“This is how every single person like me suffered at those institutions.” An Autistic Artist

In our latest blog, Alexis Quinn discusses her five top PBS bugbears, their impact on people and practical solutions for staff 👇 rightfullives.org.uk/blog/top-fiv...

“One family member told us that they didn’t always feel their relative was safe and staying on the Mitford Unit actually made them feel worse.” Even the so-called specialist units can’t get it right it seems. www.cqc.org.uk/press-releas...

Subscribe to #AnnaFreud newsletter to be the first to see new animation with @aquinnunbroken.bsky.social We are passionate about neuro-diversity informed practice and we are asking professionals to un-think and re-think about seclusion and long term segregation www.annafreud.org/training/hea...

Really pleased to have collaborated with such brilliant thought leaders to critique the idea that enforced isolation (LTS) can be therapeutic. Our new paper suggest solitary confinement has no place in modern health care. 1/4 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

With ministers ‘on resignation watch’, welfare cuts could be make or break for Keir Starmer www.independent.co.uk/voices/nhs-e...

My daughter created this image to depict how she felt going to school as a dual heritage autistic person... and why, in the end, she refused to attend. Heartbreaking. #EBSA

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here is the video of the webinar about the Mental Health Bill that we co-hosted with Oliver Lewis at Doughty Street Chambers last week. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM53...

A wonderful evening hosted by @doughtystreet.bsky.social on the impact of the forthcoming Mental Health Bill. What happens with the removal of learning disability & autism when there’s no community provision?

Utterly horrific. t.co/fggPrPZOaL

Rightful Lives is co-hosting an event on 4th March at Doughty Street Chambers. It will look at the implications of the Mental Health Bill for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Why not come along! www.doughtystreet.co.uk/event/deep-d...

Trauma in the Name of Treatment. We can vouch for that… www.madinamerica.com/2025/02/trau...

Dear Government. Forcing more & more disabled people into poverty does not save the taxpayer money. What did you think disabled people do with money? Stash it under the mattress? It goes back into the economy. Cold, malnourished people become very ill & cost the NHS a fortune. Please get a grip.

🚨 BREAKING: We are delighted to share that our client @ellenclifford.bsky.social has won her case against the DWP over an unlawful consultation held on reforms tightening the #WorkCapabilityAssessment. These reforms would lead to over 400,000 people being worse off by at least £416 a month.

Our gentle reminder that there's ~ 2 million autistic ppl in the UK. Research shows we are less likely to commit crime than other ppl, on average. Having an autism diagnosis is irrelevant to whether they are a criminal. It's like saying, "They have size 8 feet - let's fear all ppl with size 8 feet"

'There's no better way to show Sammy’s legacy and worth than by giving others opportunities he'd have excelled in' Patricia Alban tells @samcarlisle.bsky.social about her creative son @communitylivingmagazine.com - new articles next week. Also @maryohara1.bsky.social @georgejulian.bsky.social...

Without Accountability, nothing will change… www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

#Oliverscampaign This powerful new animation has been co-designed co-produced with autistic people & people with a learning disability It is aimed at helping staff and employers across health & social care to understand Oliver's Training & why it is so vitally important youtu.be/ouhKSOGm49g?...

Our statement regarding a paper published in the British Journal of Psychiatry rightfullives.org.uk/blog/stateme...

#HumanRightsDay Not all people are seen as fully human, with little recognition that rights are relevant to proper care, support, advocacy - and an everyday life. Reminder here, inc @learningdiseng.bsky.social @cchangescotland.bsky.social @rightfullives.bsky.social www.bihr.org.uk/our-work/our...

This grim article shows why institutionalised abuse of people with learning disabilities & autistic citizens drags on. Evidence is clear: long term segregation is harmful. This is a squalid example of a profession protecting its own back & not caring about patients www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

#Oliverscampaign I fully stand by @BaronessHollins & this report PLEASE SHARE Baroness Hollins' final report: My heart breaks - solitary confinement in hospital has no therapeutic benefit for people with a learning disability and autistic people www.gov.uk/government/p...

Heart breaking. This human rights scandal just goes on and on... Imagine losing your daughter to brain cancer and then your grandson, who is struggling with the loss of his mother, to a bloody hospital. Please BBC News show this lady some respect. 'Granny' FFS 😡 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Stolen Lives motion unanimously passed in the Senedd. Thank you to Hefin David MS, Sioned Williams MS and Mark Isherwood MS. At last, the inhumane hospitalisation of people with learning disabilities and autistic people has been recognised by the WG as the human rights injustice that it is.

