Ruth

Today is my autistic son's 23rd birthday. 4th birthday I haven't seen him. 4th year he has spent alone in a room, heavily drugged lying under a blanket distressed and distraught. Hope he got his card, as I have no contact at all. Love and miss you son. Will never give up on you.x

Updated log from George Julian of services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people that are rated inadequate. georgejulian.co.uk/curated-topics…

I would like to share that I have just returned from a Policy Symposium at the University of Oxford titled: “Resolving Healthcare Disputes Out of Court.” The event brought together people with lived experience of healthcare disputes, alongside academics, legal professionals, and medical experts. The discussions focused on key issues such as second medical opinions, clinical ethics committees, mediation, and resource allocation. I must admit, I did not expect the setting to be so extraordinary. The symposium took place in an historic Oxford college, surrounded by ancient architecture, exposed timber beams, and stained glass windows. There is something deeply powerful about such places. I have always felt that old buildings carry the memory of those who lived and worked within them, their thoughts, their emotions, their lives. I am very glad that I made the journey to Oxford. It gave me the opportunity not only to speak about my own experience, but also to listen to others. What struck me most was how consistent the experiences of families were. Again and again, people described the same pattern: once they raised concerns, they themselves became the problem - vilified, marginalised, and drawn into legal processes. I spoke about what it feels like when systems designed to protect vulnerable people stop listening to the very families who know them best. This experience reinforced my belief that real change often begins outside the courtroom, through people sharing their experiences, researchers identifying patterns across cases, and academics asking difficult but necessary questions about how systems truly operate in practice. Below is the link to my speech at the Symposium: docs.google.com/document/d/1JK…

Young disabled man dreams of being a bin man, completes a 9 month internship, the council turn down his application twice independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

I thought only psychiatrists could diagnose schizophrenia, but they have no biomarkers, blood tests or scans. Nothing but their 'clinical mastery'. It's purely a matter of comfort, convenience and cash for everyone concerned (except the patient).

Gordon taking part in red nose day many years ago.. he had to wear something red and designed his own nose! My heart aches from missing you every day. Love you son. 🥰x #homesnothospitals

Rightful Lives and Stolen Lives (Wales) have given a lot of background input into recent @itvnews investigations about the Article 8 abuse of autistic people and people with learning disabilities, including gagging orders. Today, we have issued this statement because we don’t think @skinnock’s idea of new guidance will change a thing. @DanielHewittITV @IzzyAldersonB. rightfullives.org.uk/campaigns/righ…

How many children are subject to polypharmacy in Scotland, given that 1 in 4 Scots are prescribed antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics? The prescription of Methylphenidate is in addition to that, and a common drug given to children as Ritalin or other brands.

ITV News' findings prompt government 'crackdown' on families being cut off from disabled loved ones | Investigations Editor @DanielHewittITV reports itv.com/news/2026-03-1…

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock says banning families from seeing disabled relatives is “completely unacceptable. I agree. But for me and my daughter, this has been reality for 8 years. I raised concerns about my daughter’s care. The response was not investigation. It was restriction, exclusion, and litigation through the Court of Protection. My contact was limited. My voice dismissed. No mediation. No second medical opinions. No independent review. Just escalation. This is not an isolated case. What @itvnews has exposed is systemic. Families are punished for speaking up. Mr Kinnock @SKinnock , if this is “completely unacceptable,” then my daughter’s case deserves urgent attention. How will your reforms address cases where courts themselves uphold these restrictions? I am ready to provide full evidence. This is not history. This is happening now. Behind every policy discussion is a real person. My daughter is one of them. #CareCrisis #CourtOfProtection #HumanRights #FamiliesMatter itv.com/news/2026-03-1…

How can we allow this in 2026? People are locked away just because they have a learning disability or are# autistic? @mencap_charity thank you for putting on this amazing exhibition highlighting the over 2000 people who are locked away. #HomesNotHospitals #TheFightForFreedom

There are hospital scandals and then there’s this. Where will they find services to meet the needs of 280 vulnerable, and probably scared, people that will ensure safety, proper care, dignity and respect? Unbelievable failure in safeguarding and oversight bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Well @NHSEngland has a bloody cheek. They’ve been told enough times about St Andrews and only now they get to be concerned about patient safety. In December 2018, @HumanRightsCtte heard evidence from our co-founder who had fought to keep their son out of this dump, saying: I spoke through clenched teeth with tears pouring down my face: “He’s not going to St Andrew’s. People die there”. They heard from Beth’s dad, Jeremy, who told them about the cell Beth was locked in there and the horrific treatment she received. Members of the committee were in tears. NHSE and @DHSCgovuk were told. They knew even then. And St Andrews isn’t the only abusive hell hole @wesstreeting. There are plenty of other examples. So what are you going to do?

NHS orders hundreds of patients to be removed from crisis-hit hospital following string of police investigations independent.co.uk/news/health/me…

Ayla didn't die at St Andrews but their treatment took her past the point of no return. Where does NHS Wales stand on this @PrifWeinidog

This is a big move considering the size of St Andrew's Healthcare @NHSEngland said that despite enforcement action, "We still do not have adequate assurance that patient safety is improving at the rate it needs to, and our concerns about patient safety remain."

Yesterday we highlighted the findings of our Tick Tock report & @scotgov's continued inaction on the right to independent living to the Human Rights Council. To find out more about the project, or watch the full video statement, visit our website: ow.ly/6Lal50Yqszg

We're super excited @AQuinnUnbroken is speaking about how to end inappropriate detention of people with learning disabilities and autistic people at our webinar on 29 April. Find out more and book a free place at bit.ly/4l5OC3P

we don’t have a pandemic of mental illness. We have a pandemic of psychiatric Ds: We are overdiagnosing healthy people hugely and trap them in a system where there is a door in but where the door out is difficult to find and may even be locked. pgtzsche1.substack.com/p/royal-colleg…

“The Court of Protection can only act on the evidence provided,” the nurse said. “But who are they going to believe — a desperate, emotional and angry parent who can’t afford an expensive barrister, or several health and social managers with extremely expensive legal support?”