access

Head and shoulders of Dr Gregory Burke with a model ship in the background

October 18, 2018 0

High streets ‘need to wake up to the need to communicate with disabled people’

Struggling high street businesses need to “wake up” to the need to communicate with disabled people and their potential £200 billion spending power, according to the founder of an accessibility information website. Dr Gregory Burke told Disability News Service that he still sees many of the same physical access barriers in high streets that

Independent Living

A man on an off-road scooter manoeuvres through an open gate

September 20, 2018 0

Pair of projects set to improve countryside access

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User-led organisations have played a key role in two major new projects that aim to improve access for disabled tourists and ramblers. In Oxfordshire, Natural England has opened the National Land Access Centre (NLAC), which will provide training for landowners, farmers and rights of way officers on how to ensure that gates and other

Independent Living

Simon Green in his wheelchair, outside, smiling

February 22, 2018 0

Ratings sticker scheme ‘could transform access in Wales’

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Disabled campaigners are seeking to persuade the Welsh government to introduce a new scheme that would see service-providers displaying stickers that show how accessible they are. Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People (BCDP) wants shops, restaurants, transport providers, pubs and other service-providers to display a certificate which would show how well they are rated on

Politics

February 8, 2018 0

Renovations to Houses of Parliament ‘must provide step change in access’

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A disabled peer has told the House of Lords that plans for a major “restoration and renewal” of the Houses of Parliament must ensure a “step change” in the provision of disability access in a building that can be “extremely unwelcoming” to disabled people. Baroness [Sal] Brinton, president of the Liberal Democrats and a

Politics

Lord Shinkwin speaking in the House of Lords

January 4, 2018 0

Disabled Tory peer says government rejection of pub access plan is an ‘insult’

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A disabled Tory peer has accused his own government of insulting disabled people by rejecting the chance to improve access to pubs, clubs and restaurants. Lord [Kevin] Shinkwin said his party was in danger of “disowning” the laws it introduced through the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) more than 22 years ago. He was speaking

Transport

November 16, 2017 0

Trio of legal cases against train company boosts access information campaign

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A leading disabled campaigner is taking three separate legal cases against a train company, as part of his efforts to persuade the rail industry to improve the “lamentably inaccurate” information it provides on access to its services. Rail enthusiast Doug Paulley was twice driven to distraction by the failures of ScotRail to provide accurate

Independent Living

Fiona Jarvis pictured outside No 10 in her wheelchair, next to a ramp and a man

November 2, 2017 0

10 Downing Street wins access award… despite steps to iconic front door

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A disabled access expert has questioned why 10 Downing Street – which has one of the most iconically-inaccessible front doors on the planet – has been presented with a high-profile access award. Images of the front entrance to the prime minister’s home and offices – with its two steps to the front door –

Human Rights

October 5, 2017 0

EHRC celebrates 10th birthday with call for new powers

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The equality watchdog has asked the government for significant new powers, including the ability to inspect buildings that are flouting access laws. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it needed stronger powers to hold “powerful and well-resourced” governments and large organisations to account. But it also said that it should be made

Politics

Jared O'Mara, flanked by a woman and a man, in front of a row of houses

July 13, 2017 0

Labour silent on access for disabled MP excluded from debates

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The Labour party has refused to say if it will take any action to support a newly-elected disabled MP who has been prevented from taking part in some House of Commons debates because of access barriers. Disability News Service (DNS) reported last week how Labour’s Jared O’Mara had been unable to attend a couple

Politics

June 22, 2017 0

Queen’s speech: May ‘abandons’ election pledge on access

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A Conservative election promise to tackle some of the discrimination faced by disabled people appears to have been abandoned, with no mention of the pledge in yesterday’s Queen’s speech. The manifesto promise to “review disabled people’s access and amend regulations if necessary to improve disabled access to licensed premises, parking and housing” was absent

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