Because disabled people who CAN work can't get a job due to blatant discrimination.

Started by Clare Norcott – Parent, Advocate, and Member of The Disability Union My granddaughter Lily is autistic and non-verbal, and I know how hard it is to find support that truly understands our children. That’s why I’m devastated that Hampshire County Council is planning to shut down The Aviary Nursery in Eastleigh – the only nursery in our area with a dedicated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) hub. The Aviary is more than a nursery. It’s a place where children with complex needs are not just accepted – they are celebrated. It’s where skilled staff provide tailored care, where parents feel seen and supported, and where children like mine have the chance to thrive. If the closure goes ahead, families will be forced to travel as far as Winchester to access equivalent services. That’s miles away – completely unmanageable for many families, especially those already stretched emotionally and financially. We’ve come too far to lose a place like this. Every child deserves access to the right care, close to home. Don’t let our children become casualties of cuts and convenience. Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can save The Aviary.

Hundreds of thousands of people were already living with the chronic post-viral illness ME/CFS before the covid pandemic. COVID turned out to be highly effective at producing chronic post-acute illness: about half of the estimated two million people now living with Long Covid in the UK have all the symptoms of ME/CFS. Three quarters of sufferers are too ill to work or to be in formal education or training. A quarter are housebound or even bedbound and heavily dependent on care.  The burden on the economy of having so many people unable to work or train, some reliant on the care of others, will be measured in billions. The cost of ring-fencing funds for an effective research programme would be measured only in millions.   Living with ME/CFS is utterly miserable. Government investment in research could transform the lives of huge numbers of its citizens, enabling them to return to being active members of society and contributing billions to the economy. It makes sense on both the human and the economic level; to allow the present situation, in which ME/CFS research is massively underfunded compared to less common and less disabling conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons and rheumatoid arthritis make no sense at all.  Thanks to the psychologisation of the disease in the 20th century, there is still enormous prejudice in the medical and research communities: People with ME/CFS are “either depressed or mad” according to one senior medical researcher at Cambridge, based not on evidence but on institutional prejudice. This appalling reality is the reason that next to no research gets funded, and very few researchers are willing to risk their careers and reputations by getting involved.  This will only change if the government commits to ring-fencing research funding until the illness is understood, and effective treatments are found.  

Imagine your elderly neighbor, who uses a cane, getting slapped with a £100 fine just for parking for 5 minutes after hours to grab a pint of milk—while disabled residents face the same unfair treatment, struggling to navigate their daily lives. Although legal—it’s heartless, and it’s driving a wedge between the tuition centre and our community, including families who’d normally send their kids there. Shockingly, Google reviews are already flooded with similar complaints, showing how much goodwill they’re losing. We need to stop these predatory practices because they’re not only alienating locals but also setting a dangerous precedent for private parking firms to exploit vulnerable people—join me to demand change and protect our community’s spirit!

These cuts will place more barriers in the way of disabled people trying to access work, volunteering, education, training, day centres, social occasions, and much more. The enhancements to the statutory minimum have been a lifeline for many disabled people, granting them much more independence and reducing their financial burden. Please remember that not all disabilities are visible or physical.    The restrictions to the older person’s buss pass will also disproportionately affect those living in Hampshire’s most isolated communities that are already underserved by buses, and who are already struggling with the increasing cost of living.    In the long-term, these cuts will act to worsen the mental health crisis affecting Hampshire's communities by increasing isolation and the financial strain on the most vulnerable people.  This initiative is only saving £75,000 annually, which is a minimal saving in relation to the damaging social, health and environmental effects it will cause consequently. These changes prevent people in Hampshire from the right to 'live safe, healthy and independent lives', as per the county's strategic plan.    We therefore call on Hampshire County Council to immediately stop these changes and maintain the enhancements to its Concessionary Travel Scheme.

Raise Your Voice: Because Democracy Should Work for Everyone! Did you know that Disabled People make up 24% of the UK population, yet less than 2% of MPs are disabled? That means Parliament should have 12 times more Disabled MPs just to be truly representative. Is it any wonder that policies affecting Disabled People often miss the mark? The reality is, politics isn’t accessible. Many Disabled People can’t even get into the buildings where decisions are made, let alone run for office. And without fair representation, their needs are ignored. This isn’t just a disability issue—it’s a democracy issue. If one in four people in this country is disabled, why aren’t their voices shaping our laws?

This is important because thousands, if not millions of people depend on this benefit to maintain themselves. The Modernizing Support Green Paper also proposes changes to the Work Capability Assessment that denies those with mobility or mental health issues extra Universal Credit.

According to the Family Resources Survey (2021 to 2022), 16 million people in the UK have a disability. 11%, or 1.76 million of these are children. SEN children deserve the same opportunities as all other children but face many barriers to achieving these. Why does my child not have the same Opportunities to play as his sister does?

To fight for the rights of family carers and disabled people who are trying to get the best out of life for themselves and their loved ones enabling their loved ones to gain independence and a valuable break from caring for the family enabling them to have a well deserved break

It would generate money for Dumfries and Galloway town and young people would have somewhere fun to go. The multiplex would allow people to spend money in the town and have a choice of different films to choose from. An accessible cinema would allow people with additional needs to not get exhausted from travelling 

I'm sick of not being able to see or hear my favourite artists and shows because I'm sat all the way at the back of the venue. And more often than not, there are no accessible areas anyway/they're all full because the venue only has 2-4 specific areas. I believe this should change.

UPDATE This petition has now been handed in to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall. To take part in our #SecurityNotSanctions campaign, please email your MP and ask them to speak out against rushed disability benefit cuts announced in the 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper: https://z2k.eaction.org.uk/green-paper-write-mp The previous government announced changes to disability benefits which will deny vital support to over 400,000 people who become seriously ill or disabled from next year. People could also face sanctions if they do not comply with specific work-search expectations that could threaten their wellbeing.  Working age disabled people are already almost twice as likely to be in poverty. And this gap will only widen if the changes are introduced.  The new government has a real opportunity to turn the tide on disability benefit reform. But they are yet to commit to scrapping the changes.   The reforms should be stopped in their tracks and a consultation held with disabled people to build a better system which provides the security and support we all need.  Our social security system should be there for us all, especially when we need it most. Sign the petition today.