Nearly two-thirds of autistic mothers say they need extra support, research shows. Researchers Alex Pohl and Sarah Kaarina Crockford found 60 per cent of the mothers had anxiety speaking to professionals. The Cambridge University researchers also found up to 80...

Autistic and learning-disabled children at risk of restraint and seclusion in Scotland’s schools are to get better protection. The Scottish Government will produce guidance based on human rights. The move follows the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Scotland starting...

Learning disability nurses are to get more than 85 per cent of their course fees covered, the government has announced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the measure to address the recruitment crisis in nursing. Following the abolition of bursaries in...

The National Autistic Society (NAS) cannot be an advocate for those with autism as well as a service provider. That’s the view of Mark Neary, of campaign group Rightful Lives. Neary made the comments after education watchdog Ofsted criticised an...

One in three youngsters with autism will have battled a mental health crisis in the past three months, new research shows. Psychiatrist Dr Roma Vasa, of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, found running off and self-harm were the most...

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...