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Pete's place
Peter White's views
Commission's sins of omission
Why has the Falconer Commission into assisted suicide failed to deliver satisfaction to all parts of the disability constituency, asks Peter White? Because it was limited by its own lack of scope
From freakshow to sideshow
In a recent Scope survey, disabled people supported integrating the Paralympics into the Olympic Games. Peter White wasn't one of them
Low on the agenda
The Low Review proposes that people in residential care should retain all their DLA. Why then, asks Peter White, does the Government want to take it all away?
Mood music out of tune
With the three party leaders apparently singing from the same song-sheet on disability, Peter White wonders whether it’s not time for a radical new solution
Squeeze till the Pips squeak
The new Personal Independence Payment is a cynical money-saving ploy, says Peter White, and it’s likely to have a real impact on our quality of life
The big charity umbrella
In the disability charity sector, Peter White observes that to merge or not to merge, has suddenly become a major question
Dilnot: more questions than answers
The Dilnot report on social care follows its predecessors, says Peter White, in failing to deliver definitive solutions
Winterbourne: home truths for all
While sharing the horrific reaction of many to the BBC Panorama programme on abuse at Winterbourne View, Peter White says that it raises questions of blame which go beyond those people directly in the firing line
Death doctors and DNR
As we hear yet again from a patient who has seen the instruction "Do Not Resuscitate" scrawled on her notes, Peter White goes to the heart of what causes such dangerous presumption
Ticket barrier
Olympics fans won't have to be quizzed about their disability to get tickets. Good news? Peter White's not certain
Government, Tarrant style
Give with one hand, take away with the other. That's the basis of the Chancellor's approach to benefit and welfare reform, says Peter White
Buses in reverse on access
Demos by disabled people have provided some memorable images of direct action. But, says Peter White, some victories appear to have been short-lived
Ignoring the scars of war
Injured ex-service personnel still have to rely heavily on charities for support and rehabilitation. Peter White asks why government offers such a raw deal
Chickens have come home to roost
The outcome of the Government's own enquiry, together with a recent survey on benefit fraud, both give Peter White the right to say I told you so
Staying home: cuts hit those in care
The decision to scrap the mobility component of DLA for people in residential care not only ignores needs, says Peter White, but flies in the face of reality
Things can only get worse
Policing, yet another area where the Government is demanding cuts, is likely to mean, says Peter White, more inaction in one of the most concerning areas of our lives
It's The Sun what's done it!
It doesn't take the nose of a highly skilled fraud investigator to sniff out what looks like an orchestrated campaign to brand us all cheats, says Peter White
The law's going to the dogs
Has anti-discrimination law had any real impact on discrimination asks Peter White
Myth of the life of Riley
Hidden in the Government's proposals for cutting disability benefits is that old assumption that too many people are milking the system. Peter White debunks the faulty logic of a common prejudice
Dangerous card
The resignation of David Laws as Chief Secretary to the Treasury draws some interesting parallels with disability, says Peter White
Three pointers
As the new Government takes office, Peter White suggests three ways that disabled people’s lives could be helped
Way off poll position
When it comes to voting, even the keenest of disabled people are heavily discouraged from exercising their right to vote, says Peter White
Chickens coming home to roost
With “personalisation” coming down the track, Peter White believes there may be a credibility gap between the vision and the reality
Life and death choices
In the light of the recent Gilderdale and Inglis assisted suicide cases, and the torrent of debate unleashed by them about the so-called “right to die”, Peter White feels compelled to go back to this, the subject of his very first column for Disability Now
Law and disorders
Following the execution in China of a British citizen, Peter White considers what happens when the law and disability collide head-on
Olympic standard meddling
Amidst apparent secrecy surrounding a decision to re-admit some people with intellectual disabilities to some Paralympic events, Peter White wonders if it isn’t time to put the athletes more in control
The one about the comic and the soldier
In the light of that joke by Jimmy Carr, Peter White reflects on whether gags about disability are a way of ramping up the shock factor or a release for tension and discomfort
Putting on the frighteners
Charities which cynically play on the fear factor, says Peter White, are seriously missing what should be the point and purpose of their own existence
Truly free travel
When, asks Peter White, does an offer of customer service hamper independence. When we’re obliged to take it up
Lessons of the past
When advances in genetics and fertility signal a brave new world, eugenics arguments are never far behind. But, says Peter White, we should never forget lessons of the past
Hurry along slowly on social care
As the Government at last launches its green paper with proposals on fixing the care system, Peter White says it’s been too long coming
Prophesying profits
ASDA’s decision to stock “disability aids” is nothing more than hard-nosed economic reality, says Peter White
Purnell's lack of fitness
When James Purnell joined the list of high-profile rats deserting Gordon’s foundering ship, it struck Peter White that he was also leaving the Department of Work and Pensions, and the noble task of welfare reform
Rogue Mail
In leaping to the defence of children’s TV presenter, Cerrie Bernell, Peter White says the press should have gone the whole nine yards
You'll never walk alone
The question of whether or not to offer tracking devices to people with dementia isn’t as simple as looking out for their interests says Peter White
Historic hangover
The re-classification of cannabis comes from sloppy double-think, says Peter White
Choices & rights
In his new regular column, Peter White demands the right to choice in matters of life and death