Accessibility in the News — 6/13/2025.

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Feature Stories

In unanimous decision, Supreme Court sides with teen who has epilepsy in her fight with school

June 12, 2025 | Source: USA Today and NPR and AP and NY Times and Reuters and K-12 Dive and CNN and SCOTUSblog

A. J. T. v. OSSEO AREA SCHOOLS, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST. NO. 279

June 12, 2025 | Source: Legal Information Institute

The Supreme Court on June 12 unanimously sided with a disabled student trying to sue her school for not doing enough to accommodate her rare form of epilepsy, a decision that could make it easier for families to seek damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The justices said a lower court used the wrong standard when rejecting the discrimination lawsuit. And the court rejected an argument from the school that would have raised the bar for all victims of disability discrimination even outside of educational instruction claims. The case, A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, was being closely watched by disability rights groups who say the courts have created a “nearly insurmountable barrier” for help sought by schoolchildren and their families…

National News (U.S.)

Disability advocates discuss parking issues when public spaces are closed off in downtown Salt Lake City

June 5, 2025 | Source: Fox 13 News

This summer, downtown Salt Lake City will be staying busy with many events. That means more road closures and barriers, which could make it more difficult for some to access the City and County building. “We have a lot happening downtown this month,” said Peter Makowski, the deputy director for business development for Salt Lake City. Longtime Salt Lake City resident Margaret Holloway makes it a priority to get to city meetings. “This is budget time, and we’re discussing budget issues that we have a right to do,” said Holloway. She explained that since mid-May, accessibility to those meetings has been more of a hassle because of parking barriers…

Dropping in with WCMX rider Mo O’Neill

June 10, 2025 | Source: VTDigger

Do you know how to do a wheelie in a wheelchair? Mo O’Neill does. O’Neill is an adaptive athlete who rides wheelchair motocross, or WCMX. And when they’re not in college classes, snuggling with their cat and dog or making TikTok videos, you can find them dropping in at one of Burlington’s skateparks. Hey, my name’s Mo. I’m an adaptive athlete and I ride wheelchair motocross. I think that being paralyzed was just a moment where I kind of realized how much dependency I was feeling, which didn’t align with my vision of myself. And I started immediately searching for a thrill…

In emergency appeal, Trump asks Supreme Court to let him gut Education Department

June 6, 2025 | Source: USA Today

The Trump administration on June 6 asked the Supreme Court to let it dismantle the Education Department and fire hundreds of its workers. President Donald Trump is trying to fulfil his campaign promise to end the Education Department and move school policy to the states. In an emergency appeal, the administration said the court should lift a judge’s order blocking Trump from carrying out those moves while they’re being challenged by Democratic-led states, school districts and teachers’ unions. “The Constitution vests the Executive Branch, not district courts, with the authority to make judgments about how many employees are needed to carry out an agency’s statutory functions, and whom they should be,” Solicitor General John Sauer told the Supreme Court…

Are We Prepared To Fight ‘The New Polio’?

June 6, 2025 | Source: Science Friday

A mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been appearing in emergency rooms for about a decade. The disease has caused otherwise healthy children to lose the ability to move their arms and legs, and some become completely paralyzed. AFM is caused by a virus that’s a cousin of the polio virus, earning it the nickname “the new polio.” Journalist and physician Eli Cahan joins Host Flora Lichtman to explain what doctors have been observing, the research efforts toward developing a vaccine, and what this emerging disease reveals about our readiness for future outbreaks and pandemics…

Savannah mom frustrated with lack of wheelchair accessibility

June 6, 2025 | Source: WSAV-TV

One Savannah mom is speaking out after facing several challenges with navigating the city with her daughter who uses a wheelchair. Twenty-three-year-old Nykiah Connelly was born with cerebral palsy, a movement disorder caused by brain damage. Her mother, Paula, said navigating Savannah in a wheelchair has become a constant challenge. “My accessible van is a side entry van. So, and we all know that when you go downtown to Savannah, you’re parking on the street,” she said. “They do have a handicap accessible spot on the side of the street. But, if I were to pop to release the ramp, it wouldn’t.”…

