Today is the last chance to sign the petition to protect the rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Over 130,000 have signed. Will you help us with one final push before it closes at 23.59? #SEND #Disability

petition.parliament.uk/petit...

Storyville - The Librarians A Storyville documentary that explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within.

This is a documentary film with real impact. #TheLibrarians shines a much-needed spotlight on the steady erosion of access to information and literature that fail to conform to the extreme beliefs of others.

Make this a priority to watch www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kkmj.

📢 The new LeDeR report is now available. The 2023 annual report analyses the deaths of 3,556 people with a learning disability & autistic people who died in 2023. The work is part of efforts to reduce health inequalities. Access here: kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/assets... #LeDeR
@kingsioppn.bsky.social

My comment can be read in the news release to accompany the report bit.ly/3FtlD9I.

Delighted to have informed the development and approach behind this study, ensuring the #autistic voice was central to how participants would offer their insights.

Librarians in UK increasingly asked to remove books, as influence of US pressure groups spreads Anecdotal evidence suggests a rise in requests to take books off shelves, particularly LGBTQ+ titles

Our CEO @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social highlights the “lack of robust evidence” about how widespread censorship is in the UK and which books are not available. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

Disability groups consider ‘step back’ from government A number of disability-led organisations say they are considering “stepping back” from engaging with the government over benefit cuts

For all the noises government make on 'views and voices' of #disabled people, they fundamentally misunderstand the 'nothing about us' principle.

The scale of the changes were simply imposed, without warning or any effort to consult before working with groups to co-design reforms bbc.in/3REILEz.

Drastic cuts to PIP will affect as many as 1 million disabled and ill people, pushing them into severe hardship, worsening physical and mental health, and isolation. There is no credible argument for pulling help from people shouldering the high costs of disability. Cruelty dressed up as reform.

The BBC News app notification of braking news - 'Crackdown on benefits by government to save £5bn - follow live'

Dictionary definition of 'crackdown' on Google: a series of severe measures to restrict undesirable or illegal people or behaviour.

If there is anything more troubling than the policy announcements on #DisabilityBenefits, it is the language of supposedly 'impartial' media that frames it as a criminal issue.

A purple graphic with a cream icon of a padlock. The white text reads "The latest NHS data shows there are at least 2,065 people with a learning disability and/or autism locked away mental health hospitals."

A purple graphic with a cream icon of a padlock. The white text reads "Within December 2024 8,040 reported uses of restraint in one month e.g. physical, chemical, mechanical restraint and being kept in isolation. Of these, 2,455 were against children (under 18s)."

A purple graphic with a cream icon of a padlock. The white and purple text reads "Children in units. The number of children with a learning disability and/or autism in inpatient units is 200."

A purple graphic with a cream icon of a padlock. The white and purple text reads "Shut away for too long. The average length of stay for people with a learning disability and/or autism who are currently in impatient units is 4.6 years"

1/3 🚨 The latest NHS data shows there are 2,065 people with a learning disability and/or autism in mental health hospitals. 
 
👉 It’s time for change. Join us in campaigning for a better future. Sign up to become a Mencap campaigner, brnw.ch/21wRhxA
 
#HomesNotHospitals #MentalHealthActReform

I have personally contacted my MP (Labour) to support the rebellion. #Disabled people have been punished in this country for long enough and used by politicians, whichever party, to be seen as 'tough'.

Further cuts will not be the answer to improve lives.

Labour’s proposed disability benefit cuts are nothing short of terrifying, say campaigners The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts appear to be focused on the Personal Independent Payment (PIP), reports award-winning disabled journalist Rachel Charlton-Dailey

Our comment on Labour's appalling proposed disability benefit cuts 👇

“There's nothing left to cut, and that puts us in a very scary position when the government suggests funding should be further reduced. What level of poverty for us will be acceptable to them?"

a black and white photo of a crowd of people clapping and smiling . Alt: a black and white photo of a crowd of people clapping and smiling .

It also paves the way to make #autistic participation in trials more #inclusive.

It's to the credit of @draipsych.bsky.social and all part of the #STRATA team that enabled commitment for this length of time.

The story's far from over yet - more to come soon! (2/2)

A lecture theatre looking down to an audience, where a projector shows a slide for the STRATA Results Reveal.

