Learning Disability Today

The new December issue of In Focus magazine the health issue is out now! To access our FREE digital magazine sign in/register at www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk
Thank you to @jimgblair.bsky.social @dimensionsuk.bsky.social and all of our contributors for helping to make the last issue of 2025!

A big thank you to @stephenunwin.bsky.social and @jimgblair.bsky.social and all the participants who attended our webinar - Learning disabilities from hospitals to humans.

The recording is now on the LDT website for ALL to watch - an absolute must! Please sign in/register to LDT at bit.ly/4pk4h0q

FREE webinar Learning disabilities: from hospitals to humans Tuesday 26th November, 1 to 2pm GMT

We can't wait for our webinar - learning disabilities from hospitals to humans with @jimgblair.bsky.social and @stephenunwin.bsky.social The webinar will draw on Stephen's new book - Beautiful Lives: How We Got Learning Disabilities So Wrong. Register for free at bit.ly/4pk4h0q

Only 5% of people with learning disabilities in employment, finds landmark Mayfield review - Learning Disability Today The final report of the Keep Britain Working Review by Sir Charlie Mayfield has recommended stronger support for disabled people to find and stay in paid employment.

News: Only 4.8% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment, according to the landmark Keep Britain Working Review by Sir Charlie Mayfield.

It highlights significant barriers not only to finding employment but also to sustaining it.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/only-5-...

National crisis in access to disability equipment, say MPs - Learning Disability Today A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment has found that there is a national crisis in community equipment provision.

News: A national crisis exists in community disability equipment services, according to a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/nationa...

SEND: what will the Schools White Paper delay mean? - Learning Disability Today The Government has decided to postpone its Schools White Paper until early next year as it continues to decide how best to solve the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) crisis.

Debate: The Government has decided to postpone its Schools White Paper until early next year as it continues to decide how best to address the SEND crisis. But what will this delay mean for families and professionals in the sector?

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/education/se...

NICE campaign: what changes to NICE and SIGN guidance would you like to see? - Learning Disability Today This article reviews the responses to our health campaign, A NICE Life, which looks at how NICE and SIGN guidance could be updated to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities

NEW: Our health campaign began by asking YOU three key questions.

We examine the responses to the first question: what could be included in NICE/SIGN guidance to end premature mortality of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/nice-campaig...

Cover of In Focus LDT The ageing issue with Contents page next to the cover.

The new issue of In Focus - the ageing issue is available to download at learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/digital-issue/

Sign in/register to the LDT website for gratis access!

Thank you to @dimensionsuk.bsky.social @bild.org.uk
et al for contributing articles to the latest issue.

Text saying: Free webinar: Just enough support: helping people need us less. Image of smiling person in blue tops.

It's 1 week until our FREE webinar with @dimensionsuk.bsky.social

Learn about two very different approaches to increasing independence through Individual Service Funds and forensic rehabilitation.

Book at www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/events/future-events/

Down’s syndrome: new survey into education experiences - Learning Disability Today The Down's Syndrome Association is undertaking a survey of parents and carers of children with Down's syndrome looking at their experiences of primary and secondary school education.

News: The Down’s Syndrome Association is conducting a survey to examine the educational experiences of children with Down’s syndrome who currently attend primary and secondary schools in England.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/downs-s...

EHRC says the Welsh Government’s plan for disabled people risks being “symbolic” - Learning Disability Today The Equality and Human Rights Commission has responded to the Welsh Government's consultation for its Disabled People’s Rights Plan and says more meaningful improvement is needed.

News: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has urged the Welsh Government to commit to clear targets and deadlines for enhancing disabled people’s rights, as its current plan risks “becoming symbolic."

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/ehrc-sa...

Trapped in hospital: the community housing scandal and learning disability - Learning Disability Today Campaigners have long called for an end to the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability in inpatient units, but without the right housing and support systems in place, many are lef...

Debate: Trapped in hospital: how a shortage of community housing has contributed to a human rights scandal for people with a learning disability and autistic people

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/topic/housin...

Learning Disability Week: the real issues we should be talking about - Learning Disability Today Learning Disability Week is good time to reflect on the more serious issues impacting the lives of people with a learning disability.

Debate: Learning Disability Week - the real issues

From welfare and SEND reform to preventable deaths and assisted dying, numerous issues are adversely affecting people with learning disabilities.

What would you add to the list?

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/debate/learn...

Mental Health Bill will not prevent unjustified detention of autistic people - Learning Disability Today The Joint Committee on Human Rights has said in a new report that the Mental Health Bill in current form will not end unjustified detention of autistic people due to the lack of community support.

News: The Joint Committee on Human Rights says further reform and community support are crucial to ensure the Mental Health Bill ends the unjustified detention of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/mental-...

Baroness Sheila Hollins: learning disability and my hopes for the future - Learning Disability Today Baroness Sheila Hollins delivered the keynote speech at our health conference, discussing her hopes for the future of people with a learning disability. This blog is based on her talk.

