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disabled people

  • 11 Aug 2012
    Useless, or undervalued and stigmatised?

    The dismissal of whole sections of society as comparatively worthless by politicians and the media seems bad enough, but in a recent radio discussion about global population growth, the term ‘useless eaters’ was used, says Berandette Meaden. This chilling phrase is used by some people to refer to anybody who consumes resources without producing any. A dangerous philosophy is being created on this basis. It stigmatises disabled people, the poor and many more besides.

  • 31 Jul 2012
    Warehousing disabled people?

    Those across the country who care about human rights for all should oppose the trend to push disabled people into cheap and cheerless institutional living, says Savi Hensman. While councils do indeed face difficult financial challenges, taking away basic rights from any section of the community is not the answer.

  • 17 May 2012
    The real impact of disability cuts

    Here is the full text of the letter published in the Guardian (17 May 2012) from disability organisations and disabled rights advocates, backed by signatories from charities, NGOs, academics and others (including Ekklesia), on the impact of government cuts hitting disabled people.

  • 14 May 2012
    Ignoring truth to slash disabled people’s benefits

    Many people across Europe have recoiled from harsh austerity policies, which are badly affecting the poorest in society as well as ordinary families. But the UK government is determined to take the cuts even further. Half a million people will lose disability living allowance, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has proudly announced.

  • 3 Mar 2012
    Churches need to empower disabled people, African scholars say

    Scholars from theological institutions in East Africa are challenging churches in measures to improve training and integration for disabled people.

  • 8 Feb 2012
    Welfare politics and changing the power landscape

    The coalition can force its welfare changes through using procedural measures, minor concessions and ‘financial privilege’ to do so. But the long-term political fall-out from all of this could be immense, says Simon Barrow. The warfare over welfare has shown just how powerful citizens’ action and web-based crowd sourcing can be.

  • 2 Feb 2012
    Why the government is wrong to claim charity support on welfare

    The government's minister for disabled people, Maria Miller, yesterday reiterated in the House of Commons her oft-made claim that charities back the coalition's welfare reform policies.

  • 1 Feb 2012
    Welfare Reform Bill amendments going to House of Commons

    MPs in the Westminster House of Commons are debating the Welfare Reform Bill from 12.30pm on Wednesday 1 February 2012, one day after the House of Lords final debate. There are vital issues at stake for disabled people, including the young disabled and those with cancer, for people on housing benefit, for lone parents, vulnerable women and larger families.

  • 29 Jan 2012
    Disabled people lead London blockade in Welfare Reform Bill protest

    Disabled people chained wheelchairs together and led hundreds of others in forming barriers across Oxford Street on Saturday to protest against welfare cuts.

  • 28 Jan 2012
    Disabled, sick and elderly people resist government welfare cuts

    Groups of disabled, sick and elderly people will take to the streets in central London today to protest loudly against government welfare cuts.