Disability news round up

Labour and NSP members of the Scottish Parliament are expected to turn down Westminster's consent request to implement parts of the welfare reform bill, in favour of making the necessary legal changes themselves.

They are due to vote against elements of the motion relating to the introduction of universal credit and personal independence payments. Other parts of the bill will go unopposed.

The Scottish Government will then need to bring forward its own legislation to ensure policies tied to the UK benefits system continue to operate in Scotland.

Elsewhere in the news

'Disability benefit' shake-up 'grinding to a halt' (BBC News)

Is the new disabled work benefit working? (BBC News)

No disability living allowance for me. Nowhere to turn for many more (Comment is free, The Guardian)

Disability benefits cuts: a disaster waiting to happen (Patrick Butler's Cuts blog, The Guardian)

The elderly couple who gained an extra £30,000 in benefits... thanks to a welfare adviser (The Belfast Telegraph)

Koran explained in sign language to help deaf Muslims (BBC News)

Beethoven music shaped by gradual deafness, say experts (BBC News)

'Deaf people can feel the music' (Radio 4 Today programme)

Specialist teacher training support for dyslexic pupils (BBC News)

I long for the day when someone with dwarfism reads the news (Comment is free, The Guardian)

Thalidomide class action lawsuit to be heard in Australia (The Guardian)

Talk point: Fighting the stigma of disability (The Guardian)

Christian Bale slammed by Chinese government for trying to visit blind activist - video (The Mirror)

Vic Finkelstein: Academic and disability activist - obituaries (The Independent)