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You are here: Home / Archives for learning difficulties

learning difficulties

Government research highlights how DSA support can help disabled students ‘achieve their goals’

By John Pring on 7th May 2026 Category: Education

Government research highlights how DSA support can help disabled students ‘achieve their goals’
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Non-medical support provided through the disabled students’ allowance (DSA) system can play an important role in the ability of young disabled people to succeed at university, according to research commissioned by the government. Non-medical help (NMH) available through DSA offers regular, […]

Ministers leave door open to continuing ‘absolute scandal’ of inappropriate Mental Health Act detention

By John Pring on 16th October 2025 Category: Human Rights

Ministers leave door open to continuing ‘absolute scandal’ of inappropriate Mental Health Act detention
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A disabled MP has failed to persuade ministers to show exactly what progress they are making towards ensuring there are enough community services to halt the “scandal” of disabled people being inappropriately detained under the Mental Health Act. Current mental health […]

Activists will protest over government’s refusal to engage with ‘deep-rooted’ mental health bill concerns

By John Pring on 20th March 2025 Category: Human Rights

Activists will protest over government’s refusal to engage with ‘deep-rooted’ mental health bill concerns
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Disabled activists are to hold a day of action in Westminster – and online – next month in protest at the government’s refusal to engage with the “deep-rooted concerns” of autistic people and people with learning difficulties about the mental health […]

Government failure on mental health detentions ‘is scandalous’ 

By John Pring on 23rd May 2024 Category: Human Rights

Government failure on mental health detentions ‘is scandalous’ 
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The government has “fallen short” on its promise to halve the number of people with learning difficulties* and autistic people detained in mental health hospitals, a committee of MPs has warned.  The number of autistic people in such settings is even […]

Human rights watchdog fails to follow through on legal threat to government

By John Pring on 16th November 2023 Category: Human Rights

Human rights watchdog fails to follow through on legal threat to government
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The human rights watchdog has failed to follow through on threats to take legal action against the government over its efforts to cut the number of disabled people inappropriately detained in secure hospitals in England. The Equality and Human Rights Commission […]

Watchdog threatens government with legal action over ‘unacceptable’ detentions

By John Pring on 28th July 2022 Category: Human Rights

Watchdog threatens government with legal action over ‘unacceptable’ detentions
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The human rights watchdog is threatening to take legal action against the government for failing to “go far enough” in its plan to cut the number of disabled people inappropriately detained in secure hospitals. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) […]

Not one recommendation achieved, two years after CQC restraint and seclusion review

By John Pring on 31st March 2022 Category: Human Rights

Not one recommendation achieved, two years after CQC restraint and seclusion review
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Not a single one of the 17 recommendations made two years ago by a government-commissioned review into the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation of disabled people has been carried out, the care regulator has concluded. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said […]

Frustration over MPs’ failure to hear disabled people’s voices on ATU scandal

By John Pring on 15th July 2021 Category: Human Rights

Frustration over MPs’ failure to hear disabled people’s voices on ATU scandal
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Disabled activists have welcomed a new parliamentary report that calls for an end to most admissions to long-term health institutions for autistic people and people with learning difficulties, but they have criticised its lack of direct evidence from disabled people. The […]

‘Shocking’ figures on deaths of people with learning difficulties ‘show need for vaccine action’

By John Pring on 19th November 2020 Category: Human Rights

‘Shocking’ figures on deaths of people with learning difficulties ‘show need for vaccine action’
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Disabled activists have spoken out over “absolutely shocking” new figures which show that younger people with learning difficulties in England were more than 30 times more likely to die from coronavirus than non-disabled people of the same age. Two leading campaigners […]

Victims of inpatient restraint and seclusion describe ‘inhumane’ care

By John Pring on 22nd October 2020 Category: Human Rights

Victims of inpatient restraint and seclusion describe ‘inhumane’ care
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Autistic people have told the care regulator about the “undignified and inhumane” care they have been subjected to in mental health units, including the frequent and traumatising use of segregation and restraint in England. They spoke to the Care Quality Commission […]

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Image of front cover of The Department, showing a crinkled memo with the words 'Restricted - Policy. The Department. How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence. John Pring.' Next to the image is a red box with the following words in white: 'A very interesting book... a very important contribution to this whole debate' - Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability. plutobooks.com and the Pluto Press logo.

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