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You are here: Home / Archives for Personal assistants

Personal assistants

National network will provide new voice for disabled people battling councils over social care

By John Pring on 15th August 2024 Category: Independent Living

National network will provide new voice for disabled people battling councils over social care
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Disabled people and allies are hoping that a new national network will support service-users who are constantly battling their local authority over their social care packages. The Care Net is particularly focusing on disabled people who use direct payments to arrange […]

Social enterprise ‘will transform’ workplace support for disabled people

By John Pring on 2nd November 2023 Category: Employment

Social enterprise ‘will transform’ workplace support for disabled people
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A disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has launched a pioneering new social enterprise that will make it easier for disabled people to secure personal assistants to support them at work. Breakthrough UK – one of the UK’s longest-established DPOs – said EqualEdge […]

PA employers cling to independence as minister tells of frustration at his own government

By John Pring on 8th September 2022 Category: Independent Living

PA employers cling to independence as minister tells of frustration at his own government
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Disabled people have spoken this week of clinging onto their independence by their fingernails, because of a drastic and worsening shortage of personal assistants (PAs). The shortage appears to be caused by a combination of continuing low wages, the Covid pandemic […]

Leading independent living figure tells peers of crucial role of personal assistance

By John Pring on 9th June 2022 Category: Independent Living

Leading independent living figure tells peers of crucial role of personal assistance
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One of the most influential figures in the European independent living movement has told peers how the use of personal assistants has given him “a life, a job” and the ability to contribute to society. Dr Adolf Ratzka was giving evidence […]

Government finally agrees to continue some free Covid testing for PAs

By John Pring on 31st March 2022 Category: Independent Living

Government finally agrees to continue some free Covid testing for PAs
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The government has finally issued guidance that should allow disabled people in England who employ personal assistants (PAs) to continue to secure free COVID-19 tests for their staff, at least in some situations. The confirmation that some free testing for employers […]

Access to Work’s 12-week backlog, as DWP offers ‘work for free’ advice to PAs

By John Pring on 20th January 2022 Category: Employment

Access to Work’s 12-week backlog, as DWP offers ‘work for free’ advice to PAs
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A disabled university lecturer says her job was put at risk by the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions to deal with a huge backlog in Access to Work (AtW) applications. Daisy Higman, a freelance voice teacher and theatre-maker, […]

Peer calls for disabled people to ‘take control’ over PA vaccinations

By John Pring on 14th January 2021 Category: Independent Living

Peer calls for disabled people to ‘take control’ over PA vaccinations
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A disabled peer is calling on other disabled people seen as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to coronavirus to “be proactive” and ask their GPs to vaccinate them and their personal assistants, following the publication of new government guidance. The advice from […]

Coronavirus: New NHS guidance ‘leaves door open to dangerous discrimination’

By John Pring on 18th June 2020 Category: Activism and Campaigning

Coronavirus: New NHS guidance ‘leaves door open to dangerous discrimination’
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The failure of NHS England to consult with disabled people over new guidance on hospital visitors has left the door open to “dangerous and discriminatory” treatment, according to two campaigners. Fleur Perry and Mark Williams have asked NHS England to explain […]

Coronavirus: Control over support is helping keep disabled people safe, evidence suggests

By John Pring on 30th April 2020 Category: Independent Living

Coronavirus: Control over support is helping keep disabled people safe, evidence suggests
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Disabled people who use direct payments to pay for support in their own homes are using this control over their care to stay safer during the coronavirus pandemic than if they were in institutions, early evidence suggests. Disability News Service (DNS) […]

Coronavirus: PA guidance is finally published… five weeks late

By John Pring on 23rd April 2020 Category: Independent Living

Coronavirus: PA guidance is finally published… five weeks late
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Ministers have finally published guidance that should help disabled people who employ their own personal assistants (PAs) to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic, but activists say the delay in producing the document has put lives at risk. The guidance for […]

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