Fostering open communication between young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the staff they interact with regularly could be key in identifying and preventing exploitation and modern slavery, a new study suggests.…

The government has announced a £22.6 million funding boost to enhance the lives of unpaid carers across the UK. The initiative, which will roll out next week under the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF), aims to…

The national charity Cerebra has released a detailed guide to self-injury in children with learning disabilities, aiming to support parents and carers in understanding and addressing these behaviours. Self-injury involves actions initiated by the child…

Disabled people face significant barriers to accessing quality employment, contributing to rising numbers of work-related disability benefit claimants, according to a new report by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. The report, Unlocking Benefits: Tackling Barriers for…

New data reveals that over 200,000 people in England are currently waiting for an autism assessment, marking a 25% rise in the last year and a staggering 96% increase over two years. Of these, 89.4%—around…

A long-term study to monitor and analyse the health of individuals with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood has been launched by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Down Syndrome Cohort Development Program…

The government is reviewing whether disabled people in England should be allowed to claim more than the current £30,000 cap under the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The grant, which helps fund essential home adaptations like…

A recent survey has revealed that 81% of councils are projected to overspend their adult social care budgets by March 2025, marking the highest level of overspending on record. The trend has worsened over the…

New research published in BJPsych Open has revealed substantial inconsistencies in service provision for people with epilepsy and learning disabilities across England. A study examining nine Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in the Midlands found that…

A reimagined version of Cinderella, specially designed for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities, is set to open in London. Titled Sensory Cinders, the show will run from 2 to 5 November at Soho…

Researchers at the University of Roehampton have developed "Take Note," a new musical resource to support people with dementia. Take Note includes a website and a set of 100 activity cards designed to help carers…

Four major autism charities are urging the government to address a critical crisis affecting thousands of people awaiting autism diagnoses and facing inadequate care. This call follows a recent report by the Care Quality Commission…