Learning Disabilities &amp; Autism at Manchester Met

Local authority staff: Do you handle or receive complaints from family carers of adults with learning disabilities? The Complaints research project at Manchester Met is exploring experiences of social care complaints. We'd like to hear your views. 1/2

If you work (or have recently worked) in local authority adult social care, please join our online focus groups on 24th or 26th Nov. Your views will help us create resources for families, local authorities and professionals. Please share! (2/2) #SocialWork #SocialCare #LearningDisability #Research

Our seminar speaker today is Charlie Grosset, PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield @sheffielduni.bsky.social. Dis/human: Centring Disabled People in Care as the Driver of Human Inquiry. Research on recognising #disabled people who care for others, challenging ableism in care systems. 🧵

Stories of people who disengaged from violent care systems, left to care for each other without support. Bartos’ concept of “uncare” - violence embedded in systems. The conditions of care disable further. Ableist systems are harmful - a routine feature. There are more ambitious ways of viewing care.

Thanks to Charlie for a fascinating presentation with real implications for care and disability policy in the UK, and for the way we think about disability, #care and welfare/support systems.

Carer’s Allowance criteria assume care moves from a non-disabled person to a disabled person. PIP/DLA - caring could be seen as evidence of capacity/ability to work. Participants told not entitled to CA because disabled; others hid their carer status. System positions carers as non-disabled.

Also found that care is messy and involves support networks - not a one-way thing. “The system doesn’t see it that way. It sees individual neat little boxes: carer, disabled, worker, mother” - participant. Neoliberal system aims for unsupported care. Care should be better supported within the system

Census data also shows significant percentages of carers are disabled themselves. Estimated value of care that disabled people provide: £52.36bn. (Disability benefit bill is £28.6bn). Ideology around whose lives are valued & economic discussion has impact on policy e.g. ‘pathways to work’.

“A dis/human position means we recognise the norm… [&] seek to trouble the norm” (Goodley, Runswick-Cole). Questioning norms around caring & ideologies about who cares. Participants talked about concealing care (fear of what might happen e.g. losing PIP) & missing out on support for themselves.

Disabled people are represented as a ‘problem’ and burden to non-disabled carers. Historically, disabled people have been subjected to painful therapies, forced sterilisation & other violence in the name of ’care’. Draws on research on how care systems are intrinsically ableist.

Participants said government doesn’t want to talk about disabled people who are also carers. Timms review people - no mention of who receive both PIP & carers’ allowance. DWP’s own stats show 21.4% of people claiming carers’ allowance also claim PIP/DLA/AA. Hundreds of thousands of people ignored.

Charlie (he/him)’s research draws on critical disability studies and feminist work on care. Disabled people are considered only as people who are cared for, in research and policy. Need to recognise that disabled people have & always will care for others. Cw: discussion of violence in care systems

eventbrite.comDis/human - Centring Disabled People in Care as the Driver of Human InquiryThe Learning Disabilities and Autism Research Group invites you to a hybrid seminar.

Join us for our next seminar on Weds 14th Oct, 12pm BST with Charlie Grosset (@sheffielduni.bsky.social), sharing research with disabled people who care for others, arguing that we must recognise disabled people's contributions & challenge ableism in care systems. www.eventbrite.com/e/dishuman-c...

eventbrite.co.ukLessons for challenging social murder from a lifetime working in disasterJoin Lucy Easthope, Visiting Professor of Social Justice and Bereavement, for a discussion on challenging social murder.

As part of the Social Murder Festival, we're hearing from Lucy Easthope today, on Lessons for Challenging Social Murder from a Lifetime Working in Disaster www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lessons-fo...

Bearing witness in activism. Frustrates her that grieving families and marginalised people have to call out injustice - takes "constant vigilance". Has seen the state do terrible things to people who speak out, but we need to be braver than ever. "The one thing the state is afraid of is a chorus."

