National charity Disability Alliance (DA) has said that equality legislation demands that all public organisations carry out impact assessments on their policies to consider the disproportionate effect they may have on disabled employees and others living with disabilities.

However, the body - producer of the annual publication Disability Rights Handbook and provider of information regarding tax credits, social care and social security benefits for disabled people - believes that the treasury failed to do this for the Emergency Budget.

During an interview on Radio 4 earlier this week, MP Mark Hoban was unable to confirm that this had in fact taken place, although the question was put to him five times.

Chief executive with DA Vanessa Stanislas noted disabled people need greater support from government benefits and services and stated that "to hear that the government announced the Budget without considering whether disabled people will be disproportionately affected by cuts to public spending and benefit reform is deeply alarming".

New rules giving parents greater access to special educational needs (SEN) and disability tribunals came into force on the 1^st September 2010.

The changes allow parents to appeal to the SEN and disability tribunal if their local authority does not amend a child’s statement following their statutory annual review. Previously there was no right of appeal if local authorities failed to act on a review, even when parents and teachers felt that change was required.

Brian Lamb’s 2009 report for the former DCSF highlighted the lack of parental confidence in aspects of the SEN system of assessment and recommended the changes.

The new rights are introduced through the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010. Parents will now have a two-month window to appeal following a local authority’s decision not to amend an SEN statement. In the past, parents were forced to request a re-assessment if their wishes were ignored.

In addition to the new provision, the chief inspector of education, children’s services and skills now has a duty to report on the extent to which education in mainstream schools meets the needs of children with SEN and disabilities, creating a more transparent and accountable environment.

An armless Chinese man amazed TV audiences with a flawless piano performance – using only his toes.

Liu Wei, 23, appeared on China’s Got Talent and stunned viewers with a faultless recital of the classic Mariage D’amour.

Wei lost both arms when he was 10 after he touched a high-voltage wire during a game of hide-and-seek. He insisted it had been his “destiny” to perform on the show.

“For people like me, there were only two options,” he said. “One was to abandon all dreams, which would lead to a quick, hopeless death. The other was to struggle without arms to love an outstanding life.”

Aged 18, Wei decided he wanted to be a professional musician and taught himself how to play the piano in secret. He developed his own style after his teacher quit, saying it was impossible for anyone to play with their toes..

To see this video follow this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP-GTwy9jjI

Disabled people risk being increasingly marginalised on the edges of society by proposed Government cuts, according to national disability charity Scope.

New research by the charity has found that disabled people are already ‘invisible’ to large parts of the society, with nearly two in five (40%) of non-disabled people (who do not have a disabled relative) not knowing any disabled people.

The survey found that, while the vast majority (91%) of non-disabled people believe that disabled people should have the same opportunities as everyone, only one in 10 had ever welcomed a disabled person into their house for a social occasion. Only a fifth (21%) had ever had the chance to work with a disabled colleague.

The Chief Executive of Scope, Richard Hawkes, said: “This is shocking evidence that shows that disabled people are still relatively invisible in day-to-day life. We are deeply concerned that the Government’s spending cuts will end up pushing disabled people even closer to the fringes of society.

“The Government needs to carry out a full impact assessment before making any cuts to ensure they understand the full consequences of reductions in critical support such as Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. These form a vital lifeline for many disabled people and their families,” he added.

“Without fully understanding the nature of disabled people’s lives, or the impact these changes will have, the Government may find itself causing extreme distress and financial hardship to disabled people which could end up creating greater dependency on the state and an even greater demand on the public purse,” he said.

With less than two years until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Government Ministers are urging companies to see improving disability access as a way of becoming more profitable, as well as more socially responsible.

One million disabled visitors are expected to come to London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, bringing with them millions of pounds in potential business. The Government believes now is the time for British businesses to start preparing for these customers, to be part of the Paralympic Games.

To encourage businesses to become more accessible the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) commissioned a report setting out the opportunities that disabled customers bring.

The report “2012 Legacy for Disabled People: Inclusive and Accessible Business” shows that:

- Disabled consumers are a significant but poorly addressed market worth £40-£80 billion per year

- For an average business disabled customers may account for up to 20% of the customer base.

- 32% of disabled people have difficulty accessing goods and services they want to use.

- This means small companies could be losing one in five of their customers

- The risk of losing business to a more accessible competitor is high as consumer experiences of disabled people affect the choices of family and friends.

The report highlighted that the main reasons for disabled customers switching to a more accessible competitor included poor customer service, inaccessible telephone systems and inaccessible printed information.

