Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/12/amanda-wixon-jailed-woman-victim-imprisoned-25-years-speaks-out #Crime #ModernSlavery #Gloucestershire #UkNews #England #Women #LearningDisability #Society

'They just wanted a baby brother to play with - now they've got to go through losing him'

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/real-life/they-just-wanted-baby-brother-33513052

Hope for vital service that 'means everything' to families after closure fears

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hope-vital-service-means-everything-33405646

'They want to close it down - but this is my brother's life'

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/they-want-close-down-brothers-33357945

Nnena Kalu’s triumph for neurodivergent art has rattled a few cages. So let me put those carping critics right | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/14/nnena-kalu-turner-prize-neurodivergent-art #Learningdisability #Turnerprize2025 #Awardsandprizes #Neurodiversity #Artanddesign #Turnerprize #Disability #Culture #Society #Autism #UKnews #Art

The right’s mental-health overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/07/adhd-autism-overdiagnosis-wes-streeting #Attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder #Specialeducationalneeds #Learningdisability #Neurodiversity #WesStreeting #Mentalhealth #Politics #Society #Autism #Health #UKnews

Celebrating Dyslexia Day.

#dyslexia #dyslexiaawareness #adhd #dyslexic #autism #dyslexiaeducation #education #neurodiversity #dyslexiasupport #dysgraphia #specialeducation #dyslexiaadvocate #dyscalculia #saydyslexia #ortongillingham #dyspraxia #learningdisabilities #neurodivergent #learningdisability #specialneeds #scienceofreading #mentalhealth #reading #dyslexicthinking #madebydyslexia #structuredliteracy #autismawareness #dyslexiaisreal #learning…

https://itsmostamazingindia.wordpress.com/2025/10/08/celebrating-dyslexia-day/

Neath care leader’s ‘Sunday dinner’ idea brings families together – and earns him award nomination

For Rob Hayward, food has become much more than a meal – it’s a way of reconnecting people with learning disabilities to their loved ones.

Rob, who works as a peripatetic service manager with M&D Care, came up with the idea of hosting “Family Sunday Dinners” inside the service’s homes. The concept is straightforward: once a month, two families are invited to sit down with their loved ones for a traditional roast, prepared by chefs and served in a homely dining room.

For many of the people supported by M&D Care, this was something they had never experienced before. Complex needs and behaviours that challenge had often made shared mealtimes too difficult in the past.

“One of the mothers told me it was the first time she had ever sat down and had a meal with her child,” Rob said. “That really brought home how important this was. We just wanted to create a safe, welcoming space where families could share those moments together.”

Transforming family life By applying Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) principles, Rob and his colleagues worked to reduce the triggers that had previously made mealtimes stressful. Structured routines, sensory adjustments and tailored support strategies helped people feel comfortable and in control.

The result has been described as “life‑changing.”

Abbi‑Lee Bevan, M&D Care’s business development director, who nominated Rob for the award, said:

“For the first time, families were able to sit down together and enjoy a meal with their loved ones in a homely, welcoming environment. What was once considered ‘too risky’ became a cherished tradition, strengthening family bonds and creating a true sense of belonging.”

A career built on care Rob has worked in social care for 18 years, starting as a PBS practitioner before moving into management. In his current role, he supports specialist homes across Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

He admits he was “shocked” to be nominated in the Leading Practice in Learning Disability category at this year’s Wales Care Awards, but says the recognition is a privilege.

“I absolutely love what I do and feel I’ve found a career for life,” he said. “I’m passionate about making a difference, and I’m lucky to work with colleagues who share that same drive.”

Celebrating the sector The Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales, will take place at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday 17 October.

Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the awards were about recognising the dedication of frontline staff:

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner. The event underlines the importance of the social care sector – it is the glue that binds our communities together.”

Rob’s Family Sunday Dinners may have started as a simple idea, but for the families who now gather around the table, it has created memories they thought they might never have.

Rob joins a growing list of inspirational local finalists we’ve featured this year, including a Port Talbot care home worker described as a ‘social care Oscar’ newcomer, a Swansea grandfather who turned redundancy into a new career in care, a Pontardawe cook who brought tears of joy with her catering success, and a Swansea care worker whose creativity has made residents’ dreams come true.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Port Talbot care home worker shortlisted for ‘social care Oscars’
Selomy Dampies recognised for her innovative work at Llys y Seren Care Home.