Accessible travel changing for people with disabilities after designation

June 6, 2025 | Source: Spectrum News

One Ohio county is now being recognized for having inclusive tourist destinations for people with disabilities. For Amy Auberger, just getting her daughter into the car or a sound can be what triggers her daughter. Her daughter, 16 year-old Addi, was born with cerebral palsy, sensory problems and can’t talk.“Honestly, it’s pretty heartbreaking at times. It’s our norm,” said Auberger. But while on a car ride, she was calmed as she looked at sculptures. They drove through the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton. It’s a quiet tourist destination full of history and sculptures mixed in with accessibility options…

Uber is trying to help older Americans’ transportation troubles. Will it work?

June 9, 2025 | Source: USA TODAY

Yvette Pegues, 38, suffered a spinal cord injury during brain surgery about 10 years ago. “So now I’m living full time in a wheelchair,” she says. She travels often for work. Recently, on her way to a conference in Miami, she said she ordered a wheelchair-accessible ride and spent nearly $100 to go 12 miles. Pegues, a board member for disability advocacy group The Arc, said she’s had plenty of unfortunate rideshare interactions. She’s experienced canceled rides, rude drivers and high prices for extra assistance. “The worst part, honestly, is once I’ve actually gotten an Uber ride, the driver doesn’t always want to assist,” she said…

Amarillo woman advocates for accessibility after life-changing accident

June 9, 2025 | Source: KVII

Kathryn Granger’s life took a dramatic turn seven years ago when a car accident left her paralyzed and claimed the life of her best friend, Sarah. Since then, Granger has become an advocate for increased accessibility for people with disabilities. “We started Sister Bear to pretty much be a local resource for people newly injured or dealing with spinal cord injury or any kind of neurological injury,” Granger said. Sister Bear has partnered with the City of Amarillo to relaunch the Amarillo Accessible Task Force. It aims to identify barriers that prevent residents with disabilities from accessing services and improve accessibility throughout the city…

Do Disabled People Really Have The Same Rights?

June 9, 2025 | Source: Origins- WKNO FM

In 1999, two brave women with disabilities took on the state of Georgia. What happened next was a groundbreaking Supreme Court decision and a pivotal moment in disability rights. Despite this victory, challenges persist in transportation, employment, voting, reproductive rights, and online accessibility today. Join Felecia for the Win, and explore the ongoing fight for true independence outside of institutions and proper care in the disabled community…

Her Knee Surgery Made Her Change How She Cooks. Now Her Accessible Cooking Series Has Gone Viral

June 9, 2025 | Source: People

Carolyn first stepped into the kitchen when she was just 4 years old. Her mother was battling lupus and severe arthritis, and even at that young age, Carolyn felt the urge to help. So she did what she could: she started preparing simple meals for the family. Over time, her skills grew. By age 7, she was doing most of the household cooking — and loving it. She experimented with ingredients, flavors and methods. One of her earliest proud creations? A simple but special cinnamon toast. “It was the first dish that didn’t come from someone else,” she says. “I just thought — what if I mixed butter, sugar, and cinnamon, spread it on toast, and pan-toasted it? I didn’t learn it from anyone. It came from my imagination, and that made it feel like mine.”…

‘There’s More to Making a Subway Station Accessible Than an Elevator’; MTA C&D President Gives WSR a Tour

June 11, 2025 | Source: West Side Rag

I live across the street from the West 81st Street-Museum of Natural History subway station, where the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is currently installing an elevator. When work began in September, 2024, the MTA said it would take two years to complete. Last week, Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction and Development, one of the five operating agencies within the MTA, told the Rag it should be done by the middle or end of 2026, putting it pretty much on schedule. Torres-Springer also noted that work on the elevator has just entered the excavation phase…

Why Doesn’t the Trump NLRB Want Workers to Know their Rights?

