Published on 12, July, 2020
Did anyone see this programme on TV a few days ago? I was so shocked by what was exposed and find I am still thinking about it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63049874
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63061077
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/our-statement-on-bbc-panorama-undercover-hospital
The programme featured the story of a young autistic woman who was mistreated in an appalling way. The way she was treated understandably triggered meltdowns, which resulted in her being locked in a seclusion room for weeks at a time. Her possessions were taken away as a form of punishment.
The attitude of the staff was so cruel and demonstrated their complete lack of understanding of autism. One nurse even said that she should be put in prison, despite having not committed any crime, and that it would "take her down a peg or two"
It is more than 10 years since the Winterbourne scandal, yet little seems to have changed. Vulnerable autistic people are still being mistreated and abused. I don't know how anyone could treat another human being in such a horrific way. I suspect there will be many more similar instances that are never discovered.
This all happened in a NHS hospital, where the patients should be receiving care and help to recover. Sadly there wasn't much in the way of any help apparent from the programme.
Yes, that program had a profound impact on me too when I saw it.
Take that together with the recent BBC Scotland expose of autistic folk locked up in high security mental health situations and the testimony of people like Alexis Quinn in her book Unbroken.
Autistic people are being locked away because their Autism is not recognised, or it is recognised but they do not get Autism informed support when they need it, and in the worst case scenarios are actively mistreated and made worse by a system that is supposed to care for them.
My tax £££ are being used to abuse people like me who need our help. Yes, I felt sick watching that program. How is that poor lass ever going to get over that state sponsored trauma. And given that they once almost sectioned me the thought: "There but for the grace of God, go I" did go through my head. I didn't sleep easy after seeing that.
The BBC is also state-run. Just sayin'!