England could soon have its first autism-specific legislation, after the government threw its weight behind a private members’ bill that aims to transform services for adults with autism. The National Autistic Society, which drafted the bill on behalf of 15 autism […]
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England’s last long-stay hospital ‘closes its doors’
The last long-stay hospital in England has officially closed its doors – although people with learning difficulties are still living on the site. Orchard Hill, in Carshalton, Surrey, “closed” on 1 May, fulfilling a pledge the government made in its 2001 […]
New jobs strategy has ‘huge ministerial support’
A new government strategy will aim to increase the number of people with learning difficulties in work, despite the recession. Anne Williams, the co-national director for learning disabilities, said the cross-government employment strategy, which was mentioned in the Valuing People Now […]
Minority ethnic communities ‘must be taken seriously’
People with learning difficulties from ethnic minorities are still missing out on services, according to a prominent campaigner. Richard West, co-chair of the National Advisory Group on Learning Disability and Ethnicity (NAGLDE), told the Community Care Live event in London that […]
RNID calls for businesses to do better on induction loops
Campaigning volunteers have reported more than 200 British businesses that do not have fully functional induction loops for their deaf and hearing-impaired customers. Volunteers for the charity RNID have had problems in post offices, supermarkets, banks, shops and theatres across the […]
MP secures government promises over education
A campaigning MP has welcomed government pledges to improve support at school for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs (SEN). The Conservative MP John Bercow was promoting his special educational needs and disability (support) private members’ bill, which would […]
Cunningham’s bill wins concessions from government
The government has pledged to issue new guidance to schools on improving health support for pupils with long-term conditions. The promise came after the second reading of a private members’ bill put together by Labour MP Jim Cunningham, who worked on […]
Scottish government acts after ‘deeply shocking’ dementia care report
The Scottish government has announced it is to draw up a national dementia strategy, following a “deeply shocking” report by regulators into standards in care homes. The Care Commission and the Mental Welfare Commission visited 30 care homes across Scotland and […]
Disabled children ‘still not accepted’, says report
More than two-thirds of families with disabled children feel that their sons and daughters are not accepted by the local community, according to a new survey. The charity Contact a Family, which surveyed 615 families for its What Makes My Family […]
Mental health prison report says more must be done
An independent inquiry has called for more to be done to keep offenders with mental health conditions and learning difficulties out of the prison system. Lord Bradley, in his review of people with mental health problems and learning difficulties in the […]