As UCan2 gets behind the Changing Places campaign, an international mobility study has found that almost half of UK wheelchair users have been unable to find an accessible toilet when they needed one.

The poll by ComRes on behalf of the Toyota Mobility Foundation also found that nine out of ten wheelchair users in the UK say that they experience pain as a result of their mobility device, while 23% say they have been declined entry to public transport because of their mobility device.

And more than a quarter reported feeling frustrated because the design of their mobility device felt outdated.

World Snooker Disability Day will once again be staged during the Betfred World Snooker Championship in Sheffield on Wednesday 25th April 2018.

With activities to run throughout the day at the ‘Cue Zone’ situated at the Winter Garden, close to the Crucible Theatre, the event aims to raise awareness of disability snooker and encourage people with disabilities to participate in snooker as either players, fans or officials.

Despite disability discrimination being illegal under the Equality Act 2010, many people with disabilities find getting work difficult – either through direct discrimination during the application process, or because health issues affect their working pattern. 

In a recent case, a DWP worker was awarded £26,000 in compensation after his employer was found to have discriminated against him, after he took time off for medical reasons. Barrie Caulcutt had suffered an athmas attack at work and his employer had called him "a whinger". He was given a written warning for taking two and a half days off sick more than he was allowed.

Worryingly, charities have raised concerns that by 2050, sight loss in the UK could double to affect over four million people. As of 2017, it’s estimated that there are more than two million people suffering with sight loss in the UK. However, just 360,000 of those are officially registered as blind. Troublingly, according to RNIB, 250 people every day start to lose their sight, with one in five people suffering from sight loss in their lifetime.     

Here we look at the most common causes of sight loss — and discuss if there could be ways to cure it.

As one brave mum gets set to take her PantsDown4Equality, UCan2 magazine is getting behind the Changing Places campaign to help boost the availability of accessible facilities. Along with carers, parents and disability rights campaigners, we are calling on public places to offer fully accessible disabled toilets, with equipment including adult-sized changing tables and hoists.

On Twitter, the campaign #changingplaces has long been highlighting inadequate toilet facilities. Firms who have invested in the right equipment to ensure people of all abilities can change without being embarrassed – and so that carers can lift and handle without putting themselves at risk – use the hashtag to show off new facilities and equipment.

A young man with learning difficulties is enjoying a new lease of life after moving to a supported living service, Sail Close near King’s Lynn.

Since Mark Lowman - who is 27 and has learning difficulties - relocated from a service on the opposite side of town in February, he is ‘a different man’ according to senior support worker Danielle Garrigan.

“Mark was very keen to be living closer to his mum,” said Danielle. “His previous home was 20 miles away, whereas now she’s just around the corner, so that’s a big part of why he’s happier, but that’s not the only reason.

“We’ve given him a lot of personal support and he has settled in quickly at Sail Close, where he’s developing new skills including a much better understanding of how to manage his money.”

There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. Although dementia is usually associated with the elderly, there are over 40,000 people under the age of 65 who have dementia in the UK.

Dementia is something which affects a lot of us, from those who have experienced it first-hand, to the family members and friends of those who are on their journey.

Together for Short Lives is today launching round two of its Improving Transitions for Young People Fund, which will back new initiatives aiming to transform the experiences of young people with life-limiting conditions as they move from children's to adult services.

New research published in The Journal of Physiology improves our understanding of how motor nerve cells (neurons) respond to motor neurone disease, which could help us identify new treatment options.

Motor neurone disease referred to as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is associated with the death of motor nerve cells (neurons). It starts with the progressive loss of muscle function, followed by paralysis and ultimately death due to inability to breathe. Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt, or reverse, the progression of the disease. Most people with ALS die within 3 to 5 years from when symptoms first appear.

A new national festival, called FestABLE,  of specialist learning is bringing together professionals, parents and young people to tackle the big issues facing young people with disabilities and learning difficulties.

FestABLE will be held on June 2 at National Star College in Cheltenham. It will be the UK’s first national festival dedicated to specialist learning.

SEND reform, the Children and Families Act and whether services and systems count more than choice and aspirations are some of the headline themes.

“It’s something positive that I can focus my mind on during such a dark time. I know she’ll be smiling down on us all,” says Leah Reek’s mum who has entered this year’s LOROS Twilight Walk in memory of her daughter.

“We’re doing the walk for Leah, I know she would be so proud of us, she’d have a massive smile on her beautiful face.” Mum-of-two Joanne Reek, of Asfordby, says she hoped to raise £1,000 for the Hospice in Leah’s memory.

Since the tragic death of her daughter, Joanne and her family set up a JustGiving page and it has raised an astonishing £15,701 to date.

Joanne says:

Driving charity Speed Of Sight and Landsail Tyres have launched a new partnership for 2018.

The Manchester-based organisation uses specially adapted high-performance cars to offer track day experiences for individuals with disabilities, including the blind and partially sighted. Landsail will support SOS in fundraising efforts and at awareness events.

Landsail will also provide tyres for its vehicles, which include a powerful unique kit car. Resembling a Caterham Seven, it has been adapted with dual controls including two steering wheels to allow disabled drivers to drive at race-speeds in tandem with an instructor.

NRS Healthcare, the UK’s leading provider of community equipment, has worked with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Country Council’s to donate a range of their children’s mobility aids overseas, in order to help youngsters in some of the world’s poorest countries.

The Mountain Trike Company produce and manufacture all terrain wheelchairs which are designed to travel over uneven ground, offering wheelchair users inclusive access to the great outdoors.

The Mountain Trike wheelchairs are sold worldwide, either directly to customers, or through a distributor network and the company have been working with organisations throughout the UK setting up Mountain Trike Experience Centres, where fleets of Mountain Trike wheelchairs are available for demos or hires.

Glasgow based healthcare start-up wheelAIR are supporting patients of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit.  

wheelAIR are offering each member of the Glasgow Inter-Spinal Games team the opportunity to use their innovative, self-cooling backrest cushion. This is so the team can benefit from it whilst taking part in WheelPower’s Inter-Spinal games this April.

They met the eight members of the team and presented at an information event at the Spinal Unit alongside Wellspect Healthcare, who are sponsoring by providing the team’s kit.