The government looks set to force tens of thousands more working-age disabled people to pay towards their long-term care and support than was recommended by an independent commission. The coalition announced this week its long-awaited reforms to how older people should […]
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Unum bragged about ‘driving government thinking’ on incapacity benefit reform
An insurance company set to make huge financial gains from incapacity benefit (IB) reform bragged about “driving” the government towards those reforms, evidence obtained by Disability News Service (DNS) has revealed. The US insurance giant Unum has repeatedly denied attempting to […]
DWP disability report is ‘mine of information’ for campaigners
A major new government report has painted the “most comprehensive overview” since 2005 of the disadvantage and barriers faced by disabled people in the UK. The 106-page report aims to raise awareness, “inform public understanding”, and prompt debate about the issues […]
Minister’s ‘hypocrisy’ over pledge on transport barriers
A minister has been accused of hypocrisy after pledging to break down the barriers to disabled people’s access to public transport, only days after confirming lengthy delays to new European bus and coach access rules. The European regulation would have given […]
Autistic boy’s swimming pool horror ‘might not be last’ police rights abuse
One of the Metropolitan police’s own disabled advisers has warned that cases of discrimination and human rights abuse by the force’s own officers could become more common because of government funding cuts. Anne Novis a member of the force’s Disability Independent […]
Atos nurses were told: ‘You’re too nice to work here’
Two nurses who resigned from the government’s “fitness for work” contractor Atos Healthcare because it was “cut-throat” and “ruthless” have described how they were criticised by their managers for being “too nice”. They spoke out only days after the latest report […]
Benefits bill is miserable and mean-spirited, says disabled peer
A disabled peer has attacked a “mean-spirited” “miserable” and “dishonest” government bill that will see disabled people in 3.4 million households across Britain facing further cuts to their income. Lord [Colin] Low told fellow peers that the welfare benefits up-rating bill […]
Channel 4 wins chance to repeat London 2012 success at Rio and Sochi
Britain’s Paralympians have welcomed the news that Channel 4 has secured the UK television broadcast rights to both the Rio 2016 Paralympics and the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Channel 4 will broadcast 500 hours of coverage from Rio and more […]
Bus and train staff ‘should be disciplined’ if they fail on access
Transport staff who fail in their duty to provide an accessible service for their disabled passengers should face disciplinary action, a former Disability Rights Commission (DRC) director has told a parliamentary meeting. Will Bee who led the DRC’s work on transport […]
What makes an influential disabled person?
How do you measure influence? Now the process of collecting the names of the most influential disabled people in the UK is under way, it is time to begin fine-tuning exactly what we mean by influence and how we can measure […]