June 10, 2025 | Source: The Century Foundation

On May 23, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released its FY 2026 budget proposal. There are many things about the document that don’t add up. The new leadership proposes a $14 million budget cut from an agency that has been woefully under-resourced for more than a decade. The proposal acknowledges that the NLRB will lose almost 10 percent of its staff through the recent “fork in the road” resignation program and its push for voluntary early retirements, but predicts it will somehow successfully complete more cases with less money and fewer people…

Accessibility audits ensure church’s doors are open to all

June 11, 2025 | Source: UM News

Worldwide, 1 billion people or 15% of the population live with a disability. The United Methodist Church has taken steps toward making churches more accessible to those with disabilities. The Book of Discipline outlines the responsibility of local church trustees to conduct an annual audit of their buildings, grounds and facilities to identify and address any barriers that impede the full participation of people with disabilities. The Holston Conference is making disability audits a priority. There’s a team of volunteers to help churches perform audits, and grant money is available to help churches make facility improvements…

Countdown begins for 35-year anniversary of key legislation protecting those with disabilities

June 12, 2025 | Source: WTOP

Signed by then-President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was a game-changing development for those living with a disability. The law prohibits discrimination against anyone with disabilities in all areas of life and society. The ADA continues to be a critical piece of legislation with its impact on accessibility and inclusion for those with disabilities, according to Ann Deschamps, director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center in Rockville, Maryland. “The ADA has broken down a lot of barriers,” Deschamps told WTOP. “When I was growing up, ‘disability’ was for people who were blind, people who were deaf. Today, one in four people, according to the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), has a disability.”…

Amazon’s return-to-office mandate sparks disability complaints

June 12, 2025 | Source: Fortune

Amazon.com Inc.’s hard-line stance on getting disabled employees to return to the office has sparked a backlash, with workers alleging the company is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as their rights to collectively bargain. At least two employees have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, federal agencies that regulate working conditions. One of the workers said they provided the EEOC with a list of 18 “similarly situated” employees to emphasize that their experience isn’t isolated and to help federal regulators with a possible investigation…

‘Stories Don’t Have to Be About Disability’ to Feature Actors with a Disability: A Call for Change

June 12, 2025 | Source: IndieWire

“Over 70 million Americans and 1.3 billion globally have disabilities,” Nancy Weintraub said at the “Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability,” panel at the American Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival. Weintraub is the Chief Advancement Officer at Easterseals Southern California. For over a century has been the leading disability support and advocacy organization in the U.S. Easterseals works heavily to increase opportunities for disabled performers in the film and TV industry, and Weintraub was joined by actor, writer, producer, and founder of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, Nic Novicki, for a lively conversation about the state of disability inclusion in entertainment — and the importance of authentic representation…

Star Trek has my perfect disability story with Strange New Worlds’ Captain Pike

June 12, 2025 | Source: Popverse

Across time, space, and cultures, the hero’s journey has been the archetypal framework used in narratives of personal transformation. These stories often begin with the hero being called to adventure because of their traumatic past. While on their journey, the hero must overcome obstacles designed to help them understand, confront, and accept their traumatic past and how it’s defined them, ultimately emerging transformed with newfound wisdom and strength. Since storytellers often take creative liberties to improve the entertainment value of hero’s journey narratives, it’s unsurprising that many of these fictional portrayals miss the essence of the experience…

Proposal would change Medicaid eligibility rules for people with intellectual disabilities

June 12, 2025 | Source: Islander News

Florida could be poised to make it easier for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD) to maintain their Medicaid services. The latest round of budget negotiations between the House and Senate includes a proposal by the House to eliminate a requirement for people with IDD to annually be redetermined eligible for the health care safety net program for the poor, elderly, and disabled. If approved once, they would be presumptively eligible the rest of their lives unless they no longer qualify for Medicaid or their condition changes. The proposal, if accepted by the Florida Senate, would require approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to take effect…

Jack Fact — According to studies by Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, 6.8 million households in the U.S. experience accessibility challenges in their homes.

Hit The Road Jack — Raising the bar: Accessibility innovations for passengers with reduced mobility and The world’s most accessible airports revealed in new ranking and Accessibility in Travel: Autism Gets a Seat at the Table

International News

Efforts are underway to make Dawson City, Yukon, more accessible — but it’s not easy

June 5, 2025 | Source: CBC- Canada

To many residents and visitors, the unpaved streets, crooked boardwalks and historic buildings of Dawson City, Yukon, are a big part of the Gold Rush town’s charm — but for people with mobility issues, they can also be a lot of trouble. That’s why efforts are underway to make the town more accessible, without losing its unique character. Sally DeMerchant has lived in Dawson City for the past 12 years. She said she lives with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain in the body’s muscles and soft tissues, and that affects her mobility. DeMerchant said some of the toughest things to navigate in town are the raised boardwalks and steps leading to the town’s businesses…

Inside Bupa’s bold campaign to dismantle exclusion in disability representation

June 5, 2025 | Source: The Drum- UK

Bupa’s ambition was to challenge the public’s perceptions of health, by championing an authentic representation of people living with disability. Historically, Paralympic campaigns have always shown para-athletes as ‘superhumans’, and while well-intentioned, it shifts focus from their achievements to their “inspirational” disability. As the Official Healthcare Sponsor of ParalympicsGB, Bupa had the perfect cultural platform to challenge existing stereotypes and dismantle the structural barriers that have historically excluded disabled audiences from engaging with brands…

Saskatchewan commits to accessibility with Deafblind Awareness Month

June 5, 2025 | Source: West Central- Canada

The Government of Saskatchewan has officially proclaimed June as Deafblind Awareness Month, recognizing the unique experiences of people in the Deafblind community and the organizations that support them. “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to recognize Deafblind Awareness Month, and we value the important work of Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Deafblind Community Services,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to build strong, inclusive communities for persons with disabilities alongside our disability services community partners.”…

When AI Erased My Disability

June 6, 2025 | Source: Time- Jessica Smith- Australia

I love AI. It’s a powerful tool with incredible potential to revolutionize the way we communicate, create, and connect. From improving accessibility for people with disabilities, to helping businesses work smarter, to unlocking new forms of creativity, AI is reshaping what’s possible across every industry. Recently, however, when I experimented with asking AI to generate images of me, I was in for a rude awakening. AI could generate a polished, professional look of me, or even transport me to a sunny vacation. But there was one glaring omission—the AI gave me two arms instead of one…

Design and Disability review – ‘A world-shaping, boundary-breaking joy of a show’

June 6, 2025 | Source: The Guardian- UK

Running through each section of this tremendous show is something mainstream society doesn’t get to see very often: disabled joy. It’s there in the harness that allows deaf and hearing-impaired gig-goers to feel music as vibrations on their chest. It’s there in the vibrant clothes. It’s there – certainly – in the all-purpose hands-free vibrator (yes, really). But it’s not just the individual items that exude this joy. It’s the themes of community action and care that show up again and again, and the reframing of the very concept of disability – from the “medical problem” society sees to the proud identity we know it to be…

Guide dogs attend Royal Ascot as part of training

June 6, 2025 | Source: BBC- UK

Guide dog puppies have been attending Royal Ascot as part of their socialisation training ahead of the race season. New research from the Guide Dogs charity suggests nearly one in eight dogs can be “confused and scared” when confronted with oversized hats. The puppies, who range from 12 weeks to 10 months, were exposed to “new sights, sounds, and scents” to help their development. Puppy development advisor at the charity Chloe Southby said Royal Ascot offered a “unique training opportunity” of being exposed to “extravagant hats and fascinators”…

Disabled people who visited Leinster House ‘trapped’ in broken down lift as advocates blast lack of accessibility

June 7, 2025 | Source: The Irish Sun- Ireland and Classic Hits and RTE and Radio Nova

A group of disabled people who visited Leinster House to deliver accessibility training ended up being “trapped” after a lift broke down. They said they were “astonished” at how inaccessible the building was after their visit to Dublin last year. In an email, they described accessible toilets that weren’t large enough to cater for wheelchairs, buses being refused access to drop off people with mobility issues, and a broken-down lift that left five members “stranded”. They told the head of the Oireachtas that members were stuck on a corridor and “very embarrassed” as able-bodied people had to “edge” their way past them on their way to offices or lunch…

