In the news this week:
- John Humphrys has infuriated disability groups by making a programme based on the theory that our welfare system is doomed to fail given our ‘welfare dependency’. Here is a blog post with counter argument/evidence: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/john-humphrys-is-wrong-on-social-security/
- Members of the House of Lords continue to read the Welfare Reform Bill, which is at Committee stage. Keep up to date with the amendments being discussed by reading the Lords Hansard text: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/111026-gc0001.htm#11102656000134
- Two severely disabled people have gone to court to fight multi-million pound cuts to council care services. They are challenging a move by Manchester town hall to slash £39m from the adult care budget: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1462836_disabled-pair-take-manchester-council-to-court-over-39m-adult-care-cuts
- Rather worrying was the news that education budgets in England will be cut by around 50%: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8847214/Record-spending-cuts-hit-nursery-schools.html
- In the midst of concerns about budgets, North Yorkshire and York Primary Trust have apologised for delays in diagnosing autism in children. An audit revealed 41 children across Scarborough, Ryedale and Whitby have faced an excessive wait for diagnosis: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-15382209
- The Hardest Hit rallys took place all over the UK on 22nd Oct - go to their website for more information about how you can get involved in their campaign: http://thehardesthit.wordpress.com/
- In Virginia USA, a 9-year-old boy with autism was found alive after wandering off 6 days ago: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054876/Alive-Mute-autistic-boy-9-woods-days-wandered-family-hike.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
- Hugh Muir examines proposed cuts to disability benefits. Is this a sensible plan to get the finances under control, or an attack on the most vulnerable?(Podcast): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2011/oct/21/focus-podcast-disability-benefits-cuts
- Childline have a new section about autism and getting help if you've got autism and are being bullied: http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Life/Pages/Autism.aspx
- Anna Kennedy's new DVD Step In The Right Direction was featured on Tyne Tees news along with James Hobley:
Have a great weekend!
