Many readers will remember that we reported in our March/April 2011 edition that the Government had decided to remove the DLA Mobility component from people living in care homes due to a potential for ‘overlap in provision’. Happily, Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller told Able Magazine that this decision had been reversed. “I’ve been [...]
There seems to be a current trend for comedians to push the boundaries of taste and decency further and further. Nothing they say is out of bounds, everything is up for grabs in the hilarity stakes and it’s always good publicity to be ‘controversial’ isn’t it? I’m not sure how funny these people really are; [...]
Maria Miller blames unemployment on people’s unwillingness to apply for work A government minister has insisted there is “no shortage of jobs”, blaming unemployment on people’s unwillingness to apply for the work available. Maria Miller, the minister for disabled people in the Department for Work and Pensions, said on Sunday night she believed the unemployment problem was down to a lack of “appetite” for the jobs on offer
Rising public resentment blamed on government focus on alleged ‘scrounger’ fraud and inflammatory media coverage The government’s focus on alleged fraud and overclaiming to justify cuts in disability benefits has caused an increase in resentment and abuse directed at disabled people, as they find themselves being labelled as scroungers, six of the country’s biggest disability groups have warned. Some of the charities say they are now regularly contacted by people who have been taunted on the street about supposedly faking their disability and are concerned the climate of suspicion could spill over into violence or other hate crimes.
Rising public resentment blamed on government focus on alleged ‘scrounger’ fraud and inflammatory media coverage The government’s focus on alleged fraud and overclaiming to justify cuts in disability benefits has caused an increase in resentment and abuse directed at disabled people, as they find themselves being labelled as scroungers, six of the country’s biggest disability groups have warned. Some of the charities say they are now regularly contacted by people who have been taunted on the street about supposedly faking their disability and are concerned the climate of suspicion could spill over into violence or other hate crimes
Are you watching Strictly Come Dancing? I love it but, as I wrote in my autobiography Out On a Limb, dance steps are tricky with only one ankle. And I need to be given a leg that fits to be able to take any steps at all. I want ‘out on a limb’ to mean [...]
They do say that a change is as good as a rest, and that’s just what I needed. This year hasn’t been the easiest, so as the summer rolled round again, I decided to look for an adventure. First things first: I spent some weeks perusing websites and doing ‘costings,’ because I’m the kind [...]
Julie Andrews goes down to the woods in Weston, giving everyone a big surprise. Imagine quietly strolling through woods on a balmy Sunday afternoon contemplating roast beef and Yorkshire pudding when out of the bushes fly three rambunctious trike riding ladies. It would certainly make you blink a bit wouldn’t it?! Yes, that was me [...]
After Tuesday’s vote in the Lords, ministers are pushing ahead with DLA reform. But how will the new system work, and who will lose out? 11.09am: I’m told the comments tool on the site (not just the welfare reform bill live blog) is down
I’m sure most of us have had to deal with a pushy doorstep seller wanting to sell us new windows, cable TV or a variety of household goods. Usually most will take the hint from a polite but firm ‘not interested’ but sometimes they can apply pressure and can actually be offering goods that are [...]
