Good Reads – Newsletters, Features Etc

Here’s the latest (19/05/2023) newsletter from Disability Rights UK. As ever, it’s an excellent read full of good strories: DR UK oppose Illegal Migration Bill Disability Rights UK has joined 175 civil society organisations calling on the Government to withdraw the Illegal Migration …

This is a great little article with exam season looming: Exam Tips for Disabled Students Including some tips from Students at Whizzkidz With help from Whizzkidz here are some exam tips for disabled students. If you’re a student with a disability, you might find that exams can be an extra bit tricky …

This is the latest newsletter (5 May 2023), from Disability Rights UK. Follow the links to the full stories on their website. New research shows huge rise in extra costs for Disabled households Scope research has found that Disabled households face an average extra cost of £975 per month. These …

Here’s the main content of the Calderdale Council monthly gardening email newsletter. You can sign up to this newsletter and Calderdale’s other newsletters here – Newsletters So glad that spring has arrived, early morning is now filled with bird song and is a joy to listen to as I …

Welcome to your April e-newsletter. We hope you had a lovely Easter and that you managed to get some sunshine – although it’s never guaranteed with our unpredictable weather! While we can learn to live with never knowing what to expect from the weather, none of us can accept the uncertainty that …

This is Disability Rights UK’s essential guide to finding your way through the Universal Credit maze, written by their in-house benefits experts. You can download a free PDF of the Universal Credit Guide from their website. Order print version This is Disability Rights UK’s essential …

Two-thirds of workers with long covid treated unfairly by employers New research by the Trade Union Congress has found that one in seven workers reported losing their job because of reasons connected to Long Covid. Learn more about the TUC’s latest research into Long Covid on the DR UK website. …

The Halifax Society for the Blind’s monthly newsletter, Look Out, is always a good read – we have their latest edition here for you to download: Look Out! March 2023 (pdf) The newsletter includes details of the Theatre Group, Walking Group and Dining Out Group, plus all their other …

Council urged to bring forward decision to end social care charging The East London Council of Tower Hamlets has been urged to move forward with its “bold” decision to become just the second council in England to abolish all charges for care and support for Disabled people in their own …

Here’s the March newsletter of DeafBlind UK – a link to the full newsletter is at the foot of the article. What is the emotional impact of sight and hearing loss? Meet Tracey – who, at 62, was finding her sight and hearing loss was taking a toll on her mental health. Find out how …

International disability rights leading light Judy Heumann dies One of the founding mothers of the international disability rights movement, Judy Heumann, has died aged 75. Learn more about Judy Heumann’s life on the DR UK website. Disabled people far more likely to die by suicide than …

Our friends at Calderdale Forum 50 Plus put out a really useful monthly newsletter – their March edition is out now and it’s got lots of things to do and activities to take part in. Read the full newsletter here – March newsletter  …

TV Access Project: a coalition of broadcasters pledge to make the TV industry more accessible for disabled talent The TV Access Project (TAP) is a coalition of 10 of the UK’s biggest broadcasters and streamers who have pledged to work together to deliver real improvements in access for disabled …

Rights On Flights DR UK, Disabled TV presenter Sophie Morgan and MP Marion Fellows have launched a new campaign demanding that the Government grant the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) the power to fine airlines and other actors if they fail to look after Disabled passengers and their equipment. Read …

Independent Age is a charity that can provide older people and their families with clear, free and impartial advice on the issues that matter: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility. Much of their advice is relevant to people with disabilities, as well. Here is a selection of …

Welcome to a podcast by Calderdale Libraries! Each month they will be bringing you fabulous guests along with stories and facts from Calderdale’s weird and wonderful past. With over 22 episodes to date, covering a many topics, there is plenty to delight any curious history lover. Latest …

This article was written by the Motability Scheme – it’s a great guide to a tricky issue. At the foot of the article is more about the Motability Scheme itself. Blue Badge Parking Tips The Blue Badge Scheme helps disabled people park closer to their destinations when they’re out and …

Disability Rights UK challenges the Bill of Rights on a parliamentary panel On the 1st of February, Equally Ours arranged a parliamentary event – hosted by Shadow Minister for Justice Ellie Reeves MP – on the importance of the Human Rights Act. Bethany Bale, DR UK Rights and Justice Policy and …

Welcome to your February e-newsletter. We’ve got a bumper edition for you, packed with the latest news on how, together, we are Beating Macular Disease. Below are the headlines from the newsletter – to read more on any of the stories below, please see the full newsletter online here. …

