Four of the seven leading political parties have backed calls for all MPs to have constituency offices that are accessible to disabled people. Despite public announcements professing support for making it easier for disabled people to participate in politics, the Conservatives […]
Activism and Campaigning
Taxis ‘are discriminating’ by charging higher fees to wheelchair-users
Many taxis are breaching equality laws by charging wheelchair-users extra to use their services, say disabled campaigners. People First Keighley and Craven (PFKC) is campaigning for private hire vehicles in the Bradford area to stick to the law. PFKC members say […]
Leading WCA campaigner swaps sides to join Maximus
One of the leading disabled critics of the government’s welfare cuts and reforms has explained her decision to take a job with the US company taking over provision of the controversial “fitness for work” test. For the last five years, Sue […]
Independent Living Fund: Minister’s ‘unbelievable’ failure to prove Commons boast
The minister for disabled people has been accused of an “unbelievable” and “very worrying” failure to prove his claim that disability organisations “agree with the government” on its policy to shut the Independent Living Fund (ILF). Mark Harper told MPs last […]
New Year Honours: Maynard hopes CBE will help her spread inclusion message
A leading consultant on inclusion is hoping that being awarded a CBE will help in her quest to push for change in mainstream organisations that will benefit disabled people across society. Dr Alice Maynard is one of many disabled people recognised […]
New Year Honours: Campaigner celebrates OBE… and success in thalidomide quest
A disabled campaigner – recognised with an OBE in the latest new year honours list – has finally secured a location for a memorial to those affected by the thalidomide scandal. Author, broadcaster and disability consultant Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds said she was […]
Harper dodges questions over delays in closing assessment centre
The minister for disabled people is facing awkward questions over why he has delayed responding to concerns about the government’s pledge to close an inaccessible assessment centre. Mike Penning promised in June that the government would shut the centre used by […]
Rights take centre stage in UK on UN’s international day
The launch of a bid to produce a new disabled people’s manifesto for Wales was among events held this week to celebrate the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The launch was held on 3 December by Disability Wales […]
New alliance ‘will hold political parties to account’
Leading figures in the self-advocacy movement hope that a new campaigning alliance will help to hold political parties and the government to account in the run-up to the next election. Learning Disability Alliance England will be launched in Manchester later this […]
Disability Rights UK staves off threat from pensions black hole
A national disabled people’s organisation appears to have staved off threatened closure, after reaching a tentative agreement with a statutory body to take on responsibility for its massive pensions deficit. Disability Rights UK (DR UK) says it has an unsustainable pensions […]