Registration for Naidex (National Accessibility, Inclusion & Disability Expo) 2026 has opened.   The UK’s biggest and most established event for the disability community will be on March 25 and 26 at the NEC in Birmingham, bringing together the disability and accessibility community, healthcare professionals, and innovators for two days of inspiration and change. With content, products and features covering mobility, employment and work, health & well-being, independent livin

Para equestrian Stephanie Quintrell has her sights set on a world’s first. Supported by five other fearless women, Stephanie will ride for up to nine hours a day from Argentina to Chile, ascending and descending up to 4,400m of difficult terrain across the Andes. She hopes her challenging ‘Ride to Independence’ will inspire others to go and have their own adventures and to show the ‘impossible can be possible’. Six years ago, Stephanie experienced a sudden and severe neurolog

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published its first annual benchmarking report on train and station operators’ delivery of passenger assistance.  The findings highlight that while passengers are generally satisfied with the standard of assistance when it is delivered, delivery itself can be unreliable with 11% of passengers reporting that they received none of the assistance they booked in 2024/25.  ORR assessed 14 train operators plus Network Rail for their reliability

Research has shown road crossings need to slow down to allow people with mobility issues and older pedestrians enough time to use them. The  time interval of crossings in the UK is more than two seconds shorter than people with reduced mobility need, according to a new study by researchers at the Universities of Bath, Birmingham and Exeter. L ed by Dr Max Western from the University of Bath Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Change, the study found that just 1.5% of older ad

A theatre company which is all-inclusive regardless of disability, race, or gender, is to stage Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. First performed at the Actors Church Covent Garden in 2022, and adapted by acclaimed writer Alfie James, the classic story about the miserly old moneylender Ebenezer Scrooge will be staged by Dramaiocht Productions at Chelsea Theatre in London from December 17 to 19. Founded by Mark Beer (pictured above) , Dramaiocht Productions is one of the f

A Riding for the Disabled group is one of 20 grassroots sports clubs which have been given a funding boost by Fibrus's Play It Forward Fund   The funding scheme provides grants of up to £1,000 to help children’s sports clubs across Northern Ireland and Cumbria to buy equipment, kits or improve facilities.    Carlisle Riding for the Disabled, based at Blackdyke Riding School,   is part of a national charity that has been providing riding lessons to disabled children and adults

One of the world’s leading tourism and leisure groups is continuing its commitment to accessible and inclusive holidays by introducing three additional sensory rooms to support neurodivergent guests and their families.    The new sensory rooms will be added to the TUI BLUE portfolio in summer 2026.   They will open at TUI BLUE Tropical and TUI BLUE Palm Garden in  Türkiye , as well as TUI BLUE Aeneas Resort in Cyprus. This expansion follows the success of the first two sensor

Multi-record-breaking adaptive adventurer Darren Edwards is attempting a new world record by completing the longest sit-ski expedition in the history of polar exploration. Paralysed from the chest down and operating at the absolute limit of what is possible for someone with a high-level Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Darren’s epic attempt to reach the South Pole will see him sit-ski 222 kilometres in just 20 days in -30-degree temperatures during December. Currently, the furthest

EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) has released a 30-minute documentary film showcasing the transformative impact of golf for individuals with disability. Featuring real stories, global voices, and a message of true inclusion in golf the film, ‘You Can’, is narrated by multiple major champion Pádraig Harrington and celebrates the diversity of the global G4D (Golf for the Disabled) community. Among those featured are: • Issa Nlareb, a double-leg amputee from Cameroon •

National charity Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) has praised the iconic ITV soap saga Coronation Street for depicting one of the characters sustaining a spinal cord injury. On the show Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, was left with a spinal cord injury that threatened to leave him paralysed from the waist down following a hit and run car accident. Carol Adcock, a specialist nurse from SIA, has been providing insight from a clinical perspective, informing the writers from the

T he private mobility division of AJM Healthcare has launched a Lunch & Learn webinar series in partnership with RGK Wheelchairs.   With the first session drawing strong attendance from occupational therapists, physiotherapists and wheelchair service professionals across the UK, AJM Choice has announced a further webinar for December 12.   The opening webinar,  Efficiency in Motion , brought together clinical reasoning from Michaela White, Occupational Therapist and Clinical

A brand-new format of grassroots disability football for adults has been introduced by England Football. Learn to Play Disability is the first-ever tailored sessional football programme available for adults 16+ with pan-disabilities who want to learn how to play football, with coaches trained specifically to lead each session. First to experience the new format were BAFTA-winning actor and comedian, Jack Carroll (pictured left), and England Partially Sighted footballer, Adam

Don’t forget to pull on a pair of purple socks today (December 3) to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).   It’s also not too late to buy a pair of special edition purple socks to support Parallel Lifestyle and the work of the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE).    “BASE is the national voice for providers of specialist employment support and share our passion to improve the employment rates of disabled people across the UK,” said Paral

The creative team behind this year’s festive Glow Wild trail have excelled this year – staging a walk-through show that’s ethereal, entrancing and entertaining in equal measure. Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden in Sussex, comes alive after darkness falls this month with a mile-long trail of illuminated landscape and hypnotic soundtracks guaranteed to appeal to visitors of all ages. Wakehurst’s carefully considered design means the whole trail is accessible and enjoyable f

Scotland is seeing a major rise in the number of children with disabilities learning to swim, with new figures showing a 69% increase in just one year.   A report published by Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water reveals that of the almost 82,000 children who took part in the Learn to Swim Framework up to March this year, 2,745 were registered as disabled, a significant jump from 2024.   Importantly, the data shows that 81% of swimmers with a disability are now learning in ma

Derwen College in Shropshire for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is to be part of the national ‘Power of Specialist FE’ campaign. Led by Natspec, the membership body for specialist FE colleges, the campaign will highlight the vital role of specialist further education (FE) in supporting young people with SEND. Derwen College will showcase inspiring student journeys, including that of Performing Arts graduate Anna Redding (pictured above). “

Live to Your Living Room has lots of wonderful shows for you to unwrap this December – from the comfort of your own home.   The festivities kick-off on December 2 with Tim Edey’s ever-popular ‘ Celtic Christmas ’ show.   Curl up by the fire and enjoy stunning songs from Tim’s  A Celtic Christmas  album, as well as many other favourites from his extensive repertoire.   Multi-award-winning musician Tim   (pictured above) has been a leading light on the global folk scene for two

There’s just one week to go before Purple Sock Day 2025.   Now in its fifth year, Parallel Lifestyle’s Purple Sock Day is an annual national act of mass participation on December 3 to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).   Living with Disability is proud to support the initiative. All you need to do is buy and wear a pair of special edition purple socks.   Backed by Victoria Jenkins, founder of the award-winning adaptable clothing brand Unhidden (pictur

England’s most capped and decorated blind footballer, Darren Harris, is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum.   Darren was diagnosed with a type of cancer in both eyes known as bilateral retinoblastoma aged fifteen months, which led to a gradual loss of eyesight.   At secondary school sports became an important outlet for Darren, giving him focus and direction.  He went to university for mathematics and then worked in the information techno

A rising star in the world of academia who was born deaf has scooped a prestigious award for her PhD research.   Dr Libby Steele, who completed her doctorate in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University’s School of Psychology and Sport Science, won the Young STEM in Sport Award at the Community Sport and Recreation Awards: Youth Edition 2025.   The academic, who was crowned at a special celebration hosted by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, focussed her doctoral thes