Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living

A user-controlled organisation which supports disabled people to live independently...

Independent living means disabled people of all ages having the same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other citizens at home, at work, and in the community. It does not mean living by yourself or fending for yourself. It means rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary life.

In the News

The Man Who Fought for Closure of Long Stay Hospitals

Honour for Jim Mansell, who brought learning disability out of the shadows - His decision to take a group of disabled children to the cinema changed lives for the better. In 1970, there were 60,000 adults and children with learning disabilities living confined, institutional lives in long-stay hospitals.

Source: The Guardian

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Disabled People's Protest Stops Traffic in London

Disability campaigners stage central London protest against welfare reforms - Members of Disabled People Against Cuts and UK Uncut demonstrate against government cuts.

Source: The Guardian

Permanent link: Disabled Peopl ...

Direct Payments and Fraud

How to tackle social care fraud involving personal budgets - Direct payments provide greater choice, and can offer incredible value for money. But has allowing service users, their carers and families access to their funds made the system more vulnerable to malpractice.

Source: The Guardian

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Goverment defeated in House of Lords vote on benefit cap

Lords reject plan for welfare cap to include child benefit
Cross-party alliance including Lord Ashdown votes to defeat government by 252 votes to 237.

Source: The Guardian

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Response to the Falconer report

Falconer and the 'final solution' - No one, least of all Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton, was surprised at the conclusions reached by the Falconer Commission on assisted suicide. But it remained important for disabled people on the opposite side of the debate to make their views clearly heard.

Source: Disability Now

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The Spartacus campaign against cuts to disability benefits

We are all Spartacus - It’s an unusual event for a report and the motivation for producing it to come directly from within the community for whom it purports to speak. The Prime Minister’s claim that “We’re all in this together” was given a new twist early in the new year when it was coupled with the Roman myth of Spartacus.

Source: Disability Now

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Care System is in Crisis

The care system is in crisis. To deny this is woefully wrong - Last week, Paul Burstow, the minister of state for care services, appeared before the health committee and told its members that "there is no gap" in social care funding.

Source: The Guardian

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Welfare reforms will harm disabled people

These Reforms Will Harm Disabled People - The new assessment, by the Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller's own description, is an "upfront medical assessment". But, research by Demos has shown that focusing on people's impairments, rather than the costs they face, will lead to those most in need being left without financial support.