Debate: Baroness Sheila Hollins shares her hopes for the future of people with learning disabilities.

This begins with a cultural shift: we stop saying we can't and instead look for positive stories to inspire us.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/topic/health...

Viewpoint: Is the Casey Commission on social care another missed opportunity? - Learning Disability Today In this blog, Steve Veevers, Chief Executive of Hft, asks whether the Casey Commission on social care will be something to believe in or another vehicle for delay, distraction or devolution of blame?

Viewpoint: Is the Casey Commission on social care yet another missed opportunity?

Stephen Veevers of Hft warns that the sector will not survive in a decade unless something changes — and soon.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/topic/policy...

Should learning disabilities be separated from autism in healthcare policy? - Learning Disability Today Is it time to have separate healthcare policies for people with learning disabilities who also have autism and those that have autism alone?

Debate: Should learning disabilities be separated from autism in healthcare policy?

Autism and learning disabilities are grouped in healthcare policies because of their high co-occurrence rate, even though they are entirely different.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/debate/is-it...

Are autistic young people vulnerable to extremism? - Learning Disability Today How far are autistic youngsters vulnerable to falling under the spell of violent extremism? The government's anti-terror strategy suggests they are massively over-represented among those taken in by v...

Debate: How vulnerable are autistic youngsters to falling under the spell of violent extremism?

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/debate/are-a...

Autism diagnosis rises to one in 31 school-age children, according to CDC - Learning Disability Today A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that one in 31 school age children in the US has a diagnosis of autism.

News: New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that one in 31 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism before the age of eight.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/autism-...

How can we create employment pathways, not just welfare reform? - Learning Disability Today Young autistic people and people with learning disabilities recently gathered for a landmark SEND Youth Parliament in Westminster to advocate for greater employment opportunities.

Debate: Young autistic people and those with learning disabilities recently gathered for a landmark Youth Parliament in Westminster to advocate for greater employment opportunities, rather than solely focusing on welfare reform!

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/employment/h...

Restraint of autistic child in BBC programme is clear safeguarding concern, say CBF - Learning Disability Today The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) has said that the restraint of an autistic boy in a special school in Leeds should be a safeguarding concern despite investigations saying practice in this c...

News: The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has said it is “extremely concerned” that an investigation into a Leeds school found “no case to answer” after a child was held in a prone restraint within a seclusion room.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/restrai...

Young people with SEN face more bullying and discrimination - Learning Disability Today A new report from the a youth-centred programme #BeeWell finds that bullying and discrimination is much higher for children with SEN.

News: Young people with special educational needs (SEN) face significantly higher rates of discrimination and bullying compared to their peers, which results in poorer outcomes for mental wellbeing, according to a new report from #BeeWell

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/young-p...

News. To mark World Autism Day and World Autism Acceptance Month, the National Autistic Society has launched a new campaign that highlights how the general public can make autistic people feel more accepted.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/nas-lau...

How to close the disability employment gap - Learning Disability Today In this article, Michael McEwan talks about the disability employment gap in Scotland and says disabled employment candidates are still unfairly marginalised and misinterpreted in the business communi...

Debate. The UK government recently announced a £1 billion investment in tailored employment support for disabled people.

Campaigner Michael McEwan examines the disability employment gap in Scotland and suggests ways to improve barriers.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/employment/h...

New report highlights how problematic independent travel is for some autistic people - Learning Disability Today A new report from the National Autistic Society highlights the barriers to independent travel for autistic people and makes recommendations for improvement.

News. A new report from @Autism highlights the challenges that some autistic individuals face with independent travel and offers recommendations for improvement.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/new-rep...

Spring Statement: what does it mean for disabled people? - Learning Disability Today The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement with the £4.8 billion reduction in welfare spending leaving many disabled people fearful for the future.

Debate: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement, with a £4.8 billion reduction in welfare spending for sick and disabled people among the headline announcements.

So, what does this Spring Statement mean for disabled people?

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/topic/policy...

Welfare cuts will hit over three million families, government analysis shows - Learning Disability Today New government analysis shows that 3.2 million families will be hit by the proposed welfare cuts expected to save £4.8 billion by 2029-30.

News. Welfare cuts will hit over three million families and push 250,000 people into poverty, government analysis shows.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/welfare...

What do the welfare reforms mean for people with a learning disability? - Learning Disability Today The Government has announced sweeping changes to the disability and health welfare system in a green paper, but what do the changes mean for people with a learning disability?

Debate. After weeks of speculation, the government finally announced its plan to overhaul the welfare system with the biggest cuts to disability benefits on record.

But what do they mean for people with a learning disability?

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/topic/policy...

Autistic children and young carers are missing out on too much school - Learning Disability Today New data from the Department of Education shows that thousands of autistic children and young carers are missing out on significant periods of the school year.

News. The number of autistic children who are classed as “severely absent pupils” has more than doubled since 2019, according to new data from the Department for Education.

Young carers, on average, also miss out on a month of education.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/autisti...