Speaking Out for the First Time
On Tuesday 29th April 2025, I spoke infront of the Houses of Parliament in relation to autistic people and those with learning disabilities being detained in hospitals. I sang a song about my hospital experience as part of the rally, and I delivered a speech to the Department of Health and Social Care. I was even interviewed by the BBC!
“Over 2,000 autistic people and those with learning disabilities across NHS England are affected by this issue.”
It was my first time being part of an autism-focused campaign, and I felt honoured to have been chosen as 1 of the 15 speakers. Empowering or what? On the day, I felt more excited than nervous. As an autistic person, I usually find crowds overwhelming, so I wasn’t too sure how I’d cope in London. Surprisingly enough, the crowds didn’t affect me much at all. I was completely hyper-focused on what I was there to do. Nothing was going to hinder me!
Six Months Prior: From Detention to Advocacy
Six months prior to this event, I could never have imagined any of this happening. At that time, I was still detained in hospital under a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), and my life was on standstill for a whole year.
Can you imagine what it feels like to fight your way through the system only to find yourself speaking to power within a matter of months?
Preparing for Parliament
My Support Worker and I only had a week to prepare. We arranged everything. Hiring a car, booking parking, paying the congestion charge, typing up my speech and song at the library, and creating my canvas for the rally. I also made sure to dress the part, knowing I’d be photographed and filmed, and I updated the key NHS professionals who advocated for me while in hospital and the Directors of Seco Support who had helped fight for my discharge and continue to support me now.
Meeting Inspiring People
Throughout the day, I connected with so many people working in neurodiversity and activism from all different organisations. One of the highlights was finally meeting Alexis Quinn, an autistic campaigner I’ve admired for years but never imagined I’d meet. The day was exhausting, but so worth it!
The Stark Reality: Human Rights at Stake
According to NHS England’s latest August 2025 Assuring Transformation dataset, 2,025 autistic people and those with learning disabilities are still detained in hospitals across England, with many staying for years. Some even over a decade.
“This remains one of the biggest human rights scandals in the UK today”.
What do you think needs to change to end this human rights crisis?
Looking Forward: Advocacy and Change
Due to the people I met and the conversations I had at the rally, I’ve been invited to work more closely with Inclusion London to support their fight for change.
I am using my voice to fight for change, and I won’t stop.
Autism-Lens 
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