Business Minister Mark Prisk MP said: “We want to be sure that businesses will be able to meet the needs of these valuable customers – not just because it is fair or the law but because it makes good business sense.

“This report makes a clear economic case that businesses that are more accessible will be more profitable.”

The Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller MP, added: “The 2012 Games provide a powerful opportunity for the private sector to reach out to disabled customers, counter disability stereotypes and showcase their equality credentials. Disabled consumers are a significant proportion of the UK consumer market and businesses could be missing up to a 20% of the market by not reaching out to them.

“It might only take one small change to make a business significantly more accessible to disabled people and we are developing initiatives to support businesses to become more inclusive and accessible in the lead up to the Games and beyond,” she added.

One case study featured in the report is Hytte, a provider of self-catering accommodation in Northumberland, which incorporated accessibility at the planning stage of the building and now has occupancy levels of 97% compared to the country average of 55%.

Elderly and vulnerable people are being increasingly bullied into handing over thousands of pounds for overpriced mobility aids by rogue traders, according to the Local Government Association.

Some are even posing as social care workers to make sales. In one case, an 80-year-old was bullied into buying a £5,000 motor scooter, even though he already had one.

But now trading standards officers are recovering hundreds of thousands of pounds paid out for over-priced home equipment such as mobility scooters, stair lifts and walk-in baths.

Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of Local Government Regulation, said: “People who target vulnerable members of society have no morals and will not think twice about piling on the pressure to ensure they get as much money as possible. The equipment sold is rarely suitable, it’s severely overpriced and will no doubt come with a cancellation policy that is extremely hard to get out of.

“These heartless criminals are leaving people extremely worried and in a great deal of debt. They need to realise that they will be caught, dealt with by the courts, and punished severely,” he added.

Trading standards departments are urging anyone who has fallen victim to such a crime or who feels they are currently being targeted to contact their local council or Consumer Direct as a matter of urgency.

Kevin Snowball is the Managing Director for the Retail arm of Simplyhealth. “Most reputable businesses will have made a pre-arranged appointment to visit you in your home to assess your individual needs and to tailor your mobility or living aid to your home environment,” he insisted. “If requested, most organisations will also send you a confirmation of the appointment date and time in the post. Our advice would be not to open the door if you haven’t received either of these.

“We would also recommend that you ask a friend, neighbour or healthcare professional to be with you during your appointment,” he added. “Should you be in any doubt, then you can contact your local Disability Living Centre to obtain a list of reputable retailers in your area.

“At Simplyhealth, we follow the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) code of practice,” he said. “We will visit you at a time and date convenient to you. Prior to our visit, a Simplyhealth representative will also phone you to confirm the time is still suitable. They will arrive in a Simplyhealth branded vehicle and carry identification. Our representatives are happy to wait for you to call our offices to verify the identification of the caller.”

TOP TIPS:

· You should always have a pre-arranged appointment for a home assessment

· Most reputable business will have branded vehicles, a landline telephone number and in most incidences, a shop you can visit

· Callers should arrive at a time requested by you and carry identification. If in doubt phone the business from the number in your telephone directory to verify the identity of your caller (and not the number on the person’s business card)

· Try and have a friend, neighbour or healthcare professional with you

· Set a time limit for your first meeting

· Remember, you are not obligated to purchase and you are not tied into any contract just because you request a home assessment

· If in doubt ask the salesperson to leave before you sign anything

· Report any companies who behave inappropriately to your local Trading Standards officer

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) is urging the public to take part in a new survey which aims to find out more about disabled people’s experiences of claiming benefits.

The online survey can be accessed atwww.surveymonkey.com/s/dbcsurvey and takes no more than 15 minutes to complete.

The Survey includes questions about what people think about work, and if they have ever claimed Employment and Support Allowance – the new benefit for people who cannot work due to ill health or disability.

The survey also asks questions about Housing Benefit and Disability Living Allowance to find out more about how people use these benefits.

The DBC represents more than 30 charities and other organisations, including Leonard Cheshire Disability, Arthritis Care and Breast Cancer Care. The survey’s findings will be used to help the Government better understand the impact changes to benefits like Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Housing Benefit will have on disabled people.

Rebecca Rennison, Senior Policy Officer at Leonard Cheshire Disability and Co-chair of the DBC’s policy group says: “We are urging as many people as possible to take part in the survey. The findings will not only be used to influence government policy but will also highlight just how important benefits are to those who need them.”

