General Chat

Please could I ask for your support,

This is something very close to my heart, not because I know Steven or his family because I do not. But because this young man reminds me so much of my own daughter who also has Autism and has extreme challenging behavior, it frightens me so much to think that this can happen to a person who's family can provide the real care and support that Steven needs.

Steven is a 20 year old man with autism. He loves music, swimming and Mr Bean.

Since December 2009, Steven has been incarcarated in a care home, against his and his family's wishes. He went away for three days respite as his father was unwell and hasn't been home since.

On 7th July, the London Borough of Hillingdon decided Steven would never be allowed to return to the family home as he is too great a risk.

Since being in the care home, occurances of his challenging behaviour have risen by over 300%.

In April, Steven was served a "Deprivation of Liberty" order as he escaped from the home and removed a man's glasses. No staff on duty noticed he was gone until he was out on the main road.

His clothes are repeatedly torn and he appears with bite marks on his arms and hands (not self inflicted).

He has tried to escape on several occassions.

He is repeatedly forced into a double bind situation where the managing aunthority create a situation that he finds difficult to understand and gets upset about. Steven reacts to the situation and then his reaction is used as evidence that he is too challenging.

In the last two weeks the London Borough of Hillingdon have cancelled Steven's much look foward to holiday and his overnight stays at home.

He is 20 years old and could be facing the rest of his life in an institution.

Important Links:

The online Petition:
http://www.Petitiononline.com/Steven/petition.html

The Radio 4 Interview:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t6gdq#p0096yw6

The BBC London News Interview:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9G1PHSHeuY

The Local Paper Report:
http://uxbridge.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/2010/07/uxbridge-father-pleads-for-aut.html

The Local Paper Follow Up Report:
http://uxbridge.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/2010/07/record-reaction-over-autism-st.html

The Report from Steven's Gym:
http://www.flexlifestyles.co.uk/support-steven-neary.html

Thank you for this covlass. It continues to show how little some authorities understand autism.

My daughter has Asperger's Syndrome and I have been campaigning to raise awareness of this condition for several years.

The lack of understanding and support by so many called 'professionals' in this case is appalling.



Cx

Dear Cynthia

Thank you for your support god bless you & your family xx

This kind of treatment really angers me Covlass.

I agree with you Cynthia & wish you and your family well
xx

Just signed. Hope it works.
Hilary x

Well I'll be adding my support to this. My son is 14 & was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome last year. He can be quite challenging at times & I would hate to think something like this could happen to him.

I have signed. I am old enough to have looked after sick people who spent their lives in mental hospital through treatment like this, when it was not necessary.

I have signed the Petition..

What a terrible situation for Steven and his family...lets hope the Authoriites see sense and return this young man to his loving family.


nicky

I have signed

Bee

Thank you to all those who have supported Steven so far xxx

nudge.....

Thank you
Please support this young man
x

N

I have just signed the petition, I have a granddaughter with Autism the family would go mad if this happened to her.!
The number of signatures now stands at 2076!
Leni

Pleae support not only Steven but his family, for whom this must be heart-breaking. Having 2 grandchildren with severe Autism, I understand the heartache such a decision must involve. I dread the day when we can no longer have our 12 year old Sarah at home, clinging always to faint hope.

Hi Covlass,

I have just been on and signed the petition.

Let's hope Steven can be returned to his family soon, It is a disgrace that they have taken him away from a very loving home.

Kind regards Paula

I hope something can be done to get Steven home to his loveing family soon.
penny.

For those interested in care for adults with autism, this is an interesting read.

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=13684


Cx

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

It almost beggars belief that such a thing can happen in the U.K. now.

I have signed the petition, and would urge others to do so too.

To be away from familiar people and places (against your will) would be stressful for anyone, but for a person with Autism it is beyond stressful. It must be a living nughtmare, Steven is being punished just because his father was unwell. This is cruelty at its worst and an infringement of human rights.

My thoughts are with Steven and his family.

I signed the petition and then tried to send the petition to my friends.
Only to be told that my
E-MAIL ADDRESS is invalid!
Brilliant!!
I will copy and paste this page if it okay with you?
Deanna X

Well I have sent it and as many of you are in my address book, I am sorry to say that you too will have an e-mail.
Lets hope we can do something .
Deanna X