http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association en-GB LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association 2010-03-19T17:28+00:00 United Kingdom http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001011/annette_brooke_meets_with_prime_minister_for_rnib.html Annette Brooke MP had a meeting yesterday with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to discuss access to vital health information for people with sight loss and other information disabilities. Annette had challenged the PM on the issue during Prime Ministers Questions in February and he had agreed to meet with her to discuss the matter further. Annette was joined in the meeting with David Blunkett MP, and Lord Low of Dalston, the Vice President of the RNIB. 2010-03-11T11:47+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001010/nick_clegg_sets_out_respite_for_carers_guarantee.html A million unpaid carers in England could get a week's break every year under plans from the Liberal Democrats. 2010-02-22T21:57+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001009/health_spokesmen_clash_over_elderly_care_funding.html Attempts to reach a consensus on how to pay for elderly care in England appear to have fallen further apart amid angry exchanges on BBC One's Politics Show. Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called a cross-party conference on the issue after earlier talks broke down. Lib Dem Norman Lamb backed the idea but Tory spokesman Andrew Lansley said he would only attend if Labour scrapped a £20,000 "death tax" plan. Mr Burnham accused the Tories of making up "scare stories" about his proposals. The government's "ageism tsar" described the "political circus" as "shameful". 2010-02-15T18:30+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001008/gene_clue_to_early_dementia_speed.html A gene that may give you an increased risk of a distressing early form of dementia has been identified by Cambridge scientists. Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common type of dementia in the under 65s and can result in a complete personality change. 2010-02-15T18:20+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001007/disabled_students_wait_for_specialist_equipment_grants.html Almost 12,500 students in England are still waiting for grants to pay for specialist equipment, figures from the Student Loans Company show. The statistics reveal two thirds of students with a disability or special needs are still waiting for money. 2010-02-12T18:26+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001006/genes_behind_stammering_uncovered.html Stammering has long been recognised to run in families, but scientists now say they have identified three genes which may cause the problem in some people. They believe that mutations which have already been tied to metabolic disorders may also affect the way in which parts of the brain function. 2010-02-12T18:08+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001005/brain_clue_may_explain_autism_hug_avoidance.html Delays at crucial points during the development of the brain in the womb may explain why people with a condition linked to autism do not like hugs. A study in mice with fragile X syndrome found wiring in the part of the brain that responds to touch is formed late. 2010-02-12T18:04+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001004/early_action_and_screening_could_save_the_sight_of_9_million_people_says_euro_mp.html Early action and screening could tackle the spiralling cost of treating millions of people losing their sight due to glaucoma, says Euro MP Liz Lynne (MEP, West Midlands). She signed a cross party written declaration in the European Parliament calling for better and earlier treatment for the condition. 2010-02-12T17:59+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001003/annette_brooke_challenges_pm_on_accessible_health_information.html Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, used an opportunity at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday challenge Gordon Brown over the appalling failure of the Government to ensure that health information is accessible to patients with sight loss. 2010-02-12T17:53+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001002/dee_doocey_welcomes_broadcasting_contract_for_the_2012_london_paralympics.html Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Olympics Spokesperson, when asked to comment on the decision taken by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to award the broadcasting contract for the 2012 Paralympics to Channel 4, a free to view broadcaster, said: 2010-01-13T00:00+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001001/andrew_george_mp_exercises_to_control_his_condition.html Andrew George MP has found that the acts of getting out of bed every morning, and putting his socks and shoes can be a very painful experience. This is due to the fact that he suffers from the autoimmune disease Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). AS is a chronic condition that has no cure. It primarily affects the spine but can also affect other joints, tendons and ligaments, as well as eyes, lungs, bowel and heart. In Andrew George's case it has caused permanent eye damage. 2010-01-03T00:00+00:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/001000/looking_into_the_cost_of_blindness.html Annette Brooke MP recently met up with the Eye Health Alliance to learn more about the importance of eye health and regular sight tests. 2009-10-03T14:27+01:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/000999/annette_backs_the_rnid_for_a_healthy_hearing_future.html Annette Brooke MP has joined RNID's call for people to value their hearing and take the charity's specially developed hearing check. 2009-10-03T14:23+01:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/000998/equal_access_to_paralympics_must_be_guaranteed__dee_doocey.html Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Olympics Spokesperson, has received an assurance from the Mayor that he will seek to ensure that the Paralympic Games can be viewed on 'free to view' television and not just be limited to subscription channels. 2009-09-09T21:31+01:00 http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/news/000997/annette_brooke_mp_joins_guide_dogs_campaign_to_say_no_to_shared_surfaced_streets.html A dangerous new street design that puts the blind and partially sighted; disabled and elderly, as well as young children in danger has been condemned at a Westminster event organised by The Guide Dogs Association for the Blind. 2009-06-29T07:48+01:00