Activism and Campaigning

Black and white picture of Lorraine Gradwell on the phone

March 8, 2018 0

New campaign to fight barriers to elected office is tribute to Lorraine Gradwell

A new campaigning organisation – named after one of Manchester’s “finest civil rights campaigners” – will fight to remove the barriers to elected office faced by disabled people in the city. The Trust Lorraine Foundation (TLF) was launched in Manchester on Saturday by Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) and Breakthrough UK. It

Activism and Campaigning

An area of gravel, part of which has been fenced off, with trees and buildings in the background

March 1, 2018 0

Former long-stay residents plead with cemetery developers: ‘Let our friends rest in peace’

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Campaigners are fighting development plans that they fear could disturb the remains of some of the more than 1,000 disabled people who are buried in the former grounds of a long-stay hospital. People with learning difficulties who are former residents are among those concerned about plans to build a crematorium on part of the

Activism and Campaigning

Seven people on a stage, with Juliet Marlow in a wheelchair far right, in front of a screen that says Choice at the end of life

February 15, 2018 0

Anger over Royal Society’s ‘love fest for euthanasia’ conference

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Disabled activists have attacked the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) for hosting a conference on “choice at the end of life” that was little more than a “love fest for euthanasia”. RSM said before the event that the conference would “question whether or not assisted dying is complementary or contradictory to the notion of

Activism and Campaigning

Michelle Daley speaking into a microphone as someone holds up a large piece of paper in front of her

February 8, 2018 0

Disabled women celebrate vote centenary but warn of slow progress on rights

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Disabled activists have celebrated this week’s 100-year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote but have warned that disabled women are still facing breaches of their rights in all areas of life. On Tuesday (6 February), there were public celebrations to mark 100 years since parliament passed the Representation of the People Act

Activism and Campaigning

Sarah Newton speaking in Westminster Hall

February 1, 2018 0

Activists explain why they ‘clashed’ with minister after PIP debate

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Two disabled activists have explained why they “clashed” with the minister for disabled people at the end of a parliamentary debate on personal independence payment (PIP). Paula Peters and Keith Walker, from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), decided to confront Sarah Newton over the government’s record because of the “dismissive” way she had responded

Activism and Campaigning

Paul Farmer speaking to protesters outside Mind's headquarters

January 25, 2018 0

Open letter from mental health activists probes charity’s links to DWP

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Disabled activists have called on the charity Mind to explain how seconding a senior member of staff to work for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over the last year has affected mental health service-users. In an open letter to the charity’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, the Mental Health Resistance Network (MHRN) raises

Activism and Campaigning

Lord Blunkett speaking at a podium in front of pictures of Sir Bert Massie

January 18, 2018 0

Friends pay tribute to tenacity, wit and wisdom of Sir Bert Massie

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Disabled campaigners, MPs and peers have come together to celebrate the “wise counsel, charm and achievements” of the “remarkable” Sir Bert Massie, the former chair of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) throughout its seven years, who died in October. The memorial event in the House of Lords heard from a string of disabled friends

Activism and Campaigning

A protester holds up a banner saying Disabled People Against Cuts, Rights Not Charity

January 18, 2018 0

DPAC calls national day of action to demand universal credit is scrapped

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Disabled activists are organising a national day of action to push for the government’s new universal credit benefit system to be scrapped. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) believes that the “punishing” universal credit (UC) regime, which is slowly replacing six working-age benefits, is “rotten to the core”. DPAC says UC is too flawed to

Activism and Campaigning

January 18, 2018 0

Trio of disabled campaigners back Changing Places petition

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Three leading disabled campaigners have backed a petition that calls on the government to force all new large buildings to include a Changing Places toilet. The petition, launched by Lorna Fillingham, who has a disabled child, has now been signed by more than 50,000 people, and will soon be delivered to the prime minister.

Activism and Campaigning

January 4, 2018 0

Campaigner’s MBE will not stop pursuit of justice for thalidomide survivors

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A disabled campaigner who has spent 14 years fighting for justice for survivors of the thalidomide scandal has vowed to continue the battle, after he was recognised with an MBE in the new year’s honours. Nick Dobrik’s years of experience on the thalidomide campaign led to him volunteering to help campaigners seeking justice for

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