Here’s why beauty products should be made more accessible for all

June 7, 2025 | Source: The Times- UK

Like nectar for the skin — liquid, glistening gold and enriched with calming lavender. This skin-nourishing facial oil is my beauty non-negotiable. Its pipette bottle makes you feel like a scientist in a lab, giving you perfect, drip-free control of the application. Hold on, this isn’t a pipette. My eyes dart to the new pump dispenser, the result of a product rebrand. It stares back: hard, uncompromising and oblivious to my loathing. Since birth I’ve had a generalised muscle-weakness disability, so — lacking the strength to siphon the product in one controlled, mess-free pump — I hatch a plan to deploy my palm to push down on the dispenser…

CM Gupta launches ‘Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan’ to make city Divyang-friendly

June 7, 2025 | Source: The New Indian Express- India

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday held a meeting to improve accessibility in sports, education, and public services for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the national capital. The CM said that under the “Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan”, all government buildings and sports stadiums in the city will be made Divyang-friendly. She said the government is committed to ensuring that no one is excluded from society because of any disability. She explained that the campaign will not only raise awareness and promote inclusive spaces, but also carry out upgrades in public and institutional buildings to make them accessible. The goal is to transform Delhi into a scalable and replicable model of accessibility and inclusion…

“People have a right to blue spaces”, says accessibility survey founder

June 7, 2025 | Source: Yahoo News- UK

A Dorset man has launched a national survey in a bid to improve access accessibility to beaches. Will Behenna, 53, founder of Beach Access Project, said he found many blue spaces across Dorset were inaccessible for a lot of people with medical or mental health conditions and disabilities and decided to collect information on public blue spaces through the Beach Access Project Survey. He said: “I could never get out on the water on my own because I could never roll a kayak or basically launch a boat of a kayak on my own. “Which was fine, but someone who is a fulltime wheelchair user, that craving to be completely independent is engrained in me.”…

Accessibility concerns raised as TVB drops subtitles from kids’ shows

June 9, 2025 | Source: The Standard- Hong Kong

Starting today (June 9), TVB’s Jade Channel will no longer provide traditional or simplified Chinese subtitles for some of its children’s programs, including popular anime such as Chibi Maruko-chan and Doraemon. The broadcaster stated that “all changes comply with legal requirements,” but the move has sparked concerns among advocacy groups for the hearing-impaired, who fear it will hinder children’s learning. According to TVB’s online program schedule, children’s shows aired on June 5 still carried Chinese subtitles. However, from June 9 onward, subtitles have been removed from locally produced programs like Hands Up as well as animations such as Chibi Maruko-chan, Doraemon, and Star Twinkle PreCure…

I will personally ensure that systemic inequities and accessibility barriers—physical, digital, and social are completely removed

June 9, 2025 | Source: Bold News- India

Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurated a mass distribution drive of aids and appliances for Divyangjan, in Jammu today. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the noble initiative by Directorate of Social Welfare, Jammu under two key centrally sponsored schemes – Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) and Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) aimed to improve lives of senior citizens with disabilities and to empower Divyangjan. “I strongly believe that people with disabilities have special abilities and they possess unique strengths and perspectives…

Cagliari, “Io Rampo” is born for accessibility in stores

June 9, 2025 | Source: Unione Sarda- Italy

Making commerce accessible is worthwhile. Not only from a civil point of view, but also from an economic one . This is the message at the heart of the press conference held today at the headquarters of Confcommercio Sud Sardegna to present “#Io Rampo”, a project designed to break down architectural barriers in commercial premises and make them more welcoming for people with disabilities. Data in hand, 80% of the activities in Southern Sardinia present structural obstacles that make access difficult, if not impossible, for those with motor difficulties…

‘I was treated like I didn’t matter’: Deaf patients left without ‘basic accessibility’ in NHS and unable to communicate with doctors

