By Rhiannon Ansemous Introduction Across the UK, individuals with autism and learning disabilities are supported by services that are expected to promote safety, wellbeing, and a meaningful life. Yet in many settings, the concept of “risk” has become a dominant organising force—often at the expense of autonomy, dignity, and happiness (Beadle-Brown et al., 2016; CQC, 2020). When risk management eclipses a person’s right to joy, connection, and agency, the result is not safety,

This article will look briefly at the long history of abusive practices at the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock treatment.

This is the first in a series of articles in which Professor Andrew McDonnell attempts to outline the transition from locked wards in hospitals to community placements, in collaboration with Lives Through Friends. Compassionate care in the community can be more therapeutic than hospital placements In 2011, the BBC Panorama Winterbourne View documentary caused great public outcry and a commitment from the government to reduce the number of beds in secure units for individuals

Dr. Daniel Rippon, a lecturer at the University of Northumbria, writes about his recent research into the effects of restrictive practice on the stress and well-being of frontline mental healthcare staff. There has been much debate about the use of restrictive practices to de-escalate the distress of care recipients in healthcare settings. In 2017, figures from 40 mental healthcare trusts were released showing that there were 59,808 reported incidences in which care recipient