Yet Again

You're right Perdu and Giddy. Accounts in the press and on this forum about the abuse of autistic people in Assessment and Treament Units make it clear that very urgent action is required. It is no exaggeration to say that lives are at risk, and sanity too.

Naively, I thought an autism diagnosis would prevent behaviour being misunderstood and inappropriately punished. I wrongly assumed Assessment and Treatment Units would aim to mimimise distress and encourage coping and self-soothing strategies. 

If the person being abused (or a relative or supporter) speaks up, the establishment moves in and attempts to destroy their credibility. There are so many precedents - Connor Sparrowhawk and Sara Ryan, Beth and her Dad, other cases we cannot name. 

I'm still reeling from the fact that Alexis had to flee the country and live in exile to be safe. Fortunately she had the resources to save herself, but most autistic people don't. We need to feel safe, we need to feel understood, we need to feel confident that Assessment and Treatment Units will not abuse us.  

We need confirmation that NAS is pursuing this with the utmost rigour and urgency. 

The people responsible must be held to account for this appalling abuse.  

the biggest problem is these units are run for profit by private companies that's why in my opinion autistic people are being held there against theirs and their families will because its profitable

the biggest problem is these units are run for profit by private companies that's why in my opinion autistic people are being held there against theirs and their families will because its profitable

Sunflower said:

There have been repercussions, some of which were extremely nasty and potentially dangerous. I was disappointed in colleagues and managers who would not speak up and even helped to cover up. 

I've found that most NTs have a very flexible moral compass. They can easily become blind if it suits them.

So true - I remember reading research on long term outcomes for whistleblowers years ago - needless to say they usually weren't good.

More recently I heard a radio interview with a care worker who was struggling to get work after drawing attention to unacceptable care standards in her previous work setting. It's very depressing.

I've always spoken up about institutional abuse, criminal activity at work and financial irregularities. Paying a high price in employment terms was better than losing my integrity. 

There have been repercussions, some of which were extremely nasty and potentially dangerous. I was disappointed in colleagues and managers who would not speak up and even helped to cover up. 

Yes, that perception and assumption is really unhelpful. It's a bit the same with getting older - I am sometimes treated as an 'old dear' who can't manage to do things myself. 

the trouble is society on the whole including the NHS sees mental health problems as a problem that can't be fixed so why bother we don't contribute we don't matter physical problems like broken limbs kidney/ liver/heart issues as tangible fixable so therefore worthy it really does depress me .. i have a disabled bus pass due to mobility and obviously mental health issues whenever i get on a bus the driver always takes the ticket from the machine and hands it to me like im incapable of removing it from the machine i have watched they don't do it for general paying passengers just those with disabled or elderly passes i know it sounds petty but it annoys me because its saying im incapable

This is the same problem in other areas - such as mentioned on JoeChips' 'Addiction' thread.  Private companies take over really effective NHS contracts, strip back the support and resources, and sick people suffer.  The last one I attended went from allowing people to attend every day for as long as they needed to (NHS) to setting a maximum of 12 weeks for 'recovery' - after which time you were signed out of service, and they claimed another mark on their performance targets.  People fall through the cracks that way.  One such attendee was 'successfully treated', and within a couple of months of signing out was living on the streets - leaving a charity to pick up the pieces of his life.

I once blew the whistle on institutional abuse - not in an ATU, but a special needs care home.  It wasn't quite Winterbourne View, but bad enough.  Verbal abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse... and, with one staff member in particular, strong suspicions of covert physical abuse.  A client even died in the home, and a verdict of neglect was delivered.  A colleague and I both went to CQC and gave statements about the home generally and this one staff member in particular.  Result?  The home was eventually shut down - but only because the group was bought out by a larger company, who down-sized as soon as they took control.  And the staff member?  He was suspended and the case went to court (which meant he found out who'd blown the whistle on him).  But he got off for lack of hard evidence.  As far as I know, he still works in care.  And he still lives in my town.  I see him around now and then.  Like all bullies (he used to brag about his fights), I think he's probably a coward at heart.  But it's unsettling all the same.  People who 'do the right thing' have a dilemma.  If they say nothing, they're complicit in the abuse.  If they say something, they then live in fear of possible repercussions.

You are right Giddy, the need to derive profit from service provision can seriously undermine the quality of care. A key factor is recruitment and retention of suitable staff. Although ATUs have announced and unannounced inspections this doesn't go anywhere near preventing abuse from occurring. 

Protection from abuse needs to be an intrinsic part of the culture of the establishment. In cases such as Alexis' staff fail to see the person as deserving of dignity and respect. They simply become the 'object' of treatment, coercion and enforced compliance. Family and friends who try to intervene are targeted and disempowered too. 

I am thinking too about members of staff who have tried to report institutional abuse, and been vilified and punished for it. This further undermines any attempt to keep people safe when they are at their most vulnerable.