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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Learning Disabilities & Autism at Manchester Met @learningmet.bsky.social · Jun 30

On Friday, we had a great first meeting with a new oversight group - people with learning disabilities, autistic people & family carers. They will be giving feedback on our team's research. We've been calling them the Critical Friends group, but watch this space - they're working on a better name!

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · May 20

Wales

‘It had felt like David and Goliath.’

Didn’t know about JR, accusations against her unfounded, up against experienced barristers.

No level playing field, no justice.

A son who continues to be inappropriately placed, far from home.

openjusticecourtofprotection.org/2025/05/19/u...

Unsuccessful Application for Permission to Appeal

By Claire Martin, 19th May 2025 In May 2024, a year ago, Amanda Hill blogged about this case: “The protected party in this case (“L”) is a man in his twenties with “significant learning disability”…

openjusticecourtofprotection.org

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · May 11

Museum of the Second World War, Gdansk, Poland.

Aktion T4.

The caption to these pictures discuss the cost to the state of the annual keep up of people with disabilities.

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · May 1

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mental health law 'won't stop detentions'

Campaigners warn new mental health law will not reduce detention of disabled people in secure hospitals.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · May 1

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/protest-brin...

Protest brings anger at failure to act on ‘homes not hospitals’ plea to government’s front door

The Labour government has “betrayed” autistic people and people with learning difficulties who have been abused and abandoned in mental health institutions, activists told a protest in front of the…

www.disabilitynewsservice.com

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 30

Wales and north of England face disability cuts ‘double whammy’

Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 30

Should benefit claimants risk having their bank accounts spied upon and driving licences revoked? I don’t think so | Neil Duncan-Jordan

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 18

The SHRC appeared before the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee to discuss their report. The detention of people with LD and autism is a human rights issue. Their work here regarding the CRPD and HR Act is so important.

www.scottishhumanrights.com/blog/tick-to...

“Tick Tock” While we talk, people are waiting

“Tick Tock” – While we talk, people are waiting

www.scottishhumanrights.com

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 18

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

‘Every day she begs for help’: Father fights for daughter to be freed from hospital

Exclusive: Government will miss target to get people with learning disabilities out of hospital by more than 8 years

www.independent.co.uk

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 17

2. We need less hospitals in Wales and more, better quality community-based care.
Stolen Lives will continue to fight on this issue and will always remain true to its values: 'Homes not Hospitals.'

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 17

1. It has been one year since Stolen Lives protested outside the Senedd.
Detention of people with learning disabilities and autistic people is a human rights issue. It results in harm, abuse and long-term trauma.

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Naomi L. Jacobs @naomijacobs.bsky.social · Apr 9

I should have tagged @dawnc05.bsky.social in this thread! Thank you Dawn 👏

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Sue Caton @suecaton.bsky.social · Apr 9

Absolutely brilliant talk by @dawnc05.bsky.social today at @learningmet.bsky.social. Not easy to listen to the awful experiences she shares, but so in awe of the Dawn’s commitment to challenge and protest.

Naomi L. Jacobs @naomijacobs.bsky.social · Apr 9

Our speaker for today’s @learningmet.bsky.social seminar is our own Dr Dawn Cavanagh, speaking about her organisation’s work for people with learning disabilities & autistic people in locked wards and for independent living. Stolen Lives, Activism & the Role of Academia in Defending Human Rights. 🧵

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Apr 1

Speaking about Stolen Lives at MMU on April 9th.

In person and online.

You can sign up here.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stolen-liv...

Stolen Lives, activism and the role of academia in defending human rights

The Learning Disability & Autism Research Group at Manchester Met welcome guest speaker Dr Dawn Cavanagh.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

medmentalhealth.bsky.social @medmentalhealth.bsky.social · Mar 30

We are very pleased to share our refreshed project website with our new information toolkit resources to support people with learning disabilities with mental health medications www.medmentalhealth.net @profkrc.bsky.social @dawnc05.bsky.social @learningmet.bsky.social @chrishutchrnld.bsky.social

Medications and My Mental Health

www.medmentalhealth.net

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 30

Labour's historic attack on disabled people is already wrecking lives. Just ask Kevin | John Harris

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 27

@mrjamesob.bsky.social 4 point element is not for consultation.

Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 26

#StolenLives says NO to cuts
#DisabilityBenefits #WelfareNotWarfare

People with learning disabilities and their families are already struggling.

People are hospitalised because services and support are not there.

Please do not make an already bad situation worse.

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 24

Great to be part of this collaboration.

Epistemic violence can damage the ability of autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have experienced solitary confinement to speak and be heard.

It deserves to be exposed and seen for what it is.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Long-term segregation and seclusion for people with an intellectual disability and/or autism in hospitals: critique of the current state of affairs: commentary, Quinn et al | The British Journal of Ps...

Long-term segregation and seclusion for people with an intellectual disability and/or autism in hospitals: critique of the current state of affairs: commentary, Quinn et al

www.cambridge.org

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Mar 22

Don’t let any one tell you that cutting disability benefits is about making “savings.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Councils and NHS could face millions in extra costs due to disability benefit cuts

Government plans for Pip cuts will drive up costs for local authority social care services and NHS, campaigners warn

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 22

Diolch yn fawr, Carol! ❤️

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 22

www.change.org/p/savestephe...

Sign the Petition

#SaveStephen: Stop His Eviction from Old Orchard Care Home Due to Funding Cuts

www.change.org

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Mar 18

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.

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Reposted by Dr Dawn Cavanagh

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Mar 14

One more time for ministers at the back: it’s entirely possible to be a taxpayer and to receive benefits.

As someone currently in the mid-tax band and on PIP, I’m more than happy for my earnings to help people who can’t work - and to pick up the state support I’m entitled to.

But Reeves herself seems in no mood to back down. In an interview on BBC Breakfast this morning, where she was responding to the growth figures, Reeves was asked about the plans for welfare cuts. She replied:

We will set out our plans for welfare reform, but it is absolutely clear that the current system is not working for anyone.
It is not working for people who need support, it’s not working to get people into work so that more people can fulfil their potential, and it’s not working for the taxpayer when the bill for welfare is going up by billions of pounds in the next few years.
So, we do need to get a grip. We need to spend more on national defence, but we need to reform our public services, and we need to reform our broken welfare system.

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Dr Dawn Cavanagh @dawnc05.bsky.social · Mar 14

But the disabled can go throw themselves under a bus.