People must be at the centre of their own support

Before deciding who to vote for, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. And support is there if you need help to make your mind up or are not sure how to cast a vote

The campaigning magazine on equality, inclusion and living life: learning disabilities, care, health, welfare, housing, arts and more

Ivan Alexeivich became unexpectedly in next in line to the throne but showed no interest in power – unlike his younger half-brother. Susanna Shapland looks at Russian family power struggles

People deemed to have lifelong, severe health conditions do not have to be reassessed for benefits. The criteria that define these are to be established in law in April. Charlie Callanan reports

Elvi, Sam Carlisle‘s daughter, is terrified of hospitals. Thanks to a determined nurse who thought her physical health needed a check, she had numerous investigations under anaesthetic at one visit

The latest from Community Living cartoonist Robin Meader

A verdict of natural causes was given because a coroner could not ascertain why a young man died after being unable to undergo medical tests and sent home from hospital. George Julian reports

Evidence of inequality stacks up, as do suggestions for action, yet change on the ground is slow.

The campaigning magazine on equality, inclusion and living life: learning disabilities, care, health, welfare, housing, arts and more

Plans to change the law that tells people what to do if they need to stay in hospital after a mental health crisis.

A man was arrested after trying to kill himself and his learning-disabled son to reunite their family. Simon Jarrett watches a documentary on a difficult case that crosses legal and moral worlds

A change in support worker can be overwhelming – for all involved, not just the person getting the support – so it’s important it’s done well. Here’s how it’s worked for me

Sound artist Ruby Colley has worked with her brother Paul, who is non-verbal, to create an album and performance piece. She talks to Saba Salman about transcending the norms of communication

easy read and plain text guide on how to get an Annual Health Check

Actor and director Otto Baxter has won Bafta and Emmy awards. He talks to Seán Kelly about running things on set and his horror films past and future, including one inspired by his being adopted

History shows that, without specific, monitored initiatives, people with learning disabilities experience discrimination in healthcare – but they seem overlooked in the 10-year health plan

The left-wing government in the UK and its right-wing US counterpart both have people with disabilities in their sights. Mary O’Hara talks to advocates, family members and professionals

The process of finding an adult home for my daughter nearly broke me, says Sam Carlisle, with an obstructive care board, unscrupulous care home companies and being kept in the dark

Wrong decisions on care and medication were made because allowances were not made regarding Myles Scriven’s learning disability and autism. George Julian reports

Education, health and care plans are intended to ensure children receive the support they need but the system is complex and councils struggle with the cost – so reforms are on the horizon. Maria Shah...

Despite new laws to give parent carers a break, support for disabled children over the summer break remains painfully limited and mothers in particular have to step in, says Shubhanna Hussain

The UK and US are taking remarkably similar routes when it comes to undermining people’s rights

The campaigning magazine on equality, inclusion and living life: learning disabilities, care, health, welfare, housing, arts and more

The enjoyment of something as basic as eating can be compromised by social segregation and dental care so poor it could amount to systemic violence, argues Sara Ryan in this extract from her latest bo...

People with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) are rarely represented in the media and the arts, and their personalities and individuality are not often highlighted. A photography proj...

The fact that I have to shave my 20-year-old son each morning astonishes people. Our morning routine requires a complicated choreography – and only I know the steps to this dance

We could receive £1,000 in the Movement for Good draw.

Autistic people, as experts by experience, are creating multimedia learning materials and working alongside professionals to train staff to improve mental health care. Georgia Pavlopoulou reports

Del the pig is an invaluable partner to Tilley Milburn, speaking as the ‘voice of reason’ whether at home or on stage. Seán Kelly finds out about the life and times of this unusual double act

The Care Quality Commission is charged with ensuring care providers are up to standard. George Julian describes what action it can take when concerns become apparent

A pub with a games room and cheap drinks. What more could you want? asks Hannah Fearn

What the right-wing US administration is doing to welfare could be expected – but it is galling that the more left-wing government in the UK is also savaging the benefits system

From cruel jibes to institutional care, a history of people with learning disabilities.

We know what people need not only to survive, but thrive