A black forest cake with cherries sat in the centre, surrounded by cream chocolate dusting and shards of chocolate placed around the surrounding area.

I am talking to Amy, one of the STRATA PPI members to reflect on my time in the study.

After almost 7-years in the making, the #STRATA study @bristoluni.bsky.social unveiled initial results (not public yet).

It's been an important day in celebrating what has been a success for #PublicInvolvement in #research. (1/2)

Establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.

There's good reason to feel alarmed about the direction of #autism and #ADHD research in the US. The direct association to #mentalhealth problems and being a 'burden' on the state is apparent here.

Sadly, it will become an increasingly uphill battle to debunk such views bit.ly/4i4CltU.

A slide on screen in the Ambitious about Autism design format, titled 'Youth Council Input Strategy Day'.

The sign pointing to Pears Campus for Ambitious College.

Starting the new calendar year of @ambitiousautism.bsky.social board engagements on a high note to see its services and learners in action.

On to reflection and exploring the way forward for our strategy day conversations. #autism

My published piece in CILIP's Information Professional (the online version requires an account with CILIP).

It's #NationalApprenticeshipWeek and it's been almost 2-years since passing mine in @dchft.bsky.social. I wrote about that experience for @cilip.bsky.social and why I work in #libraries.

I am sat facing across a table with a white name plate including my name and job title. Both my lanyards and name badge are visible.

A printout of a document headed 'Welcome to Teacher Encounters'. Below is the subheading 'Hosted by Dorset County Hospital and Dorset Healthcare'.

A satisfying afternoon to meet teachers across #Dorset to share the experiences of working in #library services and completing an #apprenticeship @dchft.bsky.social.

1/4 🏥Vital NHS targets are to be scrapped, including the goal for 75% of people with a learning disability to receive an annual health check.

People with a learning disability on average die up to 23 years earlier than the general population, with 42% of these deaths being avoidable.

New government, same policy. There is every reason we should not be contemplating any form of assisted dying if the attitude towards #disabled people is work or else.

A binder containing the handbook of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (Tier 2) for experts by experience (learning disability).

Taking my first steps to deliver the #OliversCampaign training for #NHS staff across #Dorset as one of the experts by experience. More coming up soon!

The 'war' on disabled people and my fight for an independent life – video Disability services in the UK have been consistently cut after 14 years of Tory rule and austerity, but with the promise of change from a new Labour government, musician and activist John Kelly is concerned that politicians are still not listening to…

The 'war' on disabled people and my fight for an independent life – video

A screenshot of the slide to mark the ACLIP recognition. Below are some additional comments about me, which praise my work.

A highlight for anyone in NHS #libraries in gathering for #KLSCelebration24 and sharing success stories from research repositories to toolkits.

Grateful to have a small guest appearance with attaining Certification with @cilip.bsky.social 🎉

Very pleased to officially be a co-author featured in @thelancet.bsky.social through some of my recent #PiblicInvolvement activity bit.ly/49haiUJ.

The sun setting over Hurghada harbour.

Looking out to the beach in Paradise Island.

A well-timed escape from the UK into #Hurghada 🏝️

Health literacy: how can we improve health information? What happens when health information is not clear? Discover what research can tell us and how we can help people understand.

In any solution, better #HealthLiteracy should be at the heart of changing the way clinicians engage with patients and patients can become 'partners' with their care bit.ly/4fKNUVD. #HealthInequlities

I am standing next to the 'Our Dorset' Health Inequalities banner.

A view of the attendees sat around tables at the NHS Dorset Health Inequalities conference

A copy of the agenda (partially) for the health inequalities conference.

Today, I've been over in #Bournemouth for #NHS Dorset's conference dedicated to #HealthInequalities.

With representation from both professionals and the public, it was a unique opportunity to explore how we prioritise social justice in our communities and put accessibility high on the agenda.

Brilliant! Feeling very welcome already☺️

Thank you, Laura!😊

a cartoon penguin is standing on top of a snow covered hill . ALT: a cartoon penguin is standing on top of a snow covered hill .

Hello! Making the big leap from a certain lettered app. First day, first post on here👋

I work in #NHS libraries, while dabbling in #research, charities and a few other projects.

Let's have a look around...