After hated Atos quits, will Maximus make work assessments less arduous?

Amelia Gentleman: Bombarded with abuse and with its reputation tarnished, Atos has bought its way out of its £400m state contract to assess if benefit claimants are fit to work. A new company, Maximus, is taking over. Who is behind it – and will they do anything differently?

‘I spent my life believing I had cerebral palsy’

Harriet Sherwood: When David Hayes was five, a doctor told his mother he was brain-damaged. He proved the doctor wrong, going on to become vice-chair of Scope. But only recently did he discover he had been misdiagnosed …

A glimmer of hope for children facing blindness

The families of 21 children are raising money to speed up research into a rare form of retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that is robbing their kids of sight. David Bradford reports

Parenting without legs: a leap of confidence

Richard Pollins: Being born with no legs meant even daily activities such as climbing stairs and using escalators were initially daunting. But then came a new challenge – coping with a baby

How magic tricks help children with cerebral palsy

For children with hemiplegia, a common form of cerebral palsy, learning to be a magician is remarkably effective therapy. Paula Cocozza reports from the Breathe Magic summer camp

My thalidomide family: Every time I went home I was a stranger

Louise Medus was one of the last babies born with the effects of the drug thalidomide. Brought up in a residential home from infancy, She’s had to fight to overcome her tough start in life and build a family life of her own

Applying to uni: a guide for students with disabilities

All universities are set up for students with disabilities, but try to visit the one you choose to see for yourself

Bell’s palsy: putting on a brave face

Matthew Jenkin: Facial palsy is not only physically debilitating but emotionally hard. And often people don't get the treatment they need

Usher syndrome: ‘Don’t define me by a condition I happen to have’

Charlie Swinbourne: People with Usher syndrome have both hearing and sight loss. But although the diagnosis can be devastating, many find new ways to cope

Let’s talk about sex education and disability

For years the need of disabled people for sex and relationship education has been ignored. Campaigners want this sweep-it-under-the-carpet attitude to change, writes Teresa Fitzherbert

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health