The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been criticised for apparently censoring a charity that tried to draw attention to a Scottish government scheme that makes Scotland’s public services more accessible to users of British Sign Language (BSL). DWP was […]
Alarm over proposals to scrap GPs’ ‘fit note’ duties
Proposals by two groups of English GPs that they and their colleagues should no longer be responsible for providing “fitness to work” certificates for their patients have alarmed disabled activists. GPs from Kent’s local medical committee (LMC) have proposed in a […]
Tributes paid to campaigner’s ‘steely determination, selflessness and dignity’
Friends and fellow activists have paid tribute to the anti-euthanasia and disability rights campaigner Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick, whose life and death “epitomised the true meaning of dignity”. Fitzpatrick – who died on 15 January, leaving a wife, Fabienne, and three adopted […]
DWP shrinks from confirming Duncan Smith’s latest ‘workfare’ threat
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has refused to confirm reports that it plans to force more sick and disabled people into work through its imminent shake-up of employment support. In an interview with the Daily Mail, work and pensions […]
Disabled bouncer barred from job over ‘discriminatory’ new industry rules
By Raya Al Jadir The only wheelchair-user to secure accreditation as a nightclub bouncer is fighting “discriminatory” new rules that have led to the loss of his licence, just as he is being recognised for three decades of community service. John […]
Hotel faces three investigations after disabled guest’s fire safety shock
A company is facing three separate investigations after a wheelchair-user discovered that the reception desk of the hotel he was staying in was left unstaffed every night. Mahmood Qureshi only made the discovery after he had already spent a night in […]
Campaigner’s Rio dream is fading over funding shortfall
By Raya Al Jadir A disabled campaigner has secured a place to volunteer at this summer’s Rio Olympics but is struggling to raise £17, 000 to pay for herself and the four personal assistants (PAs) she will need to take with […]
Maximus-owned Remploy slashes pay of disabled experts by half
The care watchdog has allowed a US outsourcing giant to slash the pay of disabled people by more than half when it takes over two contracts to manage service-users who work as expert advisers on care home and hospital inspections. Two […]
Council’s ‘wicked’ care cuts are ‘like social cleansing’, say service-users
Disabled and older people have compared a council’s plans to cut £5 million from its adult social care budget to “social cleansing” and have accused it of “treating people no better than animals in Longleat”. The comments were included in The […]
Disabled people are falling through holes in local welfare safety net, warn MPs
A committee of MPs has called on the government to stop local authorities discriminating against disabled people who need financial help following the introduction of the “bedroom tax”. The work and pensions select committee’s report on the local welfare safety net […]