On Friday, we had a great first meeting with a new oversight group - people with learning disabilities, autistic people & family carers. They will be giving feedback on our team's research. We've been calling them the Critical Friends group, but watch this space - they're working on a better name!

Wales ‘It had felt like David and Goliath.’ Didn’t know about JR, accusations against her unfounded, up against experienced barristers. No level playing field, no justice. A son who continues to be inappropriately placed, far from home. openjusticecourtofprotection.org/2025/05/19/u...

Museum of the Second World War, Gdansk, Poland. Aktion T4. The caption to these pictures discuss the cost to the state of the annual keep up of people with disabilities. @teamlabouruk.bsky.social

Wales and north of England face disability cuts ‘double whammy’

Should benefit claimants risk having their bank accounts spied upon and driving licences revoked? I don’t think so | Neil Duncan-Jordan

The SHRC appeared before the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee to discuss their report. The detention of people with LD and autism is a human rights issue. Their work here regarding the CRPD and HR Act is so important. www.scottishhumanrights.com/blog/tick-to...

1. It has been one year since Stolen Lives protested outside the Senedd. Detention of people with learning disabilities and autistic people is a human rights issue. It results in harm, abuse and long-term trauma.

I should have tagged @dawnc05.bsky.social in this thread! Thank you Dawn 👏

Absolutely brilliant talk by @dawnc05.bsky.social today at @learningmet.bsky.social. Not easy to listen to the awful experiences she shares, but so in awe of the Dawn’s commitment to challenge and protest.

Speaking about Stolen Lives at MMU on April 9th. In person and online. You can sign up here. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stolen-liv...

We are very pleased to share our refreshed project website with our new information toolkit resources to support people with learning disabilities with mental health medications www.medmentalhealth.net @profkrc.bsky.social @dawnc05.bsky.social @learningmet.bsky.social @chrishutchrnld.bsky.social

Labour's historic attack on disabled people is already wrecking lives. Just ask Kevin | John Harris

@mrjamesob.bsky.social 4 point element is not for consultation.

#StolenLives says NO to cuts #DisabilityBenefits #WelfareNotWarfare People with learning disabilities and their families are already struggling. People are hospitalised because services and support are not there. Please do not make an already bad situation worse.

Great to be part of this collaboration. Epistemic violence can damage the ability of autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have experienced solitary confinement to speak and be heard. It deserves to be exposed and seen for what it is. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Don’t let any one tell you that cutting disability benefits is about making “savings.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Drastic cuts to PIP will affect as many as 1 million disabled and ill people, pushing them into severe hardship, worsening physical and mental health, and isolation. There is no credible argument for pulling help from people shouldering the high costs of disability. Cruelty dressed up as reform.

One more time for ministers at the back: it’s entirely possible to be a taxpayer and to receive benefits. As someone currently in the mid-tax band and on PIP, I’m more than happy for my earnings to help people who can’t work - and to pick up the state support I’m entitled to.

Balancing the books cannot come at the expense of those who can least afford it If you are concerned about these planned cuts please Contact your MP now and ask them not to support this appalling plan - now is the time to lobby the government to step back from this before it’s too late

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...

People with learning disabilities are being neglected in homes run by one of the UK’s largest private care companies, with one vulnerable resident filmed eating out of a bin and another left with an untreated infection causing his foot to rot. www.itv.com/news/2025-03...

It is not a tragedy that people with learning disabilities and autistic people spend much of their lives locked up in hospitals. This isn’t bad fortune. It is deliberate state sanctioned harm. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘The basis of eugenics’: Elon Musk and the menacing return of the R-word

Also online

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...

Make no mistake, the detention of people with learning disabilities in secure hospitals is a HR issue. There will be more claims and settlements. www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/justice...

My piece reflecting on life, love, loss and learning disabilities following the death of my daughter www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...

We know that people with learning disabilities experience high levels of health inequality, but there is something even more dangerous about removing the 75% target for AHCs (England) when we are rebuilding from the pandemic, which saw the removal and scaling back of services.

Failings in Scotland www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I broke down sobbing over the state of the world this morning while I was feeding the cats. But you have to keep going, cats will need more food.

🚨 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.

What would further cuts to Disability Benefits mean for you? Let us know: Comment below, or send us a DM. You can also email us, or send a text email: [email protected] Text: 07732 901 121 In strictest confidence

With Government announcements on changes to Disability Benefits due in the Spring, we’re looking for evidence from our supporters on the impact any potential cuts could have ⬇️

Diseases?

'Ms Reeves is said to believe that savings can be made in disability benefits, including the personal independence payment.' www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

'They gave her a bed to die in because she had Down's Syndrome.' So sad to hear that John Sullivan has died. He fought to keep going so that he could give evidence to the inquiry about his daughter Susie who had Down's syndrome. Watch here: 0-40 mins. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5UZ...

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

Bye '24, and a quick recap of some writing for @bylinetimes.bsky.social and @communitylivingmagazine.com on #LearningDisability #dementia #race New Year '24: @beckyrwhin.bsky.social tells me about a brilliant new training and work collective. communitylivingmagazine.com/there-was-a-...

'Councils are often desperately short of money. But many of them have long histories of being institutionally hostile to challenge and scrutiny from people they tend to see as pushy parents. So they stubbornly fight, and usually lose.' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I have always loved public libraries, but having young children has exponentially increased my gratitude and sense of indebtedness to them. Our local library is such a huge part of our lives. The books, the programming, the very intentionally curated kids’ section. It’s all such a gift.