Maria Eagle, Minister for Disabled People, and Bert Massie, Disability Rights Commission Chairman, were put in the hot seat during the UK’s first Disabled People’s Parliament (UKDPP) meeting in Birmingham. The UKDPP, a separate campaign run by the British Council of Disabled People (BCODP), had more than a hundred people from different parts of the country gathered to pose tough questions about disabled people’s rights. A major part of the debate focused on the new law, the Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Bill, proposed by BCODP. It covers a wide range of issues including rights to health care, inclusive education, independent living, accessible transport and information and advocacy. While also advocating the rights to life, sex, and a family, the bill opposes euthanasia.
Disability Times, November 1, 2003.

Disability Equality in Education (DEE) is asking schools across England to nominate their examples of good practice on making reasonable adjustments for their disabled pupils and prospective pupils. DEE has been commissioned by the DfES and the Disability Rights Commission to produce a practical guide for teachers which will help schools to make adjustments. ‘We want schools who have made adjustments or the first time as well as those who have more experience in making reasonable adjustments to tell us about what they have done and how they did it,’ said DEE director, Richard Rieser. The nomination forms will be available from half term on the DfES website www.dfes.gov.uk/sen/accessibleschools.
The Teacher, November 1, 2003

David Ruebain, specialist in education and disability law, has been nominated for the Law Society’s lifetime achievement award in human rights. At 16, David Ruebain made arrangements to leave his residential special school and attend the sixth form at his local school in Hampstead, London. ‘I just had to take charge of my life. There just wasn’t anybody else.’ At the special school David was offered courses in electronics, shoe-making, tailoring or secretarial. At mainstream school he re-took and passed all eight of his O-levels and progressed to two A-levels. Teachers encouraged him to sit the Oxford entrance exam and at19, he began a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Oriel College.
The Guardian (Society), November 12, 2003.

Four new special schools are to be built in Kirklees under a multi-million pound scheme to improve services for children with special educational needs. Kirklees Council has agreed to work with construction firms Jarvis and Totty. Under the £25m plans, four new special schools will be built and one will undergo extensive renovations. The authority’s cabinet member for education, John Smithson, said: ‘What this decision does is give the green light for a new build and refurbishment programme that will transform the support and service we provide for children with special educational needs. On competition of this programme pupils in our special schools will benefit from a high quality education service in top-class surroundings and buildings.’ The scheme will be paid for under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Jarvis will manage the project but building work will be sub-contracted to Totty.
Yorkshire Post (West/Leeds), November 28, 2003.