent of the public said they […]
Self-advocacy groups ‘must seek new funding sources to survive’
Self-advocacy organisations must look for new sources of funding to avoid the fate of other groups that have had to close due to spending cuts, according to a leading consultative body of disabled people. The National Forum of People with Learning […]
Unlimited excitement over new work, but London artists miss out again
Disabled artists from the UK are set to collaborate with colleagues from across the world in a series of new disability arts projects commissioned for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The 13 new commissions – worth a total of £820, 000 […]
Work test reform plans could cause ‘confusion’ and ‘misery’
A campaigning coalition has written to the government demanding that it abandons plans to introduce reforms to its controversial “work capability” test that it says will cause disabled people “further misery” and “distress”. The changes were recommended in 2009 following an […]
ODI director defends government on UN convention
A senior civil servant has publicly defended the government’s record on disability after disabled activists criticised its programme of spending cuts and attitude to human rights. Tim Cooper, director of the Office for Disability Issues (ODI), was speaking at the launch […]
Evidence needed for report on government’s record on rights
Disabled people have been urged to come forward with examples of how their human rights have been abused, to provide evidence for a crucial new report to be submitted to the United Nations. Their stories will be used as evidence of […]
Police force faces third disability-related IPCC probe in a year
A police force is to be investigated over its failure to respond to a telephone call in which concerns were expressed about the health of a disabled man, who was found dead just two hours later. It is the third time […]
Thousands share ‘heartbreaking’ posts in DLA blog campaign
Organisers of an online campaign to raise awareness of the importance of disability living allowance (DLA) in the face of government cuts and reforms say they are “overwhelmed” by its success. The One Month Before Heartbreak “blogswarm” encouraged people to post […]
Disabled protesters set to target Atos
Disabled activists are set to take part in a series of countrywide protests targeting the company that carries out the controversial assessments of eligibility for out-of-work disability benefits. Protesters will target offices belonging to Atos Healthcare, the much-criticised company that tests […]
Councils ‘are making profits from care charges’
Some local authorities are imposing charges for home care services that are so high they must be making a profit from them, according to one leading disabled figure. Sue Bott, director of the National Centre for Independent Living, said charges for […]