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

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.

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.