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an ordinary life
“I like zoos, safari parks, conservation and walking
in the countryside with my family and friends” We are all #HumanToo … aren’t we?

As institutional abuse continues and after the failure of
Transforming Care, Isabelle Garnett started a movement –
#HumanToo – to give a voice to those who are hidden away

Home is my safe place. My next favourite place is
identified by former health minister Liberty Stadium. Come on you Swans!
Norman Lamb remain. Those who could
Austistic people and those with a address these seem unmoved by Dame
learning disabilty are #Humantoo Christine’s Lenahan’s exhortation that
“these are our children” (2017).
The outrageous truth is that, while
ight years ago, the human rights overall inpatient figures are largely
abuses at Winterbourne View were unchanged, the number of those aged
Eexposed by BBC Panorama. under 18 years with autism, learning
The resulting five-year Transforming Care disability or both in ATUs has doubled.
programme, intended to make homes not It appears this is because they are seen
hospitals possible for those with learning by those in charge – and by extension Austistic people and those with a learning disabilty
disabilities and autistic people, ended in wider society – as less than human. are #Humantoo
April 2019, having failed to reach its targets. Because of their perceived
There has been no significant change in differences, they are seen as less equal so #HumanToo is a movement that aims to
the numbers of people in assessment and less deserving of the rights enjoyed by bring one of the biggest domestic human
treatment units (ATUs). The “right support” other humans, adequate treatment, rights scandals of our time to the general
has yet to be built in the community. compassionate care and – in too many public’s consciousness, giving a voice and
Health, social care and education still cases – the love and support of their visibility to all those who are hidden away.
work in silos and people continue to reach families. ATUs are the last stop on the It is about uniting self-advocates,
crisis point because of unmet need. education, health and social care line. families, campaigners, professionals,
Care has not been transformed. There is The Independent headline points to the providers and charities behind a simple
no clarity from those with the power to public’s tendency to distance themselves demand: “People with a learning
effect change about how or indeed from man’s inhumanity to man. In reality, disability and autistic people should have
whether care will be transformed at all. the good British public are distancing what every human deserves: an ordinary
There are too many distressed families, themselves historically, albeit unwittingly, life and a home not a hospital.”
including mine, whose loved ones have as they back look at progress such as the #HumanToo wants to unite all the work
endured the trauma of being ripped away abolition of slavery or the advent of so many of us are doing to achieve this and
from all they were familiar with and those voting rights for women as signs of a strengthen our voices so they are heard
who knew and loved them best. civilised society. We can – and must – by the public and, by extension, those
Too many are having to call out the horror think again about that too. who could and should effect change.
of the “care and treatment” their loved Recently, I was speaking with a couple of You can help by: using the #HumanToo
ones are subjected to in ATUs. Too many fellow parents about what was happening hashtag when tweeting about anything to
deaths by indifference. Too many harrowing to our children in ATUs as we travelled on do with learning disability, autism or
but all too true headlines, such as “Think the London underground to yet another both; and adopting the #HumanToo logo
torture only happens overseas? Look at the meeting to ask for help from those who (below) as your profile picture. n
cruel treatment of disabled people in should be effecting positive change. ● ●Images are from www.humantoo.net
Britain” in the Independent (2019). A woman sitting opposite us was almost @ email: info.HumanToo@gmail.com
Those with incredulous. t Twitter @HumanToo2
experience, those “Really? This is f Facebook #HumanToo and HumanToo
who work at the To see family and friends every day. happening in 2019?
coal face and those Home is where the love and the heart is In Britain?” She Isabelle Garnett is a
who could and was outraged and campaigner, mother of
should end this offered to write to a son with autism and
know why it is her MP. This made member of the
happening. There me believe that Community Living
have been too most people who editorial board
many case reviews, have no reason to References
too many reports know about what Moore J. Think torture only happens overseas?
and too many happens behind Just look at the degrading treatment of
unimplemented locked ATU doors disabled people in Britain. Independent, 9 May
#HumanToo recommendations. Austistic people and those with a learning actually do care 2019. Lenahan C. These are our Children.
and want to do
The “perverse
Department of Health/Council for Disabled
disabilty are #Humantoo
incentives”
something about it.
Children, 2017
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 32 No 4 | Summer 2019 13