As mentioned last week, the Lords Select Committee has now published its report into the workings of the Equality Act 2010.

The main conclusion is that laws designed to protect disabled people against discrimination simply aren’t working in practice, and that employers, service providers and public bodies are still not adapting to their needs. Everyday examples include taxi drivers refusing to take disabled people; ‘disgraceful’ accessibility at sports grounds; pubs and clubs failing to provide disabled toilets…

The government has had a “hugely adverse” effect on disabled people through actions such as introducing tribunal fees; imposing spending cuts; removing provisions designed to help disabled people (under the guise of reducing red tape). Equally, inaction has had a great impact. For example, government has refused to bring into force provisions on taxis carrying passengers in wheelchairs, even though they have been on the statute book for 20 years. Provisions to make leasehold buildings more accessible for disabled tenants have also not been brought into force.

You can carry on reading here

An interesting guest blog this week from Nicky Shaw, director of welfare at Blind Veterans UK, the charity that helps people who have served in the military and have sight loss. 

She's highlighting the work that the organisation does with veterans, and emphasising the importance of signposting anyone who could benefit from their support. It doesn't matter whether the person's military experience was as a reservist, in the regular Armed Forces or as part of national service. Equally, the sight loss doesn't have to be connected to their time in the services.

You can read her article, Signposting for Support, here

If you are one of the nearly 1000 people who signed up for Belinda Schwehr’s recent webinar on Care Act reviews and Advocacy Rights, then you are probably keen to know about her monthly programme of Wednesday Webinars which begins next Wednesday, April 6th, and runs until March 2017, building up your knowledge base in manageable chunks.

The idea is to enable everyone in the sector to benefit from specialist interactive ‘legal framework’ training, without having to travel, pay for a venue, or for the trainer’s expenses. Registering means that you also get a recording of the session, so that you can watch and listen at your own pace and wherever is most convenient for you.

Anyone with an interest can register, at a very modest £10 per webinar... more details and links here

A new campaign, Tourism is for Everybody, aims to make travel and tourism more enjoyable, by encouraging everyone involved in the industry to provide a warm and accessible welcome.

The UK is bursting with attractions, and increasingly, Brits are choosing to spend holidays at home rather than travelling overseas. Many tourism businesses have taken the steps to make sure that they are accessible, installing features like access ramps, Changing Places fully accessible toilets, and hearing loops, but people don't always feel really welcome. Disabled travellers and their companions already contribute more than £12 billion to the economy, but if they were assured of a warm welcome, the market could be even bigger.

You can read more about the campaign here.

Ramps: the simple solution to many an access problem. A small variation in level, a step or two, or an uneven threshold can make it impossible to progress on wheels.

Little wonder that we get many enquiries on Independent Living for ramps!

Bentley Fielden has a newly refreshed showcase page highlighting some of their most popular portable access solutions, including the Aerolight range (shown here), with their special lip design to make it easier and smoother to roll on and off the ramp. 

More about this and other ramps on the Bentley Fielden page

The clocks have gone forward, we've had Easter, the vernal equinox is past: it's very definitely spring now, however you define it! What better time to get out and get some gardening exercise under your belt. We have hints and tips to make gardening easier if your mobility, strength or dexterity are limited. Gardening is a national passion – it would be sad to miss out when a few simple changes could make all the difference... Accessible gardening is here

"A world of unfairness" is the photo competition from Disability Talk. Open to university students, it is looking for images that highlight discrimination in a striking and original way. The judging panel includes Professor Stephen Hawking and Sir Bert Massie amongst others, and the closing date is 30 April.

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances