Joint open letter to political parties
Multiple organisations have written a joint letter to the leaders of the three main opposition parties in England about the need to support people with a learning disability, autistic people and their families
We, along with 12 other organisations, have published an open letter to the leaders of the three main opposition parties in England. These organisations include people with a range of experience and knowledge, including people with a learning disability and autistic people, as well as people, professions and professionals who support them and their families.
In our letter, we have shared our concerns over the continued failure to get things right for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Too many individuals are being detained in inpatient units under the Mental Health Act, despite learning disabilities and autism not being mental health conditions. Public revelations of abuse and mistreatment continue to surface and people with a learning disability and autistic people are being restrained, secluded, and overmedicated. These human rights violations cannot be allowed to continue.
Individuals with a learning disability and autistic people must be able to access the right support, in the right place, at the right time. In practice, this means flexible community support, early intervention and all parts of the system working together – but this will only happen for everyone if there is a concerted political effort. Our letter extends an offer to work together to ensure care for people with a learning disability and autistic people is truly transformed. We hope politicians accept this offer to work together to make sure that all people with a learning disability and autistic people can live good lives with the right support.