Disability rights groups are calling for stronger legal protections and a national register for assistance dogs amid growing reports of people with learning disabilities and other conditions being refused entry to shops, restaurants and public transport. Led by Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), campaigners argue that existing laws are unclear and fail to prevent widespread discrimination against those who rely on trained animals for daily independence and wellbeing.

Former police officer Garry Botterill, founder of Service Dogs UK, said clearer legislation and an official register would help both dog handlers and businesses. “At the moment, anyone can buy a jacket online and claim their pet is an assistance dog. This makes it harder for service providers to distinguish genuine, well-trained dogs from unregulated ones,” he said. The lack of consistent standards, he added, often leads to confusion and unnecessary access refusals.

British Army veteran and paramedic Jordan Chapman, who relies on his PTSD assistance dog Teddy, said the issue affects people across the disability spectrum, including those with learning disabilities. He described being refused entry to restaurants and shops despite Teddy’s training, calling such experiences “humiliating and common”.

Campaigners are pressing MPs to define assistance dogs more clearly in law, ensuring recognised training standards and protecting disabled people from discrimination. ADUK said it supports legal reform to strengthen equality and accessibility for all.

A pioneering mental health programme designed to help autistic young people manage their wellbeing before reaching crisis point has been awarded a further three years of funding. The Autistic and OK initiative, launched in 2024 by Ambitious about Autism, Zurich UK and the Z Zurich Foundation, provides free educational resources to every secondary school in the UK. So far, over 1,000 schools have downloaded the toolkit, potentially supporting more than 20,000 autistic pupils.

The scheme includes materials for older autistic students to lead wellbeing sessions for younger peers, alongside assembly guides and training modules for teachers aimed at promoting understanding and inclusion across school communities. Over the next phase, new content will be added, with a focus on building greater awareness of autism and expanding engagement in key regions across the country.

Co-created with autistic youth advisors from Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Network, the resources address mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as issues like bullying. The advisors will continue to shape the programme’s future development.

Rebecca, 21, one of the youth advisors involved, said the initiative had “transformed school environments” by empowering autistic pupils and developing valuable skills. She added that the renewed funding would help continue efforts to make schools more inclusive and supportive for every autistic young person.

Disabled people and carers relocating to Scotland will now be required to submit new applications to continue receiving financial assistance, following changes introduced by the Scottish Government. The reforms replace existing UK-wide benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and Carer’s Allowance with new Scottish equivalents.

Under the updated system, individuals must apply for Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment or Carer Support Payment shortly after moving north of the border to avoid interruptions in financial support. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland will maintain existing payments for up to 13 weeks after a move, giving applicants time to complete the transition. Attendance Allowance will also be replaced next year by the Pension Age Disability Payment.

Karyn Dunning, deputy director at Social Security Scotland, said the new framework aims to provide a more compassionate and accessible benefits system. She encouraged those affected to apply promptly, noting that the Scottish approach avoids private sector assessors and prioritises dignity, fairness and respect in decision-making.

Applicants who meet the required timescales may have their new payments backdated to cover the period immediately following the end of their DWP entitlement, ensuring no loss of income during the move.

A new parliamentary report has exposed what MPs describe as a growing crisis in the provision of community disability equipment, with more than half of users unable to access the medical aids they need for safe, independent living. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment’s report, Barriers to Accessing Lifesaving Disability Equipment, found that 55% of people lack suitable equipment and 63% of carers and parents believe the situation is deteriorating.

The inquiry, chaired by Daniel Francis MP, revealed that shortages and delays in essential aids—such as hoists, grab rails, and harnesses—are contributing to long hospital stays and putting extra strain on families and care services. Nearly three-quarters of equipment providers reported discharge delays due to shortages, while almost half said access to equipment varies widely and unfairly across the country.

Francis said the system is “failing disabled people at every level”, pointing to missed school days, lost employment, and injuries among carers. He called for a new National Strategy for Community Equipment, led by a dedicated minister to ensure accountability and equitable access.

The report highlights deep-rooted fragmentation, regional inequalities, and chronic underfunding as central causes of the crisis. MPs warn that without urgent national leadership, thousands will continue to be denied the basic equipment necessary for dignity and independence.

A new report from Carers UK has revealed that three-quarters of unpaid carers are anxious about their future, particularly their financial stability once their caring responsibilities end. The State of Caring Survey 2025, which gathered responses from over 10,000 carers, paints a worrying picture of growing financial hardship and declining health among those providing unpaid care across the UK.

Almost half of respondents said they have cut back on essentials such as food, heating, and transport, while a third have turned to credit cards, overdrafts or loans to make ends meet. Many carers also reported taking on extra hours of care over the past year, with more than half saying their caring responsibilities have increased. Physical health is suffering too — 42% said their condition has worsened, and one in five have sustained an injury due to their caring role.

The survey also highlighted the strain on working carers. Sixty-one per cent said caring duties had influenced their career choices, with many reducing their hours or taking lower-paid jobs to cope. The economic impact of carers being unable to work is estimated at £37 billion a year.

Carers UK Chief Executive Helen Walker warned that without urgent reform, unpaid carers will continue to face exhaustion, poverty and burnout. She urged the government to prioritise better rights, financial support and workplace protections to prevent further hardship.

The Access to Work Collective has handed an open letter to the UK Government, backed by over 17,000 signatures, demanding urgent reform of the Access to Work programme. Once seen as a vital source of support for disabled people in employment, the scheme is now facing claims of inefficiency and underfunding, leaving many without the help they need to stay in work.

