The Scottish government has published a 10-year strategy that aims to personalise care and support services across the country. The Self-Directed Support strategy plans to ensure “as many people as possible” can choose how their own support funding is spent, through […]
BBC dominates mental health media awards again
The BBC has again dominated an annual awards ceremony that recognises the best portrayals and reporting of mental distress. The broadcaster won six of the nine awards at the Mind Mental Health Media Awards, including recognition for the BBC Four documentary […]
Government’s social care ‘vision’ is ‘good in parts’
Disabled people’s organisations have given a mixed reaction to the government’s new “vision” for adult social care. As part of his new “vision”, care services minister Paul Burstow announced plans to speed up the personalisation of care and support, and pledged […]
Legal aid cuts could have ‘profound’ impact
Planned cuts in government spending on legal aid will have a serious impact on disabled people’s access to justice say campaigners. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week launched a consultation on its plans for reforming legal aid in England and […]
Euthanasia report is ‘victory for disability movement in Scotland’
Disabled activists have welcomed a Scottish parliamentary committee’s recommendation that MSPs reject plans to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in Scotland. The committee, set up to consider the end of life assistance (Scotland) bill, outlined a series of flaws in the […]
Benefits are ‘failing to cover costs of disability’
Four-fifths of households that include a person with a neuromuscular condition say the benefits system is failing to cover the extra costs of living with the impairment, according to a new report. The report by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC) says […]
Government research offers new evidence of struggle for jobs
Government research has provided stark new evidence that disabled people found fit for work through a controversial new assessment are struggling to find jobs. The research by the Institute for Employment Studies for the Department for Work and Pensions interviewed 3, […]
Younger people will be drawn into web of DLA cuts
Thousands of younger disabled people will be sucked into plans to slash spending on disability living allowance (DLA), campaigners say. The chancellor, George Osborne, announced in his emergency budget in June that the government would cut the number of working-age people […]
Court recognises murder as hate crime, but legal flaws exposed
Hate crime campaigners have welcomed the recognition in court that the brutal murder of a disabled man in his own flat was a disability hate crime. Martin Mather, 23, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to beating Philip […]
Taxicard cuts are ‘severe blow’ to disabled Londoners
New cuts and fare increases across London’s Taxicard system will be a “severe blow” to the freedom and independence of thousands of disabled and older people and push them further into poverty, say campaigners. London Councils (LC) – the organisation representing […]