Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul Ridley

@paulridley5.bsky.social

550 followers 1.3K following 1.4K posts

Minnesota Vikings NFL is my passion, happily married & proud father of of my grown up children with Autism & Aspergers. Parent & Carer & campaigner @PaulRidley5on x/twitter

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · Jan 4

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

'I gave up my job to care for my son and I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy'

The toll on unpaid carers - one in eight adults in the UK - has been unending during the pandemic after a reduction in support from paid carers, day centres and respite care

www.mirror.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

Haringey sorry for 1,100 unread social work emails www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Haringey: Over 1,000 social work emails unread at Baby P council

The report's findings have been described as

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

Letters: I've never met someone with a learning disability earning £30,000 a year www.bigissue.com/life/letters...

Letters: I've never met someone with a learning disability earning £30,000

If you have a learning disability you've no chance of earning even the basic minimum needed to live a decent life, says a reader.

www.bigissue.com

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

‘Best practice’ guidance promised for SEN units schoolsweek.co.uk/best-practic...

SEND: Guidance on mainstream school units to be published

The government will publish 'best practice' guidance for mainstream schools to open and run SEN units, resourced provision and pupil support units in February.

schoolsweek.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

After 40 years as an autistic person in the workplace, I realised it was OK to ask for changes www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

After 40 years as an autistic person in the workplace, I realised it was OK to ask for changes | Sandra Thom-Jones

Many autistic people face barriers due to stereotypes and ableist assumptions, including the belief that the neurotypical way of working is the only right way

www.theguardian.com

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

EastEnders' Kellie Bright on the challenges of being parent of an autistic child www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

EastEnders' Kellie Bright on the challenges of being a Send parent

The soap actor meets families fighting for their children’s education for BBC Panorama.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

Reason why I had to step back "Milton Keynes lady has fare avoidance charges cancelled after MKFM intervention" www.mkfm.com/news/local-n...

Milton Keynes lady has fare avoidance charges cancelled after MKFM intervention

It is a journey that Christina Ridley has taken daily for a decade; travelling from Wolverton to Central Milton Keynes for work.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 3d

The rise of women with autism diagnoses: 'We mask until it blows up'
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The rise of women with autism diagnoses: 'We mask until it blows up'

Molly Siobhan Parker is on a quest to dispel myths around autism - especially autistic women.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

My Care Story: ‘Social workers witnessed my isolation, documented it and did nothing’ www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/02/m...

My Care Story: ‘Social workers witnessed my isolation, documented it and did nothing’ - Community Care

A care experienced woman recalls the emotional neglect and isolation she endured in foster care, and practitioners' failure to intervene

www.communitycare.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

Reform Send system now or face billions in extra costs, ministers warned www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Send costs will rise by billions without reforms, ministers told

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says more than 200,000 extra children will need Send support by 2029.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

How to support people with learning disabilities as they grow older
www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/interviews/h...

How to support people with learning disabilities as they grow older - Learning Disability Today

In this interview, Kate Brackly and Lindsey Allen from Bild discuss the work of the Growing Older with Learning Disabilities (GOLD) group and the importance of supporting health across the lifespan.

www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

Call for GPs to contact suicidal patients' families www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Call for law to make GPs contact suicidal patients' families

Two mothers have called for GPs to tell families if a patient says they plan to kill themselves.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

Majority of London students feel overwhelmed by cost of living crisis, survey finds thetab.com/2025/10/03/m...

Majority of London students feel overwhelmed by cost of living crisis, survey finds

One student says costs are 'absolutely unbearable, especially coming from a working-class background'

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 6d

Autism service's sudden closure is 'devastating' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sudden closure of Autism Oxford UK is 'devastating'

Autism Oxford UK had spent more than two decades supporting autistic people and their families.

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

DWP PIP changes could impact all Blue Badge holders as millions warned www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news...

DWP PIP changes could impact all Blue Badge holders as millions warned

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed a review of the Personal Independence Payment assessment will be carried out

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Labour faces another mass rebellion over reforms to the universal credit system, MPs fear www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Labour faces another mass rebellion over reforms to universal credit

Welfare secretary Pat McFadden plans further reforms to the benefits system, expected to include abolishing the work capability assessment.

www.bigissue.com

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Learning disability nursing workforce at risk of ‘imminent collapse’ www.nursingtimes.net/learning-dis...

Learning disability nursing workforce at risk of ‘imminent collapse’

A coalition of leading charities, campaigners and health organisations is warning of an imminent collapse in learning disability nursing.

www.nursingtimes.net

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

'I don't want to die': Man with Down's Syndrome 'starved to death' in hospital www.itv.com/news/2025-10...

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Parents at SEND school concerned after proposed hour cut www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/2550612...

Potential learning cuts at SEND school sparks concern among parents

Parents at Victoria Education Centre have voiced their concerns following a proposed plan to cut education hours.

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Exclusive: Streeting orders probe of mental illness overdiagnosis www.hsj.co.uk/mental-healt...

Exclusive: Streeting orders probe of mental illness overdiagnosis

The health and social care secretary is to launch a review of the prevalence of mental illness and neurodivergence, with a particular focus on whether some conditions are being overdiagnosed, HSJ can ...

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Starmer issues benefits warning for young people with mental illnesses www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Starmer issues benefits warning for young people with mental illnesses

The prime minister said he was concerned that young people on benefits could end up on welfare for life

www.independent.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

Young people see mental health impacted by cost of living crisis www.ftadviser.com/your-profess...

Young people see mental health impacted by cost of living crisis

More than two years into the UK’s cost of living crisis, the financial pressure is taking its toll on everyday lives, according to research by financial wellbeing provider Lifetime.

www.ftadviser.com

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 7d

From ‘refrigerator mothers’ to paracetamol: why harmful autism myths are so common theconversation.com/from-refrige...

From ‘refrigerator mothers’ to paracetamol: why harmful autism myths are so common

The science is clear: no link exists between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. What lingers is the harm caused when powerful voices spread misinformation.

theconversation.com

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 13d

Council must pay £3.5k to SEND pupil's family www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Family paid £3.5k by Walsall Council over SEND failings

An ombudsman finds the council had

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 13d

Education Committee SEND report: What the Government needs to do to fix system - and it's not scrapping EHCPs www.portsmouth.co.uk/education/ed...

What the Government needs to do to fix the SEND system - and it's not scrapping EHCPs

One recommendation is nationwide minimum standards for what SEN support schools need to offer 🏫

www.portsmouth.co.uk

Paul Ridley @paulridley5.bsky.social · 13d

DWP to scrap four key benefits by next March as Brits issued 'stark' warning www.mirror.co.uk/money/person...

DWP to scrap four key benefits by next March as Brits issued 'stark' warning

The legacy benefits are set to end as the Government moves claimants onto Universal Credit - people are being sent letters urging them to switch

www.mirror.co.uk