Disability News Round Up By John Pring - Week Ending 06/04/2012

4/10/2012 09:02:00 am BenefitScroungingScum 0 Comments

• A new consultation on disability living allowance reform has added fuel to concerns that the government is ignoring the likely impact of the changes on disabled people’s lives, say campaigners.
• The government has been heavily criticised for its decision not to accept the part of the UN disability convention that protects disabled immigrants.
• The head of the equality watchdog, Trevor Phillips, is to leave his post after six years, it has been confirmed.
• User-led groups across London are hoping to convince local authorities to continue funding two vital areas of support for disabled people and their organisations.
• The mother of a teenager with autism who was repeatedly confined to a padded room at his residential special school has spoken of the “remarkable” progress he has made since a court ruled his treatment was unlawful.
• New guidance could see older people, children, obese people and pregnant women receive protection under European laws on air travel for disabled people, a leading user-led organisation has warned. 
• The MP leading a review of Labour’s special educational needs policy has suggested it will recommend a far more inclusive approach than the coalition government’s anti-inclusion stance.
• Two disabled MPs have spoken out strongly against any moves towards legalising assisted suicide.
• Two new high-profile campaigns are set to highlight the barriers that disabled people face when trying to use public transport.
• Disabled activists have hailed as a major victory a decision by Scottish GPs to call on the government to abandon its controversial “fitness for work” tests.
• Tackling the bureaucratic barriers faced by disabled people, a list of the top disability-friendly employers, and recruiting more disabled teachers, are just some of the suggestions for how the government can improve disabled people’s lives.