Tag Archives: disability

How to avoid unscrupulous traders of mobility aids

September 23, 2013   Carers, disability, Older care

Mobility aid scams

Mobility aid scams are reported to be among ten scams on the rise in 2013 by The Telegraph and have earned dodgy traders more than £28m in three years. These target elderly people on the telephone or doorstep and involve hard-selling tactics. Below are ways to avoid unscrupulous traders:

Cold calling

This can be stressful for an elderly person, but you must remain composed. If you are unsure or feel pressurised, say that you are not interested and hang up the phone. If you continue to be targeted, do not hesitate to alert the authorities.

On the doorstep

Be wary of time-limited offers and always compare prices by getting a second opinion. If you are unsure or feel under pressure, politely say so and close the door.

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Disabled face ‘digital divide’

September 21, 2013   Carers, disability, internet

Disabled people face a “digital divide” with mainstream technology such as smartphones and tablets alienating those with special needs, charities have said.

Charities-have-warned-disabled-people-face-a-digital-divide- Charities have warned disabled people face a ‘digital divide’
Researchers for Scope and the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design said many of the UK’s 11 million disabled people still have to choose between expensive specialist equipment and inaccessible mainstream gadgets.They found technology designed for disabled people is often expensive and has low functionality, while mainstream products such as iPads are rarely customised for those with additional needs.The research, funded by BT’s Better Future campaign, also found that emphasis needs to be placed on improving the information available to disabled people about enabling technology.Scope chief executive Richard Hawkes said: “Modern technology has the potential to transform disabled people’s lives – but first we need to get past the digital divide.
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50,000 people are now facing eviction after bedroom tax

September 19, 2013   benefits, Carers, disability

One council tenant in three has been pushed into rent arrears since April, while tens of thousands in housing association properties are also affected

Thursday 19 September 2013

More than 50,000 people affected by the so-called bedroom tax have fallen behind on rent and face eviction, figures given to The Independent show.

The statistics reveal the scale of debt created by the Government’s under-occupancy charge, as one council house tenant in three has been pushed into rent arrears since it was introduced in April.

Figures provided by 114 local authorities across Britain after Freedom of Information (FoI) requests by the campaign group False Economy show the impact of the bedroom tax over its first four months. The total number of affected council tenants across Britain is likely to be much higher than the 50,000 recorded in the sample of local authorities that responded to the FoI.

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