Long-stay hospitals offering people with autism and learning disabilities little hope of discharge are a “national scandal”. That’s the view of Dr Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG). Hughes made the comment after a VODG...

The Labour Party has launched a manifesto for disabled people, promising a raft of measures to improve their lives. Ahead of the 12 December election, the party is promising reforms to benefits, action on the disability employment gap and more...

The family of an autistic man is mounting a legal challenge to free him from “institutional” supported living. The mother of the 30-year-old man has said he was “kidnapped” by the state after she won a judicial review over education...

The mum of a man who died after treatment in a long-stay mental health hospital says crucial questions remain unanswered. Melanie Leahy wants a public inquiry into the death of 20-year-old son Matthew at the hospital in 2012. Matthew was...

Specialist clinics are needed to treat commonly co-occurring illnesses in autism. That’s the view of biomedical charity Thinking Autism. The charity wants specialist hospitals to investigate illnesses such as epilepsy and gastrointestinal problems. Research shows conditions such as epilepsy and...

Growing numbers of children treated for autism are being re-diagnosed with a brain inflammation illness. That’s the view of Vicky Burford, who is a trustee of charity PANS PANDAS UK. Infections causing brain inflammation PANS PANDAS are a group of...

Some people overcome autism, claims a scientist. Researcher Dr Paul Whiteley says despite the description of autism as a “lifelong condition”, “growing research evidence” shows it is not “lifelong for everyone”. Whiteley, of Sunderland-based autism research group ESPA Research, points...

Disability hate crime law needs tightening up to take in ‘mate crime’. That’s the view of not-for-profit care provider Dimensions. The organisation wants a shift in disability hate crime law. Under existing law, offenders often escape prosecution for hate crime...

New research has challenged the theory that people with autism lack empathy because of testosterone overload. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found no connection between testosterone and empathy in a study of 643 men. They gave the men testosterone...

The Labour Party’s plans to abolish private schools ignore the impact on special needs students. That’s the view of Claire Dorer, chief executive of the National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS). Dorer says the plans laid...