Last week was a pretty good one. I attended two evening events the first launched the "OneVoice for Accessible ICT Coalition" a programme aimed at making IT more accessible to disabled people. The other arranged by the Employer's Forum on Disability demonstrated real progress regarding the portrayal of disability on television. Clips from Eastenders and Hollyoaks plus interviews with producers and actors showed how far things have moved over the last decade. Sadly the old adage that we take two steps forward and then one back seems true based on this weeks clippings. The Equality Bill has been enhanced after vigourous campaigning but entitlement to disability benefits seems to be more difficult to get based on the latest figures. Drop me a note if you want more information. Equality bill amendments ‘will transform rights’ Campaigners and disabled peers say two key sets of government amendments to the equality bill will transform disability rights in employment and educa...

Concerns over first government work test figures The first official figures showing how the government’s work capability assessment (WCA) is working have revealed only a small proportion of those applying for out-of-work disability benefits are “passing” the strict new test. Of about 175,000 people whose claims were completed between October 2008 and February this year, only about 32,000 –18 per cent – were placed on the new employment and support allowance (ESA). Of the 32,000, just under a third were placed in the support group, for those who do not have to engage in work-related activity. But about 69,000 of the claimants were pronounced “fit for work” and ineligible for ESA, while 74,000 stopped claiming before their assessment was finished. The assessments – carried out by the government contractor ATOS Healthcare – are supposed to test whether someone requires personalised support to find work and so qualifies for ESA, which has replaced incapacity benefit (IB) for new claimants....