The heartbreaking abuse of many Autistic children, and children with Intellectual (Learning) Disability or other additional needs, is happening in the mental health system every day. It is one of the greatest fears of every parent that a change of circumstances could see any one of our children suddenly entering this system. Miriam speaks eloquently and passionately for us all… I join her in refusing to accept this abuse of our children and in continuing to campaign for this torture to end…
There are some blogs that tear me apart to write. This is one of them.
Today a government report was published with the title “The detention of young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.” You can read the report in full here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201920/jtselect/jtrights/121/121.pdf
I read about it in the press today and cried. My own child has autism and learning disabilities. He’s non verbal, epileptic and he is doubly incontinent. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to say that at times his care needs are extreme and I struggle. Reading the introduction Members of Parliament wrote to their own report was like reading a diary and a glimpse into a future that could so easily happen to my family. Could this be your story?
“Too often the pathway to detention is predictable. It begins from before diagnosis. A family grows worried about their child. They raise concerns with the…
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The Additional Needs Blogfather 
Truly horrifying. This must stop. Who will listen? Who will care?
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Thank you for this article. On a related note, I sat through a “graduation pathway” meeting for parents of kids who have varying leaning difficulties. In our state, you can no longer take the GED — you must take (and pass) a ‘high school equivalency’ exam which is much more difficult. However, GED is still given to prisoners. I asked the question at the meeting, “So you’re saying my child would have a better chance of graduating if she were a criminal?” That meeting opened my eyes about how the education system and our state treats folks who have differing abilities.
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