More: www.disabilityalliance.org/dbc.htm

The Speaker of the House of Commons has been asked to intervene in a growing row over the fairness of the Government’s controversial benefit reforms.

Ministers want all those claiming sickness benefits to be tested to see if they can work, but several Welsh MPs have raised concerns the tests are inappropriate.

In a new twist disability charities are challenging a claim made in an official parliamentary answer that they backed the Government’s approach.

Responding to a question from Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd, Welfare Minister Chris Grayling said a review of the test – done while Labour were still in office – had consulted bodies including the RNIB, Citizens Advice and the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC).

Mr Grayling said the review “found that generally the assessment accurately identifies individuals for benefit”.

But the DBC has since contacted Ms Clwyd to object to the claim that they supported the review. In fact the DBC has raised concerns with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer over the way the tests are done.

Now Ms Clwyd has contacted the Speaker, John Bercow, to ask whether Mr Grayling should apologise in the Commons. She said the information in the parliamentary answer was “just not true”.

Ms Clwyd said: “This written parliamentary answer illustrates that the Government is just not being straight about the problems that exist with the Work Capability Assessment.

“Ministers and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions are so keen to present the Government as being tough on sickness benefit ‘scroungers’ that it is not being honest about the significant problems with the way the system is operating.”

Among the concerns raised by the disability charities are rules that say claimants who “cannot mount or descend two steps”, or are unable to stand for 10 minutes could still be classed as “fit to work”.

Ms Clwyd said sick ex-miners who had difficulty breathing were nevertheless being called in for new tests to see if they could be sent out to work.

The Government says the welfare bill is too large, and announced an £11bn reduction in welfare payments in the Budget.

Those receiving the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – which is replacing Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit – are already being given medical tests, and Ministers are expected to accelerate this process later in the year.

Several Welsh MPs have also raised concerns over changes to the way benefits are calculated, with the Treasury switching from RPI (Retail Prices Index) inflation to the lower CPI (Consumer Prices Index) measure for annual increases.

A spokeswoman for the DWP said: “The government is determined to help the two and a half million people abandoned on sickness benefits, giving those that can work the help to do so and those that can’t more, not less, support.

“But we know that the Work Capability Assessment hasn’t always given the right result, which is why Ministers have already made some changes to the way it recognises people suffering from mental health problems and those with cancer, and that’s why Professor Malcolm Harrington is now conducting a full review of the test to make sure it works for everyone.”

In his Budget speech in June Chancellor George Osborne said: “It is right that people who are disabled are helped to lead a life of dignity. We will continue to support them, and we will not reduce the rate at which this benefit [DLA] is paid. “But three times as many people claim it today as when it was introduced 18 years ago, and the costs have quadrupled in real terms to over £11bn, making it one of the largest items of government spending.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called on the Government to ensure it meets its legal obligations to consider the effect of any Budget cuts on vulnerable groups.

The Director General of the EHRC, Neil Kinghan, said: “Under equality legislation, the Treasury, like all public bodies, has a legal duty to pay ‘due regard’ to equality and consider any disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups when making decisions, including decisions about the Budget. This legislation is not designed to prevent reductions in public expenditure. Its role, and the Commission’s role, is to ensure fairness is at the heart of decisions.

“When the Spending Review was announced in June, the Commission wrote to government departments, including the Treasury, asking for reassurance that they would comply with the legislation and issuing guidance to help them to do this,” he added. “We have pressed the point in person with a number of Cabinet Ministers, including the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

“It is for the Treasury to demonstrate that it has complied with the legislation and assessed the impact of its decisions on vulnerable groups, he concluded. “If it cannot do so, then the Commission will have to consider appropriate enforcement action.”

More: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

The Coalition Government’s first Budget will hit poor families – including disabled people – hardest, according to a leading economic think tank.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) described the measures announced in June’s Emergency Budget as “regressive”, and said that low income families with children are set to lose the most – about 5% of net income – due to benefit cuts.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg defended the Budget, insisting the IFS report was “by definition partial” and failed to consider the policies to get more people off benefits and into work.

Guy Parckar, Leonard Cheshire Disability Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns, said: “The analysis suggesting that the measures in the June Budget will hit poorest families the hardest will be of great concern to many disabled people.

“Disabled people are already twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty; they are far less likely than non-disabled people to be in work, or to have any savings,” he added. “The extent of disability poverty in the UK should be considered a national scandal and policy decisions must not be made that will make the situation even worse.

“The Government should keep all its policies under review in this context – if financial measures are to be fair and progressive, then tackling disability poverty must be at their heart,” he said.