In the news
News Archive
June 2009
Rise in number of pupils with special educational needs
June 2009
Biggest SEN jump is in state secondary schools, figures show.
Jessica Shepherd, The Guardian, Tuesday June 30th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/30/special-needs-numbers-leap
Scheme launched to get learning disabled into work
June 2009
A new government strategy will guarantee 400 jobs across the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus for people with learning disabilities in an attempt to address their poor employment prospects.
As part of the long-awaited initiative, launched tomorrow, to increase the number of people with learning disabilities in paid work and to keep them in employment, staff will be hired to support those who do find work under the scheme, while all government departments are to be issued with guidance to encourage wider recruitment of learning disabled applicants.
Mary O'Hara, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/23/learning-disability-job-work
I helped my son beat autism by making him give up Weetabix
June 2009
A few weeks ago, a one-woman campaign culminated in Polly Tommey meeting the Prime Minister to improve support for the families of children with autism.
She was fighting for the sake of thousands of other parents around the country, having become an unofficial 'Good Samaritan' for the desperate parents of autistic children.
Here, Polly, 42, the mother of an autistic child, tells her extraordinary story...
Sally Beck, Daily Mail, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1194841/I-helped-son-beat-autism-making-weetabix.html
Why learning disability should not be a barrier to work
June 2009
People with learning disability risk being excluded from jobs as a result of ignorance, prejudice and discrimination.
Ismail Kaji, The Guardian, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/jun/23/learning-disability-ismail-kaji-mencap
Scheme launched to get learning disabled into work
June 2009
Government departments to be issued with guidance to encourage wider recruitment of people with learning disabilities.
Mary O'Hara, The Guardian, Tuesday June 23rd 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/23/learning-disability-job-work
The welfare reform bill's hour of need
June 2009
As the welfare reform bill begins its fifth day of the report stage in the House of Lords, a small and determined group of independent and Liberal Democrat peers are putting up a fight; adding amendments, testing the government's arguments, picking over sentences in forensic detail. They're highlighting the threat to mentally ill people and those with learning disabilities, questioning the sanctions and the value of conditionality. And the shame of it all is the absence of Labour, the party that once stood tall in defence of the vulnerable and sick. The minister Lord McKenzie parries and deflects the critics with the stolid performance of a man who obeys his masters.
Jonathan Rutherford, guardian.co.uk, Monday June 22nd 2009
Newspapers must shut up about MMR
June 2009
Imagine that Britain is one large version of Grand Theft Auto. Imagine now that the media is a spotty 14-year-old, gleefully mowing down pedestrians. For almost a decade, from 1997 to 2004, newspapers cheerfully spread the idea that the MMR vaccine caused autism. They trumpeted compelling anecdotes from teary mothers, made fun of those silly science boffins, and sold a lot of papers. It was fun.
Tom Whipple, The Times, Monday June 22nd 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/child_health/article6549259.ece
The quest for equality
June 2009
The campaign for disability rights and true equality could be said to be approaching middle age. This summer sees disability high on the political agenda, with discussions and consultations on key issues such as welfare reform, new equality legislation, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This busy period builds on what appears to be real progress.
Ben Furner, The Guardian, Wednedsay June 17th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/beyondboundarieslive/quest-for-equality
Autism sufferers solve problems fastest
June 2009
Sufferers of autism solve problems faster than those who do not have the condition, new research shows.
In an echo of Oscar-winning movie Rain Man which features a brilliant autistic played by Dustin Hoffman, those with the disorder were found to be up to 40 per cent faster at a difficult test.
Researchers said autistic people who took part in their study had surpassed their expectations.
Telegraph, Wednesday June 17th 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5561002/Autism-suffers-solve-problems-fastest.html
Local councils 'failing young people with autism'
June 2009
Local councils are failing young people with autism by not providing adequate support to help with the transition from school to adult life, leaving many vulnerable and in some cases with mental health problems, a report published today claims.
Mary O'Hara, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday June 9th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/09/autism-young-people-mental-health
Susan Boyle is great for the learning disability cause
June 2009
As someone with a learning disability it's been great to see Susan Boyle getting so far on a talent show. You rarely see people with a learning disability in the media, and in the last few weeks Boyle has rarely been out of it.
But, like anyone who is put in the media spotlight, she has found it hard to deal with her new fame and growing media attention.
Ciara Evans, guardian.co.uk, Monday June 8th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/jun/08/susan-boyle-learning-disability
Device offers hope to children with communication problems
June 2009
Scientists have developed a pioneering technology that allows children with communication difficulties to interact more easily with parents and carers, it was announced today.
The software system, devised by teams at Aberdeen and Dundee universities and the charity Capability Scotland, is the first of its kind, and will help children with learning difficulties and disabilities such as cerebral palsy converse in a quicker and more interactive way with family and friends.
Kirsty Scott, guardian.co.uk, Friday June 5th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/05/children-communication-device
Adults with autism lacking proper support, says National Audit Office
June 2009
Eight out of 10 doctors need more training to spot the signs of autism, the report found.
Around 200,000 adults with so-called 'high functioning' autism, those without physical or learning disabilities, are falling through gaps in services because they do not fit neatly into categories of care, the report said.
Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor, Friday June 5th 2009
Disabled teenager with mental age of eight killed after being punched to the ground in town family moved to for 'better life'
June 2009
A disabled teenager whose family moved house for a better life has died after being punched to the ground near his new home.
David Cox, 18, who suffered from autism and had a mental age of eight, was left brain dead after the attack.
Daily Mail, Thursday 4th June 2009
From 'hell on two legs' to a miracle: How revolutionary therapy cured my son of autism
June 2009
He was terrified, confused - and desperately lonely. Every day, it felt as if he'd landed on another planet. Now, thanks to pioneering therapy, Luke has learnt to overcome his autism. Here, he describes his truly remarkable journey.
Rachel Porter, Mail Online, Tuesday June 2nd 2009
