By John Pring in Disability News Service. Three MPs – two of whom have long-term health conditions – have exposed the widespread discrimination faced by disabled MPs due to outdated House of Commons rules, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 100 “very high risk” MPs are currently “excluded” from taking […]
From Independent Living. If you are a Blue Badge holder, and you have been struggling to find an unoccupied disabled parking bay, it is probably not surprising. According to data obtained from Freedom of Information requests made by confused.com, there are 38 badge holders per parking space… Since the welcome extension of Blue […]
By Saba Salman in The Guardian. Most cities are utterly unfriendly to people with disabilities – but with almost one billion estimated to be urban-dwellers by 2050, a few cities are undergoing a remarkable shift To David Meere, a visually impaired man from Melbourne, among the various obstacles to life in cities is another that is less […]
From Lake District National Park. What are Miles without Stiles? These are 48 routes across the National Park suitable for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, and the visually impaired. Use the interactive map below to explore the routes available or choose from the menu on the left. Distances […]
By John Pring in Disability News. Disabled campaigners travelled from across the country this week to show support for a fellow activist as she took on justice ministers in the high court over the ruinous costs disabled people can face when they take disability discrimination cases. If she wins, Esther Leighton could give hope to thousands […]
By Calvin Barnett in Thiis. A new app giving disabled people the power to report parking infringements to their local councils is hoping to stop situations where people using mobility devices are forced to make unsafe manoeuvres to get past illegally parked vehicles. Developed by brother and sister team Alex Mühlhölzl, Chief Operating […]
By Samantha Renke in AccessAble. With almost 14 million disabled people living in the UK and as the fastest growing minority group, creating a world that is more accessible has never been more prevalent. Not to mention that excluding the disabled people from the consumer market is a big financial mistake as disabled people […]
NKS stands for ‘THE NATIONAL KEY SCHEME’! As the name suggests, located all around Britain, there are over 10,000 accessible toilets for disabled people, in public as well as commercial properties of all sorts, which are part of the scheme. The scheme also includes over 1000 Changing Places toilets, which have added specialist […]
By Emily Yates in The Guardian. When I arrived at Breda station last month to find out why this Dutch city was recently named the winner of the 2019 Access City award, I did something I have not done while travelling in a long time. Instead of taking a taxi, I independently pushed the two kilometres […]
From the Two Doughnts blog. on tuesday i travelled to birmingham nec for naidex. it’s a yearly convention for all things disabled. or as i like to call it – all things i can’t afford. i felt right at home of course with all my wheelchair homie’s rocking up for the occasion. it was […]
By John Pring in Disability News Service. Campaigners have welcomed the decision to install what is believed to be the country’s first accessible parking bay for disabled people who need to recharge their electric vehicles. Only holders of blue parking badges who also need to recharge their electric vehicles will be allowed to […]
By Henry Claypool In The Detroit News. Saturday marks the opening of the 2019 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show, led by its presentation series on the future of the automobile, Automobili-D. Conference attendees can expect panels on innovations such as vehicle to infrastructure connectivity, urban mobility, smart cities, building a mobility workforce, ride sharing, cybersecurity and […]
By John Pring in Disability News Service. A disabled crossbench peer has called on the government to start handing out “heavy fines” to the air travel industry when it fails to ensure that its services are accessible to disabled passengers. Baroness [Jane] Campbell asked the government on Monday what action it was taking to encourage all UK […]
By Sid Hayns-Worthington in the Swindon Advertiser. The society’s Employee Disability Network organised sessions at the HQ to have open conversations about obsessive compulsive disorder, dementia, understanding anxiety and stress, and also included a mental health resilience workshop. The company held around 35 events across the country, coinciding with International Day of Persons with Disabilities […]
By Tanveer Mann in Metro. Today is Purple Tuesday – and no, it’s not yet another day for crazy shoppers trying to bag a bargain. It’s actually pretty serious and is the first of its kind aimed at highlighting some of the challenges disabled people face while shopping. The national day was founded […]
By Natasha Hinde in Huffpost. Almost one in five people in the UK are disabled. That adds up to 12 million people with a collective spending power of £249 billion, yet neither the high street nor individual retailers are catering to them. “We are an untapped market and at a time when the high […]