Follow the links to the Disability Rights Uk Website for full details of each story: Church of England calls for radical social care reform The Archbishops of York and Canterbury have said that taxes must rise to fund a new NHS-style universal social care system. The call comes four months after …

Welcome to your February e-newsletter. We’ve got a bumper edition for you, packed with the latest news on how, together, we are Beating Macular Disease. Artificial intelligence, or AI seems like something out of a science fiction book! But as Dr Wen Hwa Lee told us in January’s exclusive My Macular …

6 ways to secure employment if you have a learning disability. Finding a job and gaining employment can be challenging for most disabled people, but it can be even harder if you have a learning disability due to employers’ misconceptions about your levels of skills or intelligence to work. …

The West Yorkshire Healthier Together website is a treasure-trove of useful medical advice and support. Add it to your favourites and turn to it if you need help or information. New pages live on the site in the last few weeks include: Low mood (aimed at parents) …

A message from Disability Rights UK’s CEO New Year Message As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, millions of Disabled people are struggling to keep homes warm, run essential health and mobility equipment and keep food on the table. With the wider Disabled people’s movement, we will …

Birdability is a bird-watching organisation based in the USA which concentrates on improving the physical accessibility of birding locations, empowering a welcoming and inclusive birding community, and introducing people with access challenges to birding or bird watching. Here’s an excellent …

Always well worth a read, the January newsletter from our sister organisation, Calderdale forum 50 Plus is now out and you can view it in your browser – View Newsletter…

Here’s the first newsletter of 2023 from Disability Horizons, the online magazine (view full newsletter in browser) 5 Ways To Maintain Fitness Maintaining fitness is important for your health and wellbeing, but can come with challenges if you’re disabled, especially during the colder months. …

The latest “Look After My Bills” newsletter is out – here’s the introduction. There’s a link at the foot to the full newsletter. Brrrr… it’s freezing this week, and with energy bills so high we’ve a host of tips to help you keep heating costs down, …

This is the Macular Society’s Newsletter – below are a list of their latest stories. You can follow them up and read more here. Welcome to your December e-newsletter – the last one of 2023! Thank you for all your support this year – through all of the challenges and twists and turns, …

This has been a busy year for DEX! Read the attached newsletter to find out what they’ve been up to. DEX newsletter 2022 Watch the BSL version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kh0RkHWjIY DEX have also sent out this message – “Thank you so much to everyone for your support, …

Still looking for last-minute gifts and stocking fillers, perhaps for a person with a visual impairment? The RNIB have possibly got the solution – whether you want a practical present or a nice little something that supports the work they do at RNIB to make every day better for those affected by …

Our friends at Calderdale Forum 50 Plus put out a monthly newsletter aimed at older people and their families and friends in Calderdale. You can view the latest copy online here As ever, you should also pop over to their website for all the very latest news on upcoming events in Calderdale. You can …

DR UK reaction to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement The Government has announced in the Autumn Statement that it will increase benefits, in line with September’s inflation rate, from April. The Statement also said that there will be meagre help with energy for people on disability benefits – UC …

Fazilet Hadi, Head of Policy at Disability Rights UK, has a new blog out in which she considers how Disabled people’s organisations can harness their power and expertise to improve how health and care services work with Disabled people. “There are 14 million Disabled people in the UK, and we …

It’s an exciting time for inclusive literature as more disabled authors are entering the literary world, especially disabled women writers. Disability Horizons writer Raya Al-Jadir has put together a must-read list of books – including memoirs, biographies, essays, fantasy fiction and even an …

8 disabled influencers from different ethnic minority groups – Social media is very influential. Everyone deserves representation, especially people from different ethnic minorities as well as people living with disabilities because society still has so much stigma and certain negative …

RNIB works with geo and Energy UK to help make smart meters more accessible We’ve worked with geo and Energy UK to develop the accessible in-home display (AIHD) to make it easier for blind and partially sighted people to manage their energy usage. An AIHD works together with a smart meter and …

Experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people is a new report from the Care Quality Commission (The independent regulator of health and adult social care in England). Here’s their introduction to the report and a link to download and read the …

The 2022 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List has been published. This is an annual recognition of the most influential disabled people, nominated by the public and judged by an independent panel. It celebrates the 100 role models, advocates, campaigners and change-makers across the UK. Year on …

Here’s the latest newsletter from Disability Horizons, an online magazine: ZipOns Created by US-based adaptive clothing company Befree, ZipOns are adapted trousers with zips down both sides to make dressing easier and comfier for kids and adults. Co-founded by Nikki and Joanne, Nikki created …

