1. Done Over no more?

CASCAIDr's first CrowdJustice campaign has now born its initial fruit, in the form of authoritative advice that can be used to challenge local authorities over unlawful care charges.

Belinda Schwehr, CASCAIDr's founder said: "The Advice was commissioned so that it can be referred to when individuals are engaging with councils as to their own charges under local policies – in most cases, policies that are very similar to the one which was found to be unlawful in Norfolk."

Keep reading here

2. Improving the DFG

The Centre for Social Justice has published a report in anticipation of the government's long-awaited National Strategy For Disabled People - which I wrote about last week

It covers employment, education, housing, transport, and access to goods and services, with recommendations about much-needed improvements.

The Disabled Facilities Grant is one measure they believe could be doing much better -

More details here

3. Taking social prescribing further

There is an increasing recognition that physical and mental health are intertwined, and they are affected by social, environmental and economic factors.

Social prescribing is a way of helping people feel better through encouraging them to... get more exercise; enjoy outdoor spaces, eat more healthily.

The latest I have come across is financial advice sessions prescribed for people with health issues which are exacerbated by money problems.

Find out more here

4. LEAP Review

After it lost a case at the Upper Tribunal in 2016 for failing to consider psychological distress in assessing claimants for the mobility component of PIP, the DWP eventually embarked on a LEAP (Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practices) review, looking at award decisions, to see who might have been wrongly denied PIP mobility and putting things right.

But organisations supporting claimants with disabilities are far from convinced that the DWP are doing what they should to ensure people receive the arrears they are entitled to...

More details here

5. Captain Tom 100

Captain Tom fired our collective imagination and kickstarted a wave of philanthropy.

To mark what would have been his 101st birthday and build on his legacy, the Captain Tom 100 Challenge is asking us to think about doing/making 100 of something to raise money for a good cause.

Stannah the stairlift people have come up with an original idea: 100 Little Lifts. Giving an extra fundraising dimension to gestures of kindness and positivity!

Read more here

6. Latest - Karma Kameleon

Independent Living site subscriber Karma Mobility has a fantastic new paediatric power chair featured on their showcase page.

The Kameleon provides powered tilting, seat lifting and legrest elevation, while its modular design and adjustability mean that it can grow with the young user from 4 to 12 years.

Read more and watch the video here