By Joe Peskett in Access & Mobility Professionals. Edinburgh has been named as the most accessible region in the UK for disabled motorists when it comes to refuelling at petrol stations, according to new figures produced by an assistive tech firm. The city district has, per head, the highest number of petrol stations […]
From The Outdoor Guide. Walk Details AccessTOG was asked by The Canal & River Trust to film a section of the Ripon canal walk, promoting wheelchair accessibility. Debbie North, AccessTOG’s Outdoor Ambassador was up for the project! This was my first proper visit to Ripon. Although I have passed through the area on […]
By Lottie Jackson in The Guardian. We want to hear from less-abled people who have experienced difficulties with poor access when shopping in high-street or luxury fashion stores. Britain’s 11.9 million disabled people represent a potentially large untapped consumer market with a perceived spending power of £80bn, yet many clothes shops are completely […]
By Daniel Gallas in BBC News. Ricardo Shimosakai has been to 25 countries and 200 holiday destinations. But he is sometimes sad to move around in his own home country, Brazil. Ricardo has been a wheelchair user since 2001, when he was shot after an attempted kidnapping. He is now a tourist […]
By Adrienne Dellwo in Very Well. A wheelchair can be both a blessing and a curse when you’re travelling with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or another debilitating illness. It might make travelling possible with far less pain, fatigue, or other symptoms, but it complicates things, too. Many of us who use a chair for travel don’t use […]
There are so many questions banded about as to the story of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), but this video gives a better and fuller insight than most. Once you've watched it, please copy the link and spread the word to raise awareness. Thank you.
To watch this video, click on the link below:
As has been stated by Dr Sarah Jarvis and others, it’s possible that the Coronavirus could trigger M.E. in those people who get through the worst of the virus, and are seen to be in the recovery phase.
Please do not think that once you’re in that phase that you should just get back to your normal routine. As someone who has just passed his 14th anniversary with ME, the most important thing you can do is rest.
Resting should be from both physical and mental / cognitive activities.
Do not push beyond what your body is telling you. Your head might tell you something different, and you’ll be keen to make up for lost time, but please take advantage of this lockdown to recover properly. If you push beyond your limited energies now, and M.E. follows, it could change your life for years to come.
Be sensible and rest up. Take care.
The York Access Group is a Facebook group which is aimed at improving Accessibility in York for those trying to get around with a Disability. Feedback on bad, and good Accessibility of shops, streets, cafes, restaurants and any other facilities are welcomed.
It's also the place to discuss mobility aids from walking sticks to scooters. If this sounds like a group for you, you're most welcome !
As we all know, especially those who need Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters to get around, vehicles parking on pavements and blocking our way can have a major effect on our lives. It can mean that we are likely to put ourselves in danger by going onto busy roads because of inconsiderate parking. 
If you live in York, and you see a vehicle parked across a dropped kerb, call the council's hotline on 0800 138 1119 and the Civil Enforcement Officers will respond and are able to issue tickets. We know this won't help you right then and there, but the hope is that the more people report it, the more people get tickets, then slowly behaviour will start to change.
Would you like to help your local community ?
By current research, there are around 800 people in the York area suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). This might include the work colleagues you haven't seen in some time, or your friends and family, maybe one of the lads who hasn't turned up for five-a-side for a while.
There's information at the top of this site to explain how it affects people and ruins lives. These are your neighbours; would you like to help ? To read the rest of this request, click on the link below:
After a pretty tough time, the guys riding as part of The Nomadic Knights group, made it to Everest Base Camp. I hope we can use this story to gain interest from media sources to help raise awareness for us all. It's the least the guys deserve for all their efforts.
19 May 2017.
“Very pleased to report that we reached Mt Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp with the ME Awareness Flag at 1528hrs on Thursday 18th May. Three and a half hours after we had planned but time in Tibet can sometimes be very fluid. The base camp is located at 5200m, walking to the final destination was challenging in itself due to low oxygen levels.
Conditions at base camp were extremely windy (good for flag flying) with intermittent clouds with no particular destination in mind and the sun was not ideal for photos."