June 11, 2025 | Source: IBC- UK

A lack of sign-language interpreters or alternative communication methods in the NHS has led to ‘dangerous’ consequences as deaf patients are left unable to speak with health professionals. The needs of deaf patients are being “repeatedly ignored” as the NHS fail to provide British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters and communication devices. Only 7% of BSL users who require an interpreter are given that requirement for NHS appointments, found the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and SignHealth. Moona Mohammed, who requires BSL to communicate, told LBC she’s faced numerous occasions where she was not given an interpreter in Barts Health NHS trust, London…

Over 70% of Flemish train stations inaccessible to disabled passengers

June 10, 2025 | Source: Belga News Agency- Belgium and Euro Weekly News

More than 70% of train stations in Flanders remain inaccessible to passengers with disabilities. Of the 254 stations in the region, only 73 (just 29%) meet the criteria for autonomous accessibility. This was revealed in a written parliamentary question by Niels Tas (Vooruit) to mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés). For a station to be considered autonomously accessible, it must offer step-free access to all platforms via ramps or lifts, have platforms at a standard height of 76 cm, include guidance lines for the visually impaired, and provide at least one accessible ticket machine equipped with a help button that allows immediate remote assistance from NMBS/SNCB staff…

India’s First Accessibility Rating for Buildings Takes Shape in Visakhapatnam

June 10, 2025 | Source: Machine Maker- India

Visakhapatnam is set to become the birthplace of a major national initiative to promote accessible infrastructure across India. The Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) recently hosted a key national consultation to develop the Purple Building Certification Scheme—the country’s first structured framework to evaluate and certify buildings for accessibility. Held on June 11–12 at the AMTZ campus, the consultation brought together over 50 experts from across the country, including specialists in accessibility, disability rights, architecture, and urban development…

Accessibility Does Not Divide; It Unites and Empowers Everyone

June 10, 2025 | Source: Olena Zelenska- Ukraine and Ukrinform

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the presentation of the all-Ukrainian “Barrier-Free Means When You Can” social change campaign, aimed at promoting the principles of accessibility and engaging people in the implementation of this goal. “Barrier-free is not about limitations – it’s about equality and dignity for everyone. For people with disabilities and without, for the eldest and the youngest, for babies in strollers and their parents, for those full of energy and those not feeling their best physically or mentally, because we all feel that way at some point in life. Accessibility doesn’t divide. It unites us all,” the President’s wife emphasized…

Halifax’s shared e-bike, scooter pilot causing some accessibility issues, say advocates

June 10, 2025 | Source: CBC- Canada

In the last week, Tara Niekamp has come across electric scooters from Halifax’s new micromobility pilot program parked where they’re not supposed to be — in the middle of the sidewalk. For people who are blind or have sight loss, this can pose an injury risk, Niekamp said. And even if someone notices it ahead of time, there are still challenges. “The natural path around it may not be as obvious,” said Niekamp, who lives with sight loss and is co-chair of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s volunteer Nova Scotia strategic leadership council. “You may end up having to backtrack and reroute yourself, which can be really challenging, especially if you’re new to blindness or low vision and you’ve only got a couple sort of routes that you feel really confident and safe doing.”…

Call to ensure public EV charging is accessible

June 11, 2025 | Source: Transport + Energy- UK

The UK Government has been urged to back an amendment by an MP to ensure public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is safe and suitable for drivers with disabilities. Sir Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam, has called on the government to make sure the 1.35 million EV drivers with disabilities are represented in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The Bill is set to streamline the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure by granting installers a similar status to major telecoms and energy providers to undertake street works under a simpler and cheaper permit system…

BBC suspension: How should HR address disability discrimination?

June 11, 2025 | Source: HR Magazine- UK

An EastEnders TV star has been suspended by the BBC after using an ableist slur while filming Strictly Come Dancing last November, according to reports published on Saturday (7 June). The decision came after a video emerged of the actor Jamie Borthwick making an offensive remark to describe the people of Blackpool. The BBC said his language was “entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect”. Borthwick issued a statement in The Sun on Sunday apologising “for any offence and upset my words and actions have caused”…

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