Disability News Roundup By John Pring - Week Ending 16/12/2011

12/20/2011 10:52:00 am BenefitScroungingScum 0 Comments

• Outraged campaigners say a new government-backed benefit fraud campaign could expose disabled people to hostility and violence in their own communities.
• Serious doubts have emerged about crucial statistics used by the minister for disabled people to justify the government’s sweeping disability living allowance reforms.
• New government proposals to “shake up” the scrutiny of adult social care failed to mask growing concerns that the coalition is planning to postpone the long-awaited reform of care and support funding.
• A disabled peer failed by just two votes to overturn plans that will see a steep cut in financial support for many families with disabled children.
• Government proposals to remove funding from organisations that provide expert legal support for discrimination cases will have a “catastrophic” impact on disabled people, experts warned.
• A committee of MPs and peers suggested that parts of the government’s controversial welfare reform bill could breach disabled people’s human rights.
• A university has prevented one of its disabled students from using an accessible parking space that was allowing him to carry out vital work experience, and has now painted over the bay’s markings.
• The Department for Work and Pensions turned away disabled activists who wanted to deliver a campaigning Christmas card on behalf of 23,000 people who signed a petition calling for urgent changes to the welfare reform bill.