Thank you to @lucygobag.bsky.social for a powerful, brave and appropriately critical talk. The call to collective activism has been a theme of the Social Murder Festival, to shine a light on social murder and refuse to accept it. Thanks to @sarasiobhan.bsky.social and the team for the week's events.

As part of the Social Murder Festival, we're hearing from Lucy Easthope today, on Lessons for Challenging Social Murder from a Lifetime Working in Disaster www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lessons-fo...

Talks about Grenfell disaster, where disabled people were widely placed - social erasure thru the 'stay put' policy which condemned people to death; authorities' knowledge of the risks. Impairment was on death certificates, making people look complicit in their won deaths - diagnostic overshadowing.

Pandemic planning was based on "triage" (involved looking at comorbidities) - it took other people calling this eugenics before Prof Easthope realised people with learning disabilities paid a high price for triage policies. The Darwinian approach to planning continues.

As part of the Social Murder Festival, we're hearing from Lucy Easthope today, on Lessons for Challenging Social Murder from a Lifetime Working in Disaster www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lessons-fo...

Has been censured for using "social murder" for preventable deaths of learning disabled people - using @sarasiobhan.bsky.social 's work - but these are people murdered because of the decisions of those in power. Uses Engels to challenge - when society *know* and does *nothing* this is murder.

Notes widespread use of the term "complex" and "complexity" in disasters. Used to silence people & families. Gets resistance to use of 'institutional racism' - but starkly true that learning disabled adults die on average aged 34 (62 for white learning disabled people; 81 for non-disabled people).

As part of the Social Murder Festival, we're hearing from Lucy Easthope today, on Lessons for Challenging Social Murder from a Lifetime Working in Disaster www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lessons-fo...

Prof Easthope talks about her early experiences of the Hillsborough disaster and her decades of research and social justice activism since. Distrust of the state. In all the disasters she has covered, "choices were made." "The plans of government have no space for human complexity and messiness."

Discussed the importance of keeping a contemporary archive of events, e.g. on social media, which she began doing on X during the Covid pandemic. Vital activism and reporting by @georgejulian.bsky.social 's work blogging/sharing the inquests of learning disabled and autistic people.

As part of the Social Murder Festival, we're hearing from Lucy Easthope today, on Lessons for Challenging Social Murder from a Lifetime Working in Disaster www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lessons-fo...

hachette.co.ukWhen the Dust SettlesLucy's new book Come What May: Life-changing Lessons for Building Resilience and Hope is OUT NOW The thrilling, unputdownable true story of a life lived a...

[Thread] Professor Lucy Easthope is Visiting Professor of Social Justice and Bereavement in our department, the UK's leading expert on disaster recovery, and the author of 'When The Dust Settles: Searching for Hope After Disaster.' @lucygobag.bsky.social www.hachette.co.uk/titles/lucy-...

eventbrite.co.ukFamily Experience of the Court of ProtectionPlease join the Learning Disability and Autism Research Group for their next seminar with Amanda Hill.

3 June

Our next research seminar is next Weds 10th June at 12 (online). We'll be hearing from Amanda Hill about research with family members into their experiences of the Court of Protection - an under-researched area - which is rooted in Amanda's own experiences. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-exp...

eventbrite.co.ukOut of area residential homes for people with learning disabilitiesThe Learning Disabilities & Autism Research Group invites you to Out of area residential homes for people with learning disabilities.

11 May

Join us for our monthly seminar on Weds (13th May) at 12pm with Dave Wilson. Dave's research explores the experiences of families of people with learning disabilities who are placed in 'out of area' residential homes, away from their families and communities. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/out-of-are...

11 Mar

Our research seminar today is on autistic people’s experiences of cancer and cancer services, with @georgiarivers.bsky.social , @kmunday.bsky.social cial, Char Goodwin and Rosie Tansley. See @naomijacobs.bsky.social 's thread here for more! bsky.app/profile/naom...

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9 Mar

We're researching experiences of complaints about social care for family carers of people with learning disabilities. Please get in touch with Francesca below if you're interested in taking part. #Complaints #LearningDisability

Francesca Ribenfors@francescaribenfors.bsky.social

We're looking for people to take part in research exploring experiences of adult social care complaints. Please get in touch if you are interested in sharing your experiences or would like to know more about the research. f.ribenfors@mmu.ac.uk complaingaboutcomplaints.my.canva.site/complaints/

uncurbed.co.ukHome | Uncurbed CollectiveDisabled-led performance, arts and theatre company. Unapologetic. Uncompromising. Uncurbed.

11 Feb

Brilliant seminar with #UncurbedCollective today - a #disability arts company based here in Manchester. They wove together performance and discussion. The collective reflected on how they are working to co-create theatre and share power (in organising and performance). uncurbed.co.uk?gad_source=1...

11 Feb

The collective reflected on power - exploring it through drama, gatekeeping in the arts, how they make decisions together. Can we value behavioural consent/'no' as much as much as verbal? What does taking responsibility involve? They aim to challenge the 'accepted'. Thank you for sharing your work!

eventbrite.co.ukAutistic People's Experiences of Cancer and Cancer ServicesThe Learning Disabilities and Autism Research Group at Manchester Met invites you to a online seminar about autism and cancer

6 Feb

Please join us online on 11th March for our next (extended) research group seminar, on autistic people’s experiences of cancer and cancer services. Speakers: @kmunday.bsky.social, @georgiarivers.bsky.social, Char Goodwin and Rosie Tansley. Sign up at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autistic-p... #AutRes

chrishatton.blogspot.comChris Hatton's blog

17 Dec 2025

The latest in Chris Hatton's blog series on 2024/5 social care stats & adults with learning disabilities - on finances. "Spending less isn't any kind of solution - working with people with learning disabilities and those close to them to spend it better is." chrishatton.blogspot.com/2025/12/soci...

essl.leeds.ac.ukSchool of Law academics tackle Parent Blame in new edited collectionProfessor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello have published a new edited book titled 'Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional Failure and Complex Trauma' with Policy Press.

Today's seminar is from Professor Luke Clements & Dr Ana Laura Aiello @lawatleeds.bsky.social - findings from their book 'Understanding Parent Blame' - research with families on traumatising social care experiences, in policy & legal context, and campaigns for change essl.leeds.ac.uk/law/news/art...

System-generated trauma: Dealing with the system was families' most traumatic experience. Family courts were intimidating. Iatrogenic harm from medical professionals. Structural violence (those in power cause harm by doing nothing). Change in systems can be so slow, despite research & evidence. 4/

Qs: How to change stuck systems (influence at local level?) Importance of gender & intersectionality (mothers particularly blamed). It was important to families to have evidence through research. Thanks to Prof Clements & Dr Aiello for such important research. #DisabilityStudies #AcademicSky 5/5

Parent Blame Report - families said LA social care assessments were traumatising; a focus on safeguarding/child protection rather than support was intimidating, intrusive; lack of training; unlawful practices. Campaigning for change to policies - statutory guidance should have a focus on support. 2/

The book argues that change requires social care professionals to think & act differently and to start with the assumption that parents are the best placed to understand their child, their needs & preferences. Worked with parent groups who said expertise is not always recognised/taken seriously. 3/

eventbrite.co.ukUnderstanding Parent BlameThe Learning Disability and Autism Research Group invites you to a hybrid seminar with Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello

2 Dec 2025

Please share: Join us online or in-person on 10th December 2025 (12pm-1pm) for our next seminar: Understanding Parent Blame with guest speakers Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello. All welcome! More info and booking at the link below: #LearningDisabilityResearch #AcademicSky #AutRes

Learning Disabilities & Autism at Manchester Met reposted

House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Committee

@hlautismactcom.parliament.uk

24 Nov 2025

🚨 ♾ Our report out yesterday calls on HM Government to deliver an effective new autism strategy. Open this link committees.parliament.uk/committee/77... to view the following: - Full report - Easy Read report - Report summary with conclusions and recommendations - Shorthand

committees.parliament.ukNew autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people - Committees - UK ParliamentThis is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy’.&...

scienceopen.com“I Just Didn’t Fit into the Way That They Did Church”: Barriers to Access and Participation for Disabled People in UK Churches<p xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" class="first" dir="auto" id="d1540803e97">Disabled people have rights to practise their religions under equality and human rights l...