The York ME Community
@YorkMEAwareness
Carol Monaghan SNP spoke in Westminster Hall about the need for support and funds for ME Research. Many other MP's spoke passionately on the subject as it affects their constituents UK wide. Click on the link below to watch the full debate.
There has since been an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) formed to discuss the way ahead in helping MP's Constituents with ME. Contact your MP to ensure they're representing you !
One of the major questions raised is the blending of ME with CFS. This chart on the Hummingbirds site illustrates the many differences between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
Time For Unrest: Why Patients With ME Are Demanding Justice.
If you want the full story on ME and will read just one article about it this year, please make it this one,
Are you a member of a York based Sports or Fitness Club ? Looking for a local cause to run or do an activity for ? The York ME Community are looking to be 'adopted' by anyone willing to maybe run for us and help raise our profile. There are likely to be around 800-1,000 people of all ages in the York area with ME who would be so very grateful for your help.
We had a brilliant day at York Explore Library raising ME Awareness. Lots of interest in what we're doing from local health groups, charities, the council and most heart warmingly, from those dealing with ME themselves who now know we're here for them.
If you'd like to hear more about ME, get in touch.
Dr Byron Hyde has dedicated his medical career to looking into M.E.
In this interview Dr. Byron Hyde, founder of the Nightingale Research Foundation in Ottawa, Canada, emphasizes the brain and enteroviruses. He also emphasizes his belief that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are separate issues.
To watch this interview on YouTube, click on the link below:
Those within the ME Community have always known how damaging being prescribed Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) can be to their future health. We have a broken energy production system and therefore normal rules do not apply. The PACE Trial tried to show that it helps, but has been debunked by scientists and researchers worldwide. The PACE Trial in fact is now held up as an example of how NOT to conduct such trials.
To understand better the truth of GET and The PACE Trial, click on the link below to watch two short videos.
We are the ME/CFS Biomedical Partnership, a collaboration between researchers and people with ME/CFS, carers and the public.
The DecodeME DNA study aims to help us understand the disease and ultimately find treatments.
To read more, or get involved, click on the link below:
This is open to any organisation looking to have a bit of fun whilst supporting your local community. We're underway now for the current season but will be recruiting teams for our 6th season around July 2021. Although the aim is spreading ME Awareness, as a bonus we have also raised over £920.00 for Invest in ME Research, so why not join us ?
To join in for next season, click on the Fantasy Football League tab at the top of the site for all the information you'll need.
Written Question to the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 May 2018 by Carol Monaghan SNP, answered by Caroline Dinenage Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
| Financial Year | £ |
| 2014-15 | 280,442 |
| 2015-16 | 295,626 |
| 2016-17 | 130,958 |
To read the ME Research Summary 2019 by ME Action covering the last ten years, click on the link below:
The York Inset Scooter Club is based in York (UK) and has a membership of around 250.
They are a thriving, active club and look to support local charities when they can. They have an annual Mods and Rockers charity ride out, and for 2019 supported The York ME Community.
They headed off from The York Eye (Clifford’s Tower) on Sun 28 Apr on a run out to the coast, set off by the Mayor of York and the York Normandy Veterans.
All money raised will be used to raise the profile of ME in York through posters being produced and put up in local business premises, clubs, schools, GP Surgeries and venues.
I had a very productive meeting with Cllr Aspden and Cllr Runciman of City of York Council where they have stated they will back efforts to raise awareness of ME, understanding that much more is needed to increase understanding of this debilitating disorder, in York and across the UK. I will be aiming to keep up the pressure to ensure future support.
The motion put before Council with regard to support in raising ME Awareness in York was passed unanimously !
The City of York Council has followed through on their promise by lighting up the city walls and Clifford's Tower in blue over the ME Awareness Weeks since that meeting.
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The first Monday of each month at 11 am - The York ME Community Coffee Club at Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street, York. There is parking available just around the corner at Nunnery Lane Car Park. Blue Badge holders can park for free.
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The third Wednesday of each month - at 2 pm - The York ME Community Coffee Club at The Novotel, York. Parking is free at the hotel.
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Weekly - Every Wed, 8 pm - 9 pm on Twitter, ME Awareness Hour using the #MEAwarenesshour hashtag.