Reading is important. If you’re struggling to read because of your sight RNIB Reading Services offers plenty of solutions to help, whatever your reading tastes and preferences. Browse their growing collection of 30,000 books to borrow, download and listen to on your smartphone, tablet, …

Here’s the latest newsletter from the RNIB, with s great mix of stories: Get a Letter from Santa RNIB is once again helping to deliver the magic of Christmas by making sure all children with a vision impairment can receive a special festive letter. Our jolly elves work closely with Santa to …

Report reveals families raising disabled children are struggling to survive A new report by the Family Fund shows that UK families raising disabled, or seriously ill, children and young people are struggling to survive, due to the scale of the cost-of-living crisis. Read the full poverty story on …

Here’s the latest edition of the Halifax Society for the Blind Newsletter. Foreword from the Chair Dear Members and colleagues, welcome to our Autumn Newsletter! As the days get shorter, I start to think about my top tips for a better winter. Autumn always starts with my favourite jumper! …

The News Thread is Calderdale Council’s main newsletter and it’s emailed to subscribers monthly. It aims to keep you up to date with news from Calderdale Council. This month’s newsletter includes news of Remembrance Sunday in the area, local town funding and plans and links to …

Writer and editor Emma Purcell, who is visually impaired and a wheelchair user, recently wrote a very personal piece on her blog, Rock for Disability, about loneliness. Despite having good friends and family, she won’t be alone in feeling that this can be one of the hardest things about being …

Welcome to October’s Activity Aliance newsletter. Read the full newsletter here. Headlines include: Announcing Adam Blaze as Activity Alliance’s new Chief Executive Activity Alliance is pleased to announce Adam Blaze as its new Chief Executive. Adam will start in the role for the charity on 1 …

News Disabled UC claimants underpaid by over £350 per month due to DWP failure to start WCA process The National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA), the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) and Disability Rights UK have written to Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Minister Victoria …

Welcome to your October e-newsletter. We’re really happy that we can brighten up this autumn with lots of promising updates for you, including two interesting webinars you might like to join this month. The first of this month’s My Macular and Me webinars will feature Dr Tim Corson from …

The UK Commission on Bereavement has published a new report, Bereavement is everyone’s business With 8 Principles for Change, and clear, detailed recommendations, the findings from Bereavement is everyone’s business are offered below in a variety of formats to ensure that everyone understands …

What needs to happen to make sure everyone gets the care and support they need as they approach the end of their lives? In a podcast hosted by the Kings Fund, Ruth Robertson speaks to Lesley Goodburn, Professor Bee Wee CBE, John Powell MBE and Angie Arnold to find out more. Listen To Podcast Please …

With the weather getting colder and concerns around rising energy bills, we’re resharing the Disability Horizons Magazine article on 10 ways to keep warm this winter if you have a disability, written by Stephanie, who has muscular dystrophy. Disability Horizons Magazine have also updated …

Find out more about the NDSOs Click here to learn more about the NDSOs, and visit their individual websites to find out how they can help you to get moving and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. All NDSOs are Activity Alliance members. We are proud to work collaboratively with them to achieve …

Our sister organisation, Calderdale Forum 50 Plus has published its October e-newsletter: They’ve given the newsletter a minor makeover for this edition. Here’s the intro – you can view the newsletter in full here This month we have lots of upcoming activities for you to enjoy. …

DR UK comment on mini Budget Speaking about the Chancellor’s fiscal event, DR UK CEO Kamran Mallick said: “This was anything but a mini-Budget. But with all of the big announcements focused on tax cuts and boosts for business, we were disappointed not to see an increase in benefits for those who …

How are energy companies supporting customers? With the rising cost of energy prices affecting millions of people, the online magazine Disability Horizons investigated how some of the main energy companies are proposing to support their customers during this crisis, particularly those who have …

DPOs write to Prime Minister The Disability Poverty Campaign Group (DPCG) is a coalition of countrywide disability charities and relevant organisations. It was launched in January of this year and is led by DPOs, (Disabled peoples organisations) The group came together as a response to the growing …

September Update Welcome to your September e-newsletter. Next week we’ll be joined by renowned experts from the world of macular research who will share with you the latest developments and discoveries being made by our amazing scientists at our Hope for the Future conference. It’s not too late to …

Our sister organisation, Calderdale Forum 50 Plus, publishes a really interesting monthly newsletter aimed at providing key local information, plus features and advice for older people and their relatives and carers, who live in the Calderdale area. You can read the latest edition, which is just …

