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Mike Oliver/Andy RIckell
Disablism: a call to action
Society’s institutional negativity towards disabled people is reflected, says Andy Rickell in how its institutions treat or mistreat us. And action to combat it is required at the highest level
Avoiding the pitfalls of minding your language
Recent rows over the use of language on Twitter have prompted Mike Oliver to consider whether what is sometimes not said is of greater importance than what is
Two big choices for Cameron
If the “Big Society” proposed by David Cameron is to benefit disabled people, says Andy Rickell, then he has to make the right call on important choices
Living and dying: choices and control
With the case of the woman known as M making its slow way through the legal system, Mike Oliver ponders the complexities of the assisted dying or right to life debate
The trouble with equality 2025
As a member of the body set up to give ministers and government a direct link to disabled activists, Andy Rickell is worried that this channel may be inadvertently cut off
The politics of humility
With our media profiles as high as ever, Mike Oliver looks back to earlier days of protest and wonders where our sense of pride has gone
Making numbers count for Cameron
May’s Hardest Hit march in London should be seen by disabled people, says Andy Rickell, as a wake-up call to the coalition Government
A matter of honour
As yet another round of honours is published to mark the Queen’s official birthday, Professor Mike Oliver poses questions of patronage and relevance and argues that those who accept honours betray disabled people’s cause
Reform and the assessment process
In creating new assessment procedures for reformed benefits, the Government, argues Andy Rickell should be sure they are not alienating and disempowering for disabled people
The fame game and the new elite
Andy Warhol’s prescient vision of 15 minutes of fame for everyone has now become reality. But, asks Mike Oliver, at what price and cost
Making equality a reality
There's a difference, says Andy Rickell, between talking about creating equality and actually doing it
Nostalgia and the great charity swindle
A pair of rose-coloured glasses can always ensure that things seemed better when we were young. But, Mike Oliver argues, when it comes to provision of services, things really have been on the slide
Stopping care funding lottery
If the coalition Government wants to be true to its stated commitments to “localism”, “fairness”, “the Big Society”, then, says Andy Rickell, it needs to reform adult social care by removing the responsibility for allocating its funding from local authorities
Is the government condemning its own life chances report to failure?
The government will never achieve its target of achieving equality for disabled people by 2025, says Andy Rickell.
Old lessons for a new politics
The recent merger of The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), the Disability Alliance (DA) and the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL) poses some interesting issues for Mike Oliver and, he says, for the future of disability politics
BIG society - BIG responsibility
In implementing his "big society" ideas, David Cameron faces choices says Andy Rickell and it's to our advantage that he chooses well
Incapacitated: history points to failed reform
High on the agenda at the recent Conservative party conference was a plan to abolish, or re-invent Incapacity Benefit. Mike Oliver wonders whether this time it will actually happen
Shedding the invisibility cloak
It’s a sign, says Andy Rickell, of the erosion of our rights that the recently elected Government needs to be reminded of who and what we are
Government cuts: the call to action
Spending cuts of the 1980s had the result of mobilising activists, says Mike Oliver. And now, with cuts once more on the agenda, it's time again to act
Welfare reform: the real deal
Rather than government proposing welfare reform that is really a euphemism for saying benefits cuts, Andy Rickell asks why not some real welfare reform, that would benefit us all
Cuts: a really radical approach
Disabled people are likely to be among the hardest hit by the recently announced government spending cuts. In his first regular column for us, Mike Oliver argues that the coalition should look much closer to home to make savings
A ministry all our own
It’s time, says Andy Rickell that ”joined-up government” went all the way with the creation of a Ministry for Disabled People
Never mind the quality...value the life
Those who argue in favour of assisted dying are, says Andy Rickell, joining in with a society which is all too ready to regard disabled lives as without value
Dancing to the funders' tune
Big funders favour big traditional charities ahead of disabled people’s organisations, says Andy Rickell
Losing out in social care's local lottery
While welcoming much in the Government’s social care green paper, Andy Rickell regrets that one big opportunity has been missed
Doorstep delivery - making your vote count
In 1997, it was “Worcester Woman”. In 1992, it was “Mondeo Man”. Andy Rickell has some suggestions about how, this time round we can start to make politicians care about “Disabled Voter” during the upcoming general election
Fighting the battle for rights
Ex-service people wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan face a new set of challenges other than those related to their impairment or condition as they find themselves joining the regiment of disabled people, says Andy Rickell
Going beyond consultation
In setting up a scrutiny group on its progress on independent living policies, the Government, says Andy Rickell, is putting proper value on the views of disabled people
Fears fulfilled by equality body
The Government’s single equality watchdog has, says Andy Rickell, sadly lived up to some of the concerns expressed about its formation
A model for equality
While the Social Model must still stand, argues Andy Rickell, it, and the people who advocate and proselytise for it need to recognise the place that impairments have in defining us as disabled
Still striving for an equal future
Although the appointment of a disabled person to a senior Government policy post is to be welcomed, Andy Rickell says too many disability organisations are still getting away with employing too few disabled people
Britain's got disabled talent
As The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is looking at how government can address negative attitudes towards disabled people, Andy Rickell has found a prime example of just such attitudes
Voting for a bigger voice
Having recently failed to win a council seat in local elections in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, Andy Rickell is prompted to reflect again at the lack of disabled people in politics
That continental touch
As we choose the people to represent us in the EU Parliament, Andy Rickell reflects on how Europe has led the way in establishing rights for disabled people
Turning pain to gain
Although disabled people are likely to be worst hit by the recession, Andy Rickell argues that there can be the light of opportunity in the gloom
Shouldering the burden of care
As demographics indicate a greater need for social care, Andy Rickell ponders the ins and outs of its provision by the state
The right to a voice that's heard
It’s not enough, says Andy Rickell, for disabled people merely to have a voice. We also have the right for that voice to be listened to
Culture change puts people first
There’s a shift in care provision, away from what professionals think people need towards the needs of the individual, says Andy Rickell
Our movement needs leaders
The disabled people’s movement needs more than one figurehead, says Andy Rickell. Now it’s time for our many talented leaders to start talking to each other
A new Magna Carta
We need a UK bill of rights, says Andy Rickell, but it has to be one that makes a real difference to the lives of disabled people
Opting out is not an option
The government has a good track record on disability rights, says Andy Rickell. But to show its commitment to equality, it must sign up fully to the new UN convention
Let's see the social model on the catwalk
Only six per cent of disabled people know about the social model, says Andy Rickell. Society will only benefit if the others start to receive disability equality training
The answer is easy
The government’s single equality bill is an important step forward, says Andy Rickell, but it is lacking in ambition
Our job, not theirs
The government is set to take over major decisions on how independent living is operated and regulated. That’s not their job, says Andy Rickell, it’s ours
Let our people go
Disabled people are being imprisoned in residential homes because of the inflexibility of local authority support packages. So change the law, says Andy Rickell
Two can campaign as one
The disabled and old age lobbies have so much in common that they should campaign together on the social care funding crisis, says Andy Rickell
Make room at the top table
Setting up an Office for Disability Issues was the right thing to do, but to be really effective it needs a higher status, says Andy Rickell
Retraining our allies
No one gives up power without a fight. That’s why it’s time to ease those who control disabled people out of the driving seat and into a new role, says Andy Rickell
Ripe for investment
It’s all very well for government to talk about promoting disabled people’s rights, says Andy Rickell, but big words need backing up with big money
Disability organisations can be disablist as well
Addressing another of the key drivers of disablism, Andy Rickell questions the role of third sector disability organisations
Unequal treatment
The NHS often helps to maintain or even spread disablist attitudes, says Andy Rickell