Could be a game changer 👇👇👇👇

All eyes on the ward: the use and impact of surveillance in inpatient mental health settings https://buff.ly/49aqQO8 "The evidence base does not support the use of surveillance technologies and intended outcomes are not being achieved."

NHSE Culture of Care standards presented today at #RRNConf24. Remember the Mental Health Act Code of Practice says that “care, support and treatment given under the Act should be given in accordance with up-to-date national guidance…” www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/cu...

Utterly shameful yet it’s so widespread with no sign of it stopping. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The consultation to regulate NHS managers has opened. You can respond directly here: www.gov.uk/government/c...

What is a good life? and what needs to change in social care and in our society for this to be a reality for people... This is what Campaign 4 Change will explore at the Learning Disability England Conference 2025 📣 Check out the programme: tinyurl.com/32d3yy5z Get a ticket: tinyurl.com/2jx29aar

'It is not as if there is outrage when disabled people die needlessly. More a tilt of the head and an easy acceptance that it was “probably for the best”.' Outstanding from @francesryan.bsky.social amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

📣TOMORROW📣 Friendship: Making it Work - A Webinar about forming lasting friendships beyond day centres and groups Tuesday 26th November | 11am - 1pm Sign up: tinyurl.com/y5bny7ks

Interesting from Cascaidr. The Forgotten Story of Social Care. Report on the challenges faced by working age disabled adults. cascaidr.org.uk/2024/11/21/c...

Lucy Series looks at why the Mental Health Bill won’t stop Autistic people and people with Learning Disabilities being detained. thesmallplaces.wordpress.com/2024/11/25/f...

Buried on page 14 of the Telegraph - Matt Hancock has admitted “do not resuscitate orders” were “wrongly applied” during the pandemic.

Large parts of adult social care in England face collapse, thinktank says. The budget blamed but there are other factors. Massive real cut in local govt funding since 2010. Privatisation: 30%-40% of money vanishes in profits. Money buys less. End Privatisation www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Autistic man still locked up for murder under joint enterprise laws 10 years after friend stabbed stranger. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

I've done a lot of writing and thinking about autism, and learning from other #autistic people. A few years ago I had a go at collecting it all in one place, with six densely linked paragraphs and a big list. If you want to understand what #autism means to me, try this: oolong.co.uk/on-autism/

A recent court ruling has left gaps in human rights protection for adults and children in health and social care settings. Here's how Parliament could fix it thesmallplaces.wordpress.com/2024/11/22/f... c

Jury conclusion Morgan Betchley's inquest www.georgejulian.co.uk/2024/11/22/m... Morgan died as a result of her own actions. Historical evidence suggests in all probability Morgan’s intent had been to self-harm as a cry for help and that it was not her intention to end her life #OpenJustice 1/9

Oral health so important for people with learning disabilities. When I undertook my AHC research it was very much a neglected area, with some people not even registered with a dentist.

Literally until you've had someone look you in the face while you're just trying to buy milk and tell you "if that happened to me I'd kill myself" referring to your disability, you have no fucking idea why disabled people are so scared of the assisted dying bill. Listen to us.

🚨We are calling on our followers and connections to sign and share this petition to exempt all social care providers from the employer NIC increases 🚨 You can access the petition here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70... #TheCaringView #Petition #SocialCare

We need compassion, respect, information in inquests: 'Ignorance of autism, disability and mental health can generate further harm..Just as existing systems and services often did not meet the needs of the person when they were alive, the inquest process could fail them in death' #LearningDisability

Being the Boss - Have you thought about Planning for the Future? Diffcult subject but much needed Join @Haloabletec @beingthebossNo1 @bustogether @Giselle_ASCWs Thurs 28 Nov 24 1 - 3pm email: [email protected]

There are about 15 British citizens with learning disabilities for every UK farmer. And about 7 British citizens with autism for every UK farmer. Just imagine how their landscape for living might improve with similar political support and media interest

Have updated starter packs today, will thread here in case of interest. Shout if you'd like added to any of them and please share so I can find others Currently I've one on #learningdisability one on #OpenJustice and one of people writing/reporting about #health / #socialcare go.bsky.app/J6k8Rsr

Skills for Care is running a #BuildingDigitalConfidence campaign - they want to simplify and showcase the benefits of digital technology for people drawing on care and support and professionals Find out more: tinyurl.com/km7tp83s (you can keep informed through their social media pages)

Reforms to children’s social care. Stopping the profiteering. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...