Citizens Advice survey shows millions will be in energy bills debt New analysis from Citizens Advice shows 1 in 4 (24%) people in the UK won’t be able to afford to pay their energy bills in October, based on current forecasts. That is double the number already in the red before the price cap rises …

Celebrating Our Stars The hard work and dedication of Calderdale Council staff, volunteers and local partner organisations was celebrated at the annual Our Stars awards ceremony earlier this month. The event, at the Shay Stadium in Halifax, was last held in 2019. It was an opportunity to celebrate …

The disability lifestyle magazine Disability Horizons has nominated 11 disability podcasts to listen to. Here’s their first choice. There’s a link to the other ten at the bottom on the page. Access All: Disability news and talk (formerly BBC Ouch!) is a weekly podcast about mental …

Covid and racism commission launched DR UK Chief Executive Kamran Mallick is to chair a commission exploring the Covid pandemic’s impact on Disabled people and the additional impact of systemic racism which a coalition of disability charities has launched. Read the full story about the commission …

Accessibility is about more than just ramps and grab-rails. Based on research with deaf and disabled people, a new blog on https://shapingourlives.org.uk/ uncovers some of the key access and support needs that people need to live truly accessible lives: When the topic of accessibility is raised, …

Grenfell inquiry hears final testimony The Grenfell Tower Inquiry held its final evidence sessions last week. DR UK continue to campaign on the implementation of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and encourage participation in the latest government consultation. Read the full story …

Disabled people’s voices need to be valued and prioritised in the planning and delivery of health and care services. This long read sets out the findings of research carried out by The King’s Fund and Disability Rights UK into how disabled people are currently involved in health and …

The latest RNIB newsletter is available to be read in full here It covers a wide range of subjects – here are the main stories, with more information on all of them available via the full newsletter, linked above. : RNIB and Netflix bring AD to movie premiere Netflix and RNIB worked together …

Government rejects calls for cost of living £650 to be given to all on disability benefits The government has rejected calls to extend the £650 one-off cost of living payment to people on disability benefits as well as people on means tested benefits. Around six million people who receive …

Please find below a link to the public website covering the huge project of reconfiguration of Calderdale and Huddersfield’s hospital services https://www.cht.nhs.uk/future Key Highlights Both hospitals sites will provide 24/7 A&E services and day-case, outpatient and diagnostic services …

Alongside the disability community supporting each other, another vital tool in conquering full inclusion is having non-disabled people support and advocate as an ally to disabled people. Here, disability blogger Dax shares a post from their blog Diary of a Disabled Person on how to be a good ally …

Welcome to your July newsletter. Firstly, thank you for all your support across Macular Week 2022. Together we succeeded in raising funds for vital research and awareness of macular disease and the impact it has on so many of our lives. This month we share more of the news from Macular week, …

Digital Poverty Alliance calls for action to combat digital exclusion A coalition of charities, private and public sector organisations is calling for a concerted effort to tackle digital poverty in a new evidence review which highlights millions of people experience digital poverty – when someone …

Mr Dave Manning from The Fire Prevention Service gave a fascinating talk on fire safety to our 28 June 2022 Open Meeting. He covered a huge range of topics, including Safe & Well visits, where they visit those at most risk from fire and give them advice and practical support. There’s more …

Contact HSB Call HSB’s office: 01422 352383 Email: info@halifaxblindsociety.org.uk Write: 36 Clare Road, Halifax, HX1 2HX Website: http://www.halifaxblindsociety.org.uk Halifax Society for the Blind CIO is a registered charity (No 1197353) Download PDF and Word versions of this newsletter Look Out! June …

News Government promises a ‘New Deal for Renters’ After a three-year wait, the government finally released its New Deal for Renters, the fairer private rented sector White Paper, last week. 1.7 million Disabled people in the UK are renting privately. And with recent investigations by The Bureau of …

Station plans on the right track Plans are on track to improve Halifax Rail Station and the surrounding area, with feedback from a recent consultation being used to shape the project. The £30million-plus project, which is being funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, includes plans for a …

DR UK marks Grenfell fire anniversary by highlighting broken promises on PEEPs The Times published a letter from DR UK and two partners urging the Government to legislate for personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs). We joined Grenfell United and Welsh Disabled leaseholders’ group Claddag to …

News No Government progress five years on since Grenfell Next Tuesday – 14th June 2022 – it will be five years since the fire at Grenfell tower. At the time of the fire, the guidance for Disabled residents was to ‘stay put’, and those who could not self-evacuate did not have access to Personal …

New research could lead to a treatment for both wet and dry AMD: Scientists at The University of Manchester have identified those who are at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), based on their genes, and discovered underlying changes in the tissue of these otherwise healthy …

