By Samantha Renke in the Metro. I have a confession: I seem to have fallen out of love with London, something I never thought would (or even could) happen. Having moved to the Big Smoke almost nine years ago to follow my dreams and live independently, I imagined spending the rest of my adult […]
Disability Accessibility
Councils Face Calls To Re-Think COVID Streetscape Changes
By TJM in Disability News Service. Local authorities in England and Wales are facing calls to re-think the “streetscape” changes being made in response to COVID-19, amid concerns that the new street infrastructure is making parts of towns and cities inaccessible to many disabled people. Disabled people and their organisations have previously warned that many […]
Disabled People Forced To Fight For Right To Live Ordinary Lives, MPs Hear
By John Pring in Disability News Service. Disabled people are being forced to fight for their right to live ordinary lives because of the flawed and under-resourced social care system, MPs have been told by a disabled campaigner. Anna Severwright told members of the Commons health and social care committee on Tuesday that she and […]
Airport Faces Legal Action Over Wheelchair-User Twice Left ‘Distressed And Humiliated’
By John Pring in Disability News Service. A wheelchair-user has launched a legal action against Manchester Airport after he was twice left feeling “distressed and humiliated” by how he was treated on journeys to and from a family holiday. Quamer Khaliq, from Ashton-under-Lyne, had to threaten to call the fire brigade after he was […]
Minister Criticised By Government ‘Disability Champion’ Over Third Access Exemption
By John Pring in Disability News Service. The government has been criticised by one of its own “disability champions” after it granted the transport industry its third temporary exemption from access laws, so it could continue to use inaccessible vehicles for rail replacement services. In December, it emerged that the government was allowing the […]
Does Britain Have A Transport Accessibility Problem ?
By BY BONNIE EVIE GIFFORD in Happiful. Accessing public transport should be simple, shouldn’t it? Yet thousands face delays, inequalities in access, a lack of support and understanding. Enough is enough Whether we’re talking about your daily commute or venturing further afield, it’s hard to deny: travel can be stressful at the best of times. Overcrowding, […]
Lewisham Commission Hopes To Put Disabled People At Heart Of Decision-Making
By John Pring in Disability News Service. A local authority has become the second in London to set up an independent, user-led commission to investigate the barriers faced by disabled residents. Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission (LDPC) will be led by disabled people and will examine organisational, attitudinal and physical barriers faced by disabled […]
Ticketmaster Makes ‘Huge Step Forward’ For Disabled Music Fans
By Mark Savage in BBC News. For years, deaf and disabled music fans have faced huge barriers when it comes to booking concert tickets. Whether it’s the requirement to call premium rate help lines, or having to provide evidence of their disabilities, the experience has put many fans off. Now Ticketmaster is introducing […]
My Disabilities Are Invisible. I Shouldn’t Have To Prove Them To Strangers
By Isabelle Jani-Friend in The Guardian. I was recently on a packed Central line train into London. Luckily, I managed to take the last priority disabled seat. My osteoporosis and the fatigue I experience meant it would be hard for me to stand for the 40-minute journey to Oxford Circus. I felt a sense […]
Essentials For Getting Out And About As A Wheelchair User
Being George
My Disabled Body Is Not A ‘Burden.’ Inaccessibility Is
Socialising As A Disabled Person Can Mean Forking Out £70 For Brunch
Becoming A Wheelchair User: 3 Things I’ve Learned
I’m Disabled & I Rely On Single-Use Plastics – Please Don’t Judge Me
By Jo Moss in A Journey Through The Fog. Reading through this month’s writing prompts, the one that sparked my interest the most was ‘Reusing’. When I think of ‘reusing’ I automatically turn to the need to reduce single-use plastic, and the detrimental effect plastic has on our oceans. It’s been […]
High Street Businesses Losing Millions By Shunning Disabled Consumers, New Research Reveals
From Purple. More than 13 million people in the UK – a fifth of the population – are disabled. A new poll of people who consider themselves to be disabled has found that more than half of respondents are struggling to make purchases of a product/service due to their disability. Disabled young people […]
More Than Half Of Disabled Passengers Still Find Air Travel Difficult, Says Regulator
By John Pring in Disability News Service. More than half of passengers who describe themselves as having an impairment that limits their day-today activity find travelling by air difficult, according to a regulator’s annual report on access at the UK’s major airports. The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) annual report on disability access contains […]
My Disabilities Are Invisible. I Shouldn’t Have To Prove Them To Strangers
By Isabelle Jani-Friend in The Guardian. I was recently on a packed Central line train into London. Luckily, I managed to take the last priority disabled seat. My osteoporosis and the fatigue I experience meant it would be hard for me to stand for the 40-minute journey to Oxford Circus. I felt a […]
Ten Top Tips For Accessible Recruitment
By Jo Verrent in Unlimited. Unlimited, in its current form, has been recruiting for disabled trainees since 2013. What have we learnt about accessible recruitment? Jo Verrent, Senior Producer for Unlimited, gives us her top ten tips… Target where you advertise – find out where disabled people might be, and go out of your […]
How To Book Access Theatre Tickets – Seats For Disabled Patrons
More Than Half Of Disabled Passengers Still Find Air Travel Difficult, Says Regulator
By John Pring in Disability News Service. More than half of passengers who describe themselves as having an impairment that limits their day-today activity find travelling by air difficult, according to a regulator’s annual report on access at the UK’s major airports. The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) annual report on disability access contains […]
One North-West Town Is Getting It Right For Disabled People On Public Transport – So Why Can’t The Rest Of Britain ?
By James Moore in The Independent. When you’re disabled the phrase “back to earth with a bump” is all too familiar. On Thursday I wrote about what I’d describe as a rare win: the Greater London Authority sent a motion to London mayor Sadiq Khan following my humiliating experience on the tube (I was […]
Disabled TV Presenter Abandoned For 45 Minutes On British Airways Flight Forced To Slide Headsets Down Aisles To Get Cabin Crew’s Attention
By Sophie Morgan in The Independent. Television presenter Sophie Morgan is calling on airlines to offer concessions for disabled travellers after she was left without means of moving “short of dragging herself along the floor” on a British Airways flight. Ms Morgan, who was paralysed in a car crash when she was 18 and uses a wheelchair, […]