Comment and media

Are foundations doing enough to understand disability equality issues and the lived experience of disabled people? Article by Sioned Churchill, Director of Special Initiatives and Evaluation at Trust for London, in Trusts and Foundations News.

On Tuesday 5 December, court papers in a legal challenge were served on the Department for Work and Pensions over its introduction of the Access to Work cap, a measure which limits the amount of support that individuals can be awarded by the once flagship disability employment scheme.

A Disabled person with support from Inclusion London and other Disability charities is bringing a challenge to the unfair and discriminatory way those with psychological distress are treated by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rules.

Newly published research has found evidence of significant problems with the Government’s disability employment support programme Access to Work. Inclusion London’s report “Barriers to Work” will be launched in Parliament on 24 October alongside a comprehensive list of recommendations from the campaign #StopChanges2AtW

Luke’s appeal was dismissed.  This is a devastating outcome for him as he won’t only be stuck at home with minimal support he also risks losing his support team, who were with him for 18 years.  The outcome is also disappointing and worrying for other Disabled people, as this case sends a message to local authorities that they can implement whatever cuts they want as long as they follow the right process. 

Civil society organisations, including Inclusion London, the British Institute of Human Rights, the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, the Runnymede Trust, and Just Fair, have come together to express disappointment at the Government’s decision to accept fewer than half of recommendations received to improve the UK’s human rights record.

Inclusion London CEO Tracey Lazard was on Newsnight speaking about the UN’s damning verdict on the Government’s treatment of Disabled people, following the release of the UN Disability Committee’s Concluding Observations.

The Court of Appeal has delivered its judgement in the case of R (on the application of Davey) v Oxfordshire County Council).  This is the first case under the Care Act 2014 to reach the Court of Appeal and is critical in determining how far the legislation supports Disabled people’s well-being, choice and control and independent living. The judges dismissed the appeal mainly because of the factual evidence in the case.  

Tomorrow the Court of Appeal will deliver its judgement in the case of a Disabled Man whose support has been slashed, while the UN again criticises the UK over violations to Disabled people’s rights      

The UK Government’s claim to be a ‘world leader in disability issues’ has today been crushed by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee has released damning Concluding Observations on the UK, following its first Review of the government’s compliance with the Convention.