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Disability Now (DN) was recently awarded the Redex
Trophy by the DDMC in recognition of its role as an
independent campaigning newspaper that is unique
in the UK.
We've been proud to partner DN in campaigns such as
Baywatch and keen supporters of initiatives such as the
Winter Fuel Campaign.
Although DN is published by Scope, it has a proud reputation
for dealing with tricky issues and, in the view of many
campaigners for disability rights, it has often adopted a more
progressive stance than its parent charity.
Scope may be undergoing a raft of changes for the better – its high profile “Time to Get Equal Campaign” is undeniably
impressive – but turning DN into a mouthpiece of Scope
would be a major mistake.
This is why recent comments by Scope chief executive
Tony Manwaring concerning the relationship between DN
and Scope have caused so much concern.
Scope has done the disability movement a great service
by supporting the development of a challenging independent
newspaper. It would be a great pity if that work was now
undermined. 
Baywatch blues
Ken Jeffrey's difficulties in getting his local supermarket
to take the problem of disabled parking bay abuse
seriously mirror precisely the findings of the Baywatch
Campaign in its recent research. We have identified much
good practice among the participating store chains but there
is a vast amount still to be done. Many people are working
hard to improve the situation, but clearly some are not. It is
scandalous that even someone as tenacious as Mr Jeffrey,
supported by his local newspaper, has been unable to wring
a response from his local store management. Perhaps court
action under the terms of the DDA would focus attention a
little more sharply?
On track
We are delighted that the first meeting between
the trustees of the Disabled Drivers' Association
and the Disabled Drivers' Motor Club was such a success.
There are clearly many detailed discussions to be
had, but there was tremendous goodwill on both sides
and the meeting took place in a really positive atmosphere.
We know that DDMC members need to be given
the fullest opportunity to express their views and you
can be assured that, at an appropriate time, Disabled
Motorist will be doing precisely that.
‘Irrelevant’ discrimination
It's ironic that, at a time when the Disability Rights Commission
is predicting a future of increased assertiveness
among disabled people, more than half of all small business
owners consider the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to
be irrelevant.
It is astonishing that a group of people who pride themselves
on their entrepreneurial skills could ignore a UK market
of 10 million people.
We hope that these business owners, who have been happily
excluding disabled people – and appear to be hoping that
the problem will just go away – experience a sharp wake-up
call as a result of their new responsibilities.
The deadline has passed, part three of the DDA came into
force this month and we expect action. Disabled people have a
right to expect equal treatment and, as the DRC points out, the
lessons of the USA suggest that once activists are backed by a
legal framework, the pressure will be immense.
The DDA and the associated guidance is a very reasonable
piece of legislation (some disabled people would argue that it
doesn't go anything like far enough) – it doesn't ask for the
impossible and it recognises that smaller businesses will have
fewer financial resources than large concerns.
What it does mean is that small business owners who take
no action have no excuses – they will simply be displaying
their ignorance and prejudice . . . hopefully, for all to see in
the courts.
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