1. Supporting disabled entrepreneurs

One in four business founders in the UK are disabled or neurodiverse, but they are 400 times less likely to receive funding from venture capitalists. More than two-thirds of disabled founders said they lack role models, and 84% feel they do not have equal access to the same opportunities and resources as non-disabled founders. 

It is estimated that reducing barriers for disabled founders could unlock an additional £230 billion in annual business turnover in the UK.

A new programme has just been launched to amplify and connect these entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge, connections and tools to scale their startups.

Learn about Creo here

2. Accessible Transport Summit

The National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT) has just hosted the first-ever Accessible Transport Summit, at Coventry University.

The verdict was not encouraging, with one speaker saying “It’s getting to the point where I can’t go out without somebody with me, which is a complete loss of independence."

Find out about the most challenging issues here

3. Early sign of Alzheimer's

A new study, which is the first of its kind, has been carried out at the University of Southern California, and shows thinning in brain areas associated with memory and decision-making in older adults who fall victim to financial scams.

These areas are often affected early in the progress of Alzheimer's, so the researchers are suggesting that being taken in by financial scams may be a warning sign for the condition.

Keep reading here

4. Tower Bridge audio tour

Tower Bridge is one of the most recognisable London landmarks, built 130 years ago, at which time it was the largest and most significant bascule bridge in the world.

It has just launched an audio descriptive tour, to make a visit richer and more informative for visually impaired visitors.

If you are able to visit before the 1st of October, you can catch a free open-air exhibition with photographs from the final weeks of construction and public opening.

Read more here

5. Changes in WCA and PIP

This month, a new system of assessments for disability benefits has come into operation - though you are unlikely to notice any changes.

The Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) now provides Work Capability Assessments (WCA) and assessments for PIP. It is part of the DWP, and provides the training and software used by assessors.

Things that haven't changed: the assessors still work for private companies, and the two assessments are still different and carried out separately.

Find out more here

And a suggestion for anyone attending a party political conference this season. All MPs have received a copy of John Pring's hard-hitting book about the DWP's slow violence against disabled benefit claimants - this is an opportunity to ask them whether they have read it and what they are going to do about it!

6. All In - accessing the arts

All In has appointed disability-led charity Attitude is Everything to create the UK’s first accessibility standards for creativity and culture.

The new standards aim to improve the experiences of D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in theatres, galleries, museums, libraries and more.

Developed with government-level support across the four home nations, All In will be piloted this autumn, ahead of a full rollout next year.

Pictured here is Andrew Miller, UK Arts Access Champion

Read more about developing the new standards here