12 Nov 2025

New article from team member Naomi Jacobs, sharing findings from research with disabled members of churches on the right to participate in religious institutions, in the light of the Equality Act www.scienceopen.com/document?vid...

12 Nov 2025

We had a great Research Group seminar today from Dr Nathan Keates, on Autistic Relations: Like-mindedness, Identities and Community. Through comedy improvisation, Nathan's research explores autistic people's ways of being social - as distinctive rather than a problem. #AutRes #AcademicSky 1/3

london.sunderland.ac.ukNathan KeatesI work as a lecturer at the University of Sunderland in London having joined the Health and Social Care department in 2023. I teach on both the foundation and top-up programmes.

12 Nov 2025

2/3 Comedy challenges ideas of what is normal. There may be "like-mindedness" between autistic people but everyone is different. Which identities are we afforded (allowed)? Reflected on autistic spaces, culture & challenges to these. More on Nathan's work here london.sunderland.ac.uk/about/staff/...

eventbrite.co.ukAutistic Relations: Like-mindedness, Identities, and CommunityThe Learning Disabilities and Autism Research Group invites you to a hybrid seminar by Dr Nathan Keates

11 Nov 2025

Please share! Reminder to please join us tomorrow (online or in-person @manmetuni.bsky.social) for the next free event in our research group seminar series. Please click the link below for information and booking: #AutRes #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismResearch #AcademicSky

Learning Disabilities & Autism at Manchester Met@learningmet.bsky.social

Please join us online and in-person this Wednesday (12th November) for the next event in our seminar series with Dr Nathan Keates - ' #Autistic Relations: Link-mindedness, Identities, and Community'. The event is free to attend and all are welcome! Please follow the link for more info and booking:

eventbrite.co.ukAutistic Relations: Like-mindedness, Identities, and CommunityThe Learning Disabilities and Autism Research Group invites you to a hybrid seminar by Dr Nathan Keates

10 Nov 2025

chrishatton.blogspot.comEmployment and adults with learning disabilities in England - 2024/25 updateTowards the end of October each year, the government publishes statistics about adult social care for England for the previous financial yea...

30 Oct 2025

Updates on #Employment #Statistics for adults with #LearningDisabilities 2025/25 from Professor Chris Hatton's blog: chrishatton.blogspot.com/2025/10/empl... #AutRes #AcademicSky #Statistics #LearningDisabilityResearch

Learning Disabilities & Autism at Manchester Met reposted

Emma Gleave

@egleave1.bsky.social

30 Sept 2025

Professionals with experience of providing psychological therapy to adults with learning disabilities needed for research to develop a therapeutic working alliance measure for this population. Click here: forms.gle/L8TYrjxBBGhC... Please share @learningmet.bsky.social #LearningDisabilityResearch

forms.gleDeveloping a working alliance measure for adults with intellectual disabilities: Focus groupPrimary researcher: Emma Gleave, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, University of Sheffield Research supervisors: Dr Gregg Rawlings, Prof Nigel Beail, and Dr Nik Vlissides

3 Oct 2025

Please share! The @digitallifeline.bsky.social project is looking for family carers, supporters, and professionals to take part in a research workshop about their experiences of supporting people with learning disabilities who received free digital devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. #AcademicSky

Digital Lifeline Research @digitallifeline.bsky.social

Are you a #FamilyCarer or professional of an adult with a #LearningDisability in England? Did they receive a free device during the COVID-19 pandemic? Join our online research workshop to share your experiences: #AcademicSky #AutRes #LearningDisabilities #DigitalInclusion