Swansea grandfather who turned redundancy into opportunity is toasting national awards glory
Leslie Whelan’s inspiring career change earns him a national nomination.

Tears of joy as care home cook June serves up success
June Tong’s passion for food and residents’ happiness wins her recognition.

Award glory beckons for outgoing care worker
Swansea’s Teri Edwards shortlisted for her leadership and creativity in care.

#Care #careAwards #CareForumWales #FamilySundayDinners #LearningDisability #MDCare #Neath #PositiveBehaviourSupport #WalesCareAwards

Handle a Meltdown with your special needs child or Adult with Autism #Autism #Meltdown #LearningDisability #AutismSupport #SpecialNeeds

Again and again, we are shocked by the treatment of learning-disabled people. Yet we never learn from the past | John Harris https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/20/learning-disabled-people-book-winterbourne-view #Learningdisability #VirginiaWoolf #Disability #Society #UKnews #Books

Avoidable deaths in adults with learning disabilities | Our research | Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory

"...Young adults (25-34 yrs) with learning disabilities are 9 times more likely to die of treatable causes of death..."

Difficult to read. Shocking stats here in Scotland.

https://sldo.ac.uk/our-research/determinants-of-health-and-inequalities-research/life-expectancy-and-mortality/avoidable-deaths-in-adults-with-learning-disabilities/

#LearningDisability #Disability #Scotland #Mortality #Health

University of Kentucky: Hatcher developing tools to support people with Dyscalculia. “Dyscalculia is not a well-known disability, which means that people who experience it have limited help. Jay Hatcher aims to change that. Dyscalculia affects a person’s ability to work with numbers and do math. Hatcher, a software engineer for HDI, is developing an app called Ucalculia, which aims to […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/01/18/university-of-kentucky-hatcher-developing-tools-to-support-people-with-dyscalculia/

With #LearningDisability #learningdisabilityweek coming up next week, here's a talk I gave on a mindmap alternative which is already proving useful to people with dyspraxia #learning #Neurodiversity

Recap if you're new: I'm an ex-news reporter, social affairs corr, housing ed, 20yrs a Guardian writer. Now I write/edit freelance, mostly on #LearningDisability Book: Made Possible. New book, 2025. I chair Sibs, UK charity for disabled people's siblings. I parent teens and I'm Raana's sister⬇️

There is a lot of underdiscussed ableist bullshit in #academia ( #AcademicChatter ) this paper highlights. But there is an interesting and important thing there - at least 10% of academics in #STEM (with a PhD) have a #LearningDisability !
Don't let LD stop you from aiming high
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01745-z
(I actually think there is a lot of under-reporting there; high intelligence can mask for some LD)

💡 Exploring the Intraparietal Sulcus (IPS) and its connection to dyscalculia reveals its crucial role in numerical processing. Dyscalculia, a learning disability, is linked to impaired function in the IPS, affecting the Approximate Number System (ANS). Understanding Weber's Law helps explain how numerical distinctions are made. Enhancing awareness can improve educational strategies for those affected. #Dyscalculia #NumericalProcessing #WeberLaw #IntraparietalSulcus #LearningDisability 💡

@teamseaslug https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_0ssPfsG0w/?igsh=MXRyc3MxYWR2bXlmbA== too

https://zeroes.ca/@broadwaybabyto/113139346271888129

And #disability #disabilityPrideMonth #accessibility #EaseOfAccess #sensoryImpairment #learningDifficulty (which is not the same as) #LearningDisability except some people also use #SpLD and #neurodivergence in a group could be one #neurodivergent person etc.

You can follow these hashtags or similar ones and try asking there too. Best to get varied perspectives since no one individual experiences everything

When I drop my housemate at uni (she works there), we'll often pop past McDonald's so she can get an iced coffee. I'll use the app to order for her, especially if I have points to get it for free.

The app gives an order number made up of 2 letters and two digits for you to tell the drive through person... which means looking at the code on my phone and remembering it to tell the person, harder than it sounds for someone who has adhd, dyslexia and dyscalculia.

So, I make up images...
LR36 - 36 lesbian rogues
TH95 - 95 tiny hitlers
MB42 - 42 monkey butts

...I'm dreading the day I forget to translate it back to the code and just yell FIFTY FOUR OTTER DICKS at some poor customer service person trying to do their job.

#audhd #autism #adhd #disability #neurodiverse #LearningDisability #dyslexia #dyscalculia #disabled