Ross Drysdale, 73, constructed the sheltered walkway at his Christchurch bungalow in October 2024, aiming to provide his wife, Victoria, with greater independence following a severe stroke. Mr Drysdale was informed by a building inspector that the structure conformed with Building Regulations, but did not secure planning permission.
When I moved in here it truly was my last resort. Since living here I feel like I have the same independent life that my friends have and I just don't want to lose that. The guide dog run is probably the most important thing for me. It's a safe and confined area where I feel comfortable taking my dog out, especially at night.
If we told them to look at the face, they could usually manage it. But they were mostly looking at the hands. The Prakash children eventually learn to look at faces when spoken to - usually a few months after their surgeries. Their experiences reveal that seeing doesn't come naturally the moment a person is cured of blindness. Newly-sighted people must learn to see.
Ana proposed the following: Is this enough in 2026? As an occasional purveyor of the visually-hidden class myself, the question wriggled its way into my brain. I felt compelled to investigate the whole ordeal. Spoiler: I do not have a satisfactory yes-or-no answer, but I do have a wall of text!
When I was growing up, people liked to join. People joined churches or clubs or dance groups or singing groups. Those still exist, but their membership has quite declined. People just don't want to join anymore. It's certainly down from the '50s and '60s. And before, if you got on the bus you could say hello to everyone. Now, if you did that, they'd rush you off to the looney bin. It's a sad state of affairs.
Developmental disabilities are actually quite common. In the United States, about 1 in 6 children has a developmental disability (CDC, 2024). Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions usually present at birth that affect the trajectory of a person's physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2021). Conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy, and others are examples of intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Without the motorized assistive device, an electronic wheel that attaches to the back of her chair, Berg says she has trouble maneuvering up hills or on uneven terrain, meaning the 55-year-old has been virtually housebound for months. "I'm ecstatic to get it back, but I also feel kind of battle-weary," Berg told CBC Toronto. "Why did it have to be like this? I'm exhausted by this three-month process."
Disabled people are enduring average waits exceeding 100 days for crucial support applications designed to help them secure or maintain employment, a new report reveals. A leading disability equality charity has condemned the findings from the National Audit Office (NAO), describing the public spending watchdog's report as "laying bare the brutal reality for disabled people trying to get into and stay in work."
When I take a walk in my neighborhood, my white hair, dark glasses, and white cane shout to the world that I am an older blind man. Some passers-by assume that I am lost and ask if I need help. It is true that blind people sometimes need help when using a mobility aid (a white cane or guide dog) to navigate their physical environment. However, once a person becomes proficient at traveling with a mobility aid, they typically need much less help.
Pip is designed to support disabled people with the additional costs of daily living and mobility, yet for many claimants it has instead become a source of prolonged uncertainty, financial hardship and distress. Waiting months and in some cases more than a year for a decision can push people into debt, rent arrears and poverty, especially as Pip unlocks other support such as carer's allowance.
