Scotland's National
Disability Information Service

Helpline 0131 669 1600


News Index

 

 

Dear Mr Duncan Smith . . .

An open letter to Iain Duncan Smith, from a worried GP

21st June 2010

CBI urges deep cuts in welfare spending

Business Leaders say axe welfare and social spending while shielding contracts for the private sector and keeping taxes low.

21st June 2010

Polling for disabled below standard

Facilities at polling stations for disabled people during the 2010 General Election campaign have been criticised in a new report

21st June 2010

MSPs back national children’s panel body

Plan to replace local children’s panels with a single national body.

14th June 2010

Scottish Charity Awards 2010: Winners Announced and Celebrated

Modest support organisation from island of Harris is charity of the year 2010!

14th June 2010

OpenLondon 2010 guide book now available

9th June 2010

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT – vacancies for voluntary directors

UPDATE has 4 vacancies on our voluntary Board of Directors and we are actively recruiting for new members

8th June 2010

Through the lens unsighted  

A blind photographer's exhibition will be one of the highlights of an arts festival in Edinburgh.

8th June

Scotland will be harder hit by public sector cuts, says report 

Scotland’s economic recovery will trail the rest of the UK according to economists.

7th June

Innovative musical project strikes right chord with Raploch

Two years ago the Raploch was a byword for urban deprivation. Now 8/10 younsters play a musical instrument.

7th June

Government axes jobs in third sector

Voluntary organisations in Scotland lose the chance to employ young people

1st June 2010

Call to allow art students into university without maths or English

Dyslexia Scotland, student leaders and headteachers say entrance demands must be overhauled.

1st June 2010

Lottery change warning to charities

A government demand that lottery distributors cut their overheads could “fundamentally change” the Big Lottery Fund.

26th May 2010

Capital minister challenges Kirk's opposition to assisted dying bill

An Edinburgh minister has challenged the Church of Scotland's blanket opposition to assisted dying.

26th May 2010

Iain Duncan Smith takes on work and pensions

Iain Duncan Smith, right-winger with an evangelical approach to poverty, wins his place at cabinet table.

21st May 2010

Call to sack new Equalities Minister Theresa May

A facebook group has 30,000 members calling for newly appointed Equalities Minister Theresa May to be sacked

18th May 2010

Save the Lloyds TSB Foundation and sign the petition

12th May 2010

Arts in Highlands gets a £500,000 boost

Development funding announced at Ullapool book festival

10th May 2010

New Guide to Easy Read

Scottish Accessible Information Forum's (SAIF) "A Brief Guide to Easy Read" will tell you more about what Easy Read means.

5th May 2010

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT – vacancies for voluntary directors

UPDATE has 5 vacancies on our voluntary Board of Directors and we are actively recruiting for new members

3rd May 2010

Scotland's private schools told: Do more to help the community

Private schools have been urged by the Scottish Government to do more to ensure they retain charitable status.

28th April 2010

Charity urges voters to make global poverty an issue

A charity has urged voters in Scotland to make global poverty a priority issue when they consider how to vote in the general election.

22nd April

NHS computer system

3rd April 2010

EHRC Equality Act guidance consultation

Consultation on our strategic plan and equality scheme 2009-12, Equality and Human Rights Commission

5th February 2010

Charity watchdog to investigate Sick Kids' fundraising crisis

Investigation into the affairs of the crisis-hit children's charity behind a botched campaign to raise £15 million for a new hospital.

4th February 2010

Scotland's first cancer research lab to open

The first Cancer Research UK laboratory to open in Scotland is being launched in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital

4th February 2010

Glencraft factory hopes for rent waiver to re-open

Councillors asked to waive £225,000 to get former factory for blind and disabled workers in Aberdeen back on its feet.

2nd February 2010

What the new Equality Bill means for employers

Examination of what the Bill will mean in practice for employers and employees

15th January 2010

Disabled workers 'worst hit by cuts in recession'

Save around £900 a year on fuel bills through the Scottish Government's Energy Assistance Package.

15th January 2010

Help with Fuel Bills - Energy Assistance Package

Save around £900 a year on fuel bills through the Scottish Government's Energy Assistance Package.

14th January 2010

Landmark agreement for the Independent Living Movement and all disabled people in Scotland

Government bodies jointly sign up to a shared vision for independent living in Scotland

11th December 2009

New Scotland-Wide Initiative Launched to Get Disabled People Connected

Cutting-edge assistive technologies to into the homes of disabled people

11th December 2009

OpenBritain 2010 Guide

New printed guide for disabled access information

3rd December 2009

Alzhemeimer's drug trial to be run by Glasgow clinic

Plan to preserve the rights in the Human Rights Act

26th November 2009

Commission launches strategy to protect and promote respect for human rights

Plan to preserve the rights in the Human Rights Act

26th November 2009

The Scottish Government Energy Assistance Package

Package to help maximise incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency

4th November 2009

Older people's advice service

Online questionnaire to tell us about your experiences.

26th October 2009

Help the National Autistic Society Scotland campaign for a Scotland Autism Bill

Online questionnaire to tell us about your experiences.

26th October 2009

New Tourist Information Resource ‘Open Britain’ launched

A comprehensive tourism website and guide book for disabled people

26th October 2009

Join the Benefits and Works Campaign

Campaign to stop proposed cuts to Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.