The UK’s Minster for Disabled People, Chloe Smith, delivered the UK statement at the 15th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 14 June 2022. (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you Chair. The UK is committed …

New Inclusion 2024 education hub to improve future PE experiences The new Inclusion 2024 inclusive education hub launched in May. Education practitioners across England will have access to all the essential resources for inclusive PE in one space. It is created in partnership by Activity Alliance, …

10 disabled scientists you should discover The representation of disabled people across various fields is on the increase except for one – science. While the representation of disabled scientists has increased, many still choose not to disclose a disability due to exclusionary practices and …

1.6 million Disabled people have complex needs – new report Over one in ten Disabled people in the UK has complex disabilities according to new research published by the national disability charity, Sense, which shows for the first time the scale of disabilities in the country. The research, …

A warm welcome to your May newsletter, full of all the latest updates from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. This week is Deaf Awareness Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness of deafness and supporting those who are deaf or have hearing loss. The theme of the week this year is inclusion, and if …

Disability In The Spotlight Britain’s Got Talent 2022 is in full swing and the 15th series has featured even more amazing auditions from performers with disabilities. Dance troop Born To Perform secured the golden buzzer with their incredible, upbeat, positive dance routine and 14-year-old Eva …

Disability employment gap persists despite new statistics The government has announced that over one million more Disabled people are in employment compared to five years ago according to the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) data released on Tuesday 17 May. The latest figures show the …

How to prepare for a festival if you’re a wheelchair user Thinking of attending a festival this year but not sure how to plan for the event if you use a wheelchair? Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. Mountain Trike, which sells all-terrain wheelchairs designed for accessing the outdoors, …

Roundup of recent DWP announcements  Special Rules for End of Life   As outlined in the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday 10 May fast-track benefit access is to be extended to those nearing the end of their life for Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. The …

Government must halt ‘managed migration’ to universal credit – DR UK Charities from across the UK have warned the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Thérèse Coffey that plans to restart ‘managed migration’ to universal credit (UC), from 9 May, must immediately be …

Long Covid and illness drives 400,000 more people from the workforce A new Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report warns that deep health inequalities and ineffective policies mean people are living shorter lives, with more years spent in poor health, and facing greater barriers to …

Welcome to your May e-newsletter. Macular disease can often feel like an unknown condition among the wider public and that is why we are so grateful to you for continuing to spread the word. Thanks to your support great strides have been made over the last few years to push the importance of our …

News Disabled employees paid £3.5k less than non-Disabled employees – ONS The ONS has published new data showing that Disabled employees earn £1.93 less per hour than non-disabled employees, equating to a £3,500 pay gap based on a 35 hour week. The pay gap between Disabled and non-disabled …

Literature, art and culture have always been tools of enlightenment and knowledge. Exposing children to books that have a disability theme or disabled characters ensures a future generation devoid of discrimination and exclusion. Here, Disability Horizon’s writer Raya Al-JAdir highlights 8 …

News Disabled people’s groups set out demands for Covid inquiry The horrifying impact of the Covid pandemic on Disabled people risks being ‘airbrushed out of history’, DR UK and its partners have warned ahead of the looming public inquiry. The warning comes in a formal response to the …

New campaign to challenge negative attitudes towards disabled children Activity Alliance is calling time on negative perceptions through our campaign, ‘Who says?’. The leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity wants disabled children and young people to have the same opportunities to …

SEND Review raises red flags The Department for Education (DfE) has opened a consultation on its SEND Green Paper Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Review: right support, right place, right time. It is asking for views on the future of the SEND and alternative provision (AP) system …

Welcome to your April e-newsletter. While we continue to experience our own challenging times at home and hear about those happening in the world around us, we wanted to let you know we are thinking of you; and we hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well. Thank you for continuing to …

Together with the Centre for Ageing Better, we have launched Picture Yourself Active: a new, publicly accessible image library of over 300 photos depicting older and Disabled people getting active to challenge pervasive negative stereotypes. The library contains positive and authentic images of …

Roundup of recent DWP announcements  Spring Statement 2022  This week the Chancellor delivered a Spring Statement that included further measures to help people with the cost of living. From April 2022 there will be an extra £500 million for the Household Support Fund, which doubles its total amount …

How bare bones benefits don’t add up The Spring Budget offered next to nothing in terms of real-world increases to benefits for Disabled people, or salves to ease the pain of cost of living increases. DR UK’s Media and Communications Manager Anna Morell does the sums on bare bones disability …