New figures for 2025 reveal a sharp decline in approvals, with the number of people receiving any form of Access to Work support dropping from 68,730 in the year to March 2024 to 61,670 the following year. Approvals across key support areas — including Special Aids and Equipment, Support Workers, Mental Health Services, and Travel to Work — have also fallen by nearly 10%. Campaigners argue these figures expose the scale of cuts and delays hitting disabled workers.

The Collective, supported by MPs Steve Darling and Carla Denyer through the #AccessToNowhere campaign, says applicants are facing months-long waits for assessments, payments, and renewals. Many have already been forced to reduce hours, turn down work, or leave their jobs entirely as a result of bureaucratic delays and poor communication.

Co-founders Dr Shani Dhanda and Jacqueline Winstanley have urged the Government to halt further cuts, clear existing backlogs, and rebuild the system in collaboration with disabled people. They warn that continued failings are not only undermining independence and wellbeing but also costing the economy by forcing talented individuals out of employment.

Three disability charities — the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA), Unique, and the Turner Syndrome Support Society (TSSS) — have teamed up to unveil a creative new teaching tool designed to make genetics fun and accessible for children. The Magical Newspaper, produced by International Elf Service, uses enchanting characters and imaginative storytelling to explain DNA, genes, and chromosomes in a way that promotes empathy and inclusion.

Titled Roots of Fantastical Matters: Extra Magical Humans, the resource is aimed at children aged 5 to 13 and encourages open conversations about difference and disability in schools, homes, and community groups. It is suitable for both children with genetic conditions and their peers, helping foster understanding through storytelling and play.

Carol Boys OBE, Chief Executive of the DSA, said the project was designed to combine “magic, imagination, and real science,” making the topic both accessible and meaningful. “We hope it helps challenge misconceptions and makes the experiences of people with genetic conditions visible and relatable,” she said.

Sarah Wynn, CEO of Unique, described the initiative as a “sparkling, story-driven adventure” that turns science into something engaging and enjoyable. The first 500 copies of the Magical Newspaper are available free through the DSA’s website, with further copies obtainable from the partner charities.

Sir Julian Hartley has resigned as chief executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), days after an independent investigation was launched into maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Having led the trust for a decade, Sir Julian said his continued role at the CQC was “incompatible” with the discussions surrounding the inquiry. His departure follows pressure from families affected by substandard maternity care who had called for him to step down.

The inquiry, ordered by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, will look into repeated failings at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’ University Hospital. Mr Streeting said the investigation aimed to uncover what had “gone so catastrophically wrong” and stressed the need to rebuild public confidence in the regulator.

Families affected by poor care, including Amarjit Kaur and Mandip Singh Matharoo, whose daughter Asees was stillborn in January 2024, welcomed the resignation, questioning how Sir Julian’s appointment had been approved given his history at Leeds. Whistleblowers also expressed relief, citing years of unsafe conditions under his leadership.

In his statement, Sir Julian apologised to families who suffered harm and pledged full cooperation with the inquiry. CQC chair Professor Sir Mike Richards acknowledged the resignation as a significant loss but agreed it was necessary to maintain public trust. The Leeds probe becomes the fifth major investigation into maternity failings at an NHS trust since 2013.

The government’s Mental Health Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons, marking a major step towards updating legislation first introduced in 1983. The reforms aim to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and autistic people being detained in mental health hospitals, shifting the focus towards community-based support and person-centred care.

The Bill proposes greater oversight of compulsory detention and introduces statutory care and treatment plans to ensure patients have a clear route to recovery and discharge. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock announced a new package of measures, including improved community services, education and treatment reviews, and dynamic support registers. It also strengthens safeguards for individuals who cannot consent to treatment, ensuring earlier involvement of an independent second opinion.

Kinnock said the changes reflect modern attitudes toward mental health and will prioritise patient choice and dignity. Reforms include clinical checklists, advance choice documents, nominated persons, and extended advocacy services. Once approved, the next step will be to consult on the code of practice with people who have lived experience, families, and professionals.

Campaigners have welcomed the focus on community care, particularly for over 2,000 autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities currently detained. However, they stress urgent action is needed to prevent unnecessary hospitalisation and ensure the reforms deliver meaningful change.

A coalition of leading health and disability organisations has warned that learning disability nursing in England is on the brink of collapse, risking more preventable deaths among people with learning disabilities. In a joint letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, groups including the Royal College of Nursing, Mencap, the Down’s Syndrome Association, and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation urged the Government to urgently recommit to the training and recruitment targets outlined in the NHS Workforce Plan.

The organisations called for renewed investment in training, financial support for students, and funding for employers to cover the cost of apprenticeships and staff backfill. They warned that without action, the profession faces an unsustainable future. The number of learning disability nurses has already fallen by 43% since 2009, with projections showing only a handful likely to qualify in England by 2028. Course closures at universities such as Winchester and Keele have left some regions with no training provision at all.

Campaigners pointed to the latest Learning from Lives and Deaths Review (LeDeR), which found that people with learning disabilities die nearly 20 years earlier than average and are twice as likely to experience preventable deaths.

Mencap’s chief executive Jon Sparkes OBE said the situation was critical, warning that without urgent intervention “this profession will disappear,” and calling for an emergency meeting with ministers to agree a rescue plan.