The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, which is supposed to protect students from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, age and disability status, isn't what it once was. The Trump administration laid off nearly half the staff in March, shuttered seven of its 12 regional offices, shifted the hollowed-out agency's focus to new priorities (including keeping transgender women out of women's sports) and then reportedly terminated more employees amid the ongoing shutdown.
Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.
Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.
A blind former paralympic athlete who was repeatedly stopped while trying to do her shopping at Tesco stores by security guards wrongly claiming that her guide dog wasn't allowed in has won €6,000 in compensation for disability discrimination. It's the fourth time in the past year and a half that a business has been found liable by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) liable for discrimination against Nadine Lattimore, who represented Ireland in track and field in the London Paralympic Games in 2012.
"Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber - full stop," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. "We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials." Every Uber driver "must acknowledge and agree to comply" with the company's US service animal policy and all applicable accessibility laws before using its driver app, the spokesperson added. The company takes "decisive action" if a violation is confirmed, including permanent account deactivation, he said.
A creche which decided it was "not prepared to take responsibility" for a two-year-old girl after she was diagnosed with a severe nut allergy has been ordered to pay her €3,000 in compensation for disability discrimination.
Christopher Joell-Deshields, who has been in position since 2021, faces several allegations from the volunteer directors and others at the organisation. Current and former volunteers have told the BBC they are worried the allegations could damage one of Europe's biggest pride events at what is already a "precarious" time for pride organisations across the UK. Mr Joell-Deshields told The Guardian it would be "inappropriate" to discuss the matter in the press but claimed he remained in his role.