18th October 2009

Miriam Margolyes to make BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal on behalf of DLF

Disabled Living Foundation (DLF’s) 40th Anniversary charity appeal

25th September 2009

Consultation on UK Equality Bill - Socio-Economic Duty

Scottish Ministers have decided to undertake a consultation to cover public bodies in Scotland.

16th September 2009

Law to care for dying supported

Proposed legislation requiring health boards to provide specialist care for the terminally ill.

3rd September 2009

New ruling gives people with mental health conditions the same human rights as others

Ruling finds that people with mental health conditions are protected from discrimination by the European Convention on Human Rights

25th August 2009

New students wanted by BBC Ouch!

BBC seeks disabled students for new feature on BBC Ouch!.

25th August 2009

BBC Talent Alert

BBC is launching a search to find new actors with disabilities to unearth new talent.

6th August 2009

Independent Living Scotland 2009

Scotland's premier Homecare, Disability and Rehabilitation exhibition at SECC in Sept.

5th July 2009

Wall of Life aims to boost organ donors

A new campaign is aiming to raise awareness about organ donation

26th June 2009

Sight loss 'costs' £6.5bn - RNIB

A major UK charity says the cost of sight loss to the economy runs into billions of pounds.

17th June 2009

UK ratifies UN Convention on Disability Rights

The United Kingdom ratified the United Nations Convention on Disability Rights

8th June 2009

Offences (Aggravation By Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 09)

A Bill to make provision about the aggravation of offences by prejudice relating to disability or to sexual orientation or transgender identity.

8th June 2009

Concessionary fares scheme extended

Scotland's nationwide concessionary travel scheme is to be extended to include injured forces veterans.

25th May 2009

Commission announces new plan to address the safety and security of disabled people

A report published by the Commission on 29 April announces a three point plan to address the safety and security of disabled people.
25th May 2009

Fears over web health revolution

Concerns have been raised about the use of the internet and new technologies to revolutionise health care.

21st April 2009

Help for disabled homeowners

A nationwide scheme which helps disabled people carry out essential home adaptations has been enhanced.

19th April 2009

Hospital clean up

An army of 600 new hospital cleaners is to be recruited after the Scottish Government allocated extra funds.

19th April 2009

Investment in new ambulances

The Scottish Ambulance Service will receive £25.5 million over the next three years to buy more than 700 new vehicles.

23rd March 2009

Ministers back blind benefit rise

Ministers have agreed to raise disability allowances for blind people, a move which will see thousands up to £1,500 a year better off.

23rd March 2009

Self Management Fund for Scotland launched

The Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) is delighted to announce that following final confirmation from the Scottish Government, the Self Management Fund for Scotland is now open for applications.

16th March 2009

Napping 'increases diabetes risk'

Taking regular lunchtime siestas could increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to research.

10th March 2009

Disabled persons parking Bill

The Scottsh Parlament have passed legislation that will penalise anyone wrongly using an accessible parking bay. The new legislation was backed by SNP transport minister Stewart Stevenson. The new Bill proposed by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie brought a rare degree of cross-party support at Holyrood.

3rd March 2009

Improved servcies for wheelchair users

Services for people who use wheelchairs will now be closer to home and much more flexible, thanks to a new wheelchair action plan launched by the Scottish Government.

3rd March 2009

Concise Blue Badge UK Road Atlas

The revised (2nd edition) UK Road Atlas for Blue Badge Drivers is a unique spiral bound, handy sized, 256 paged customised atlas for Blue Badge holders driving in the United Kingdom.

2nd March 2009

Disability sport: is it handicapped by PE teacher training?

School children with a disability are being further handicapped by the education system and a well-meaning drive for inclusion.

25th February 2009

Toxic blood victims deserve millions, says inquiry

Ministers are under pressure to pay out what could be millions of pounds in compensation to NHS patients infected with hepatitis C and HIV after a long-awaited verdict from an independent inquiry

24th February, 2009

Cost of medical progress will be the NHS's biggest challenge, says expert

Paying for new drugs and treatments is now the biggest challenge facing the NHS and society as a whole, says a leading cancer specialist.

23rd February, 2009

'Record funding' announced for NHS Scotland boards

The Scottish Government has announced "record funding" for NHS boards in Scotland of £8.6 billion for the next financial year, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has said.

11th February, 2009

'Swift action' aids stroke care

A simple test to help people to recognise the signs of stroke and react quickly is being launched by the Department of Health.

9th February, 2009

Plans to close free care loophole

Scottish councils could be stopped from charging OAPs for food preparation under plans to tighten free personal care rules.

8th February, 2009

New assisted suicide law 'will be highly dangerous'

The UK's leading charity against euthanasia has demanded MSPs block "highly dangerous" moves to legalise assisted suicide.

6th February, 2009

Government urges households to apply for central heating help

Scottish Government has urged households across the nation to apply for help with their central heating costs, if they believe they may be entitled to assistance.

5th February, 2009

Elderly wanted for Wii experiment

Elderly people who have fallen are wanted for a study to see if the Nintendo Wii Fit could help their balance.

5th February, 2009

"Too many" mentally ill in jails

Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than getting treatment, a charity says.

4th February, 2009

Consultation on our strategic plan and equality scheme 2009-12

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Would you like a chance to shape the Commission's plans? Do you have views about who in society we should be supporting, what policy areas we should be concentrating or any other matters you think we should be considering? Now is your chance to get involved and make sure your views will be heard by our Commissioners before they agree our strategic priorities.