Record reaction over autism story

I hope that Hillingdon LA reconsider their decision and allow Steven to return home and reinstate his former care package. Detaining Steven over concerns of what he might do is discriminating.

i said it before and ill say it again grow a brain social workers autistic kids CANT DO CHANGE IT MAKES THEIR BEHAVIOUR WORSE PUT THIS BOY HOME YOU ARE NOT GOD BUT STEVEN HAS RIGHTS EVEN IF HE IS DISABLED AND YOU ARE BREACHING HIS RIGHTS I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THIS BOY I KNOW WHAT ITS ABOUT MY GRANDSON HAS AUTISIM SO PUT THIS BOY HOME

The reason behind the record number of posts to this news story is that people are appalled at the shameful way that Steven and Mark are being treated.So called professionals try to justify their jobs without any concern or compassion for the family involved.

Having read the news articles, the blogs and comments on facebook, I can't see any logical argument that the council can put forward as to why Steven's original care package cannot be put back in place. It was working well, this placement clearly is not! Let this young man return home where he belongs and is dearly wanted.

I totally agree with all the comments,I cannot believe in this lifetime this is allowed to happen,everyone feels so strongly about this PLEASE GET STEVEN HOME WITH HIS FAMILY WHERE HE CLEARLY BELONGS.

It would seem reasonable that this story would elicit a huge response. It's outrageous. In my opinion, this agency's actions are tantamount to state sanctioned kidnapping.

I myself suffer from Autism and live in Hillingdon so I understand how Steven's family feels. I have been incredibly lucky, having gone to special needs schools and college for nearly all of my life. This was done through a lot of fighting by myself, family and some staff to get what I needed. Unfortunatly, the majority of these places were outside of Hillingdon and too far away to go home everyday so I had to board and never really had the chance to stay in my hometown except for most weekends and holidays. But despite this I have had some great experiences being away from home and have made friends, even though they may live too far away. I feel really sorry for people who suffer from autism who don't get the help and support as I have got throughout the years. Going to these places may have not cured me of my autism, but it has made me a better person. Some places do not meet the person's needs at all, even if they are there for a short or long time. Home is the best place for a person with autism- it gives them time to recover from their experiences in a different place. And that's what Steven wants to go back too- home. If social services think that keeping him away from his family will make him a better person and 'cure' him of his autism, then they are wrong. I am following this story with interest and hope that something good comes out of it.

My heart goes out to Steven and to his family. This needs investigating ASAP.

There are two sides to every story I'm afraid. The facebook page is taking on a 'lynch mob' mentality. A real shame.

The real sadness is how common this is. Poor treatment by those who are supposed to be caring for our vulnerable. Thank god for the moral support this family are receiving from the public.There for the grace of god, etc, etc.

I think Karen Adams (in the above article) said it best where she is quoted as having said: "Is there nobody in Hillingdon social care with common sense? Challenging behaviour because of an unsuitable residential placement and the solution is to remain in the placement until the behaviour improves? I despair."

Autism is a terrible condition, characterised by huge anxiety. Forcing Steven to remain in an environment which he finds frightening is going to result in poor behaviour. If you were caged wouldn't you try to break free? There is far too much ignorance about autism, and far too little is being done for those who have the condition. This is simply not acceptable. Let Steven go home.

Of course there's two sides to every story and I have no doubt that Hillingdon are genuine in their concerns, but what seems to have happened is that health and safety has over-taken human rights. If the local authority were to look honestly at their actions could they really say that they had done everything in their power to enable Steven to live in the community before depriving him of his liberty? I doubt it. Criminals have to be found guilty of a crime before losing liberty, it seem that if you're learning disabled it's enough for the local authority to say you might do something wrong. Where is the equality in that?

i thought social services were there to support and help families stay together , like i said before bring steven home with his family and who ever is responsible in making the descision needs a kick up the ass, i have an autistic boy who can and is violent at times and i have my own care plan and it works, stop seperating families on the basis of what might happen and support this family in the here and now!!!!!!!

My name is Janet, and I live in Malta.
I have experience of autism, having worked in a residential school with groups of young people like Steven.
I am absolutely appalled that ANY ONE can think that this is correct treatment of any person - - let alone a person that has autism.

Tina Wilson said:
There are two sides to every story I'm afraid. The facebook page is taking on a 'lynch mob' mentality. A real shame.

Lynch mob mentality? So what does Tina thinks Steven feels? Does she think he feels justly treated because his Dad was taken ill? Or that he likes being where he is? Or that he cannot go home unless his behaviour improves? Or does she think that he will be "cured" of his condition?

All young people should be given the chance to be at home with their family where at all possible. It is possible for Steven. He has his support network there. If there is another "side" to this story, lets hear it.

It's terribly sad that people are just doing their jobs and following the book. As a mother of an Autistic child I can tell you that we are the ones who understand our children inside out. We are the one who provide a safe haven when everyone in the "outside world" is rejecting and hurting them. We are given these special children as we can love and nurture them. The confusion and fear poor Steven feels must be horrific, please return him to his family before more damage is created. I can't imagine this would happen in Australia where I live. England isn't a third world country-what's going on and how is this allowed to happen?

this is the guy who picked up a baby and kicked it into the air like a football, and can only go out guarded by two people indoors 24 hour watching, he is a potential killer, there needs to be a compromise on managing him from home

Tom is talking rubbish he tend to blame the Guy who is autistic without blaming the Support workers who are paid to look after him, one of the support workers was using his phone when the incident happened. The support worker own him a duty of care to protect him and members of the public.But however this happen three years ago it has nothing the do with the present situation.

Tom, if this really happened as you describe (and you describe it so sensitively), then the police would have prosecuted and it would have been reported in the papers. It would have been reported because if a baby was 'kicked into the air like a football' it would have sustained terrible injuries.

If the incident you describe was committed by Steven Neary, or anyone else with autism for that matter, where were his carers at the time? How could anyone who is properly supervised by care workers be able to interact with a baby in this way? Surely the fault would lie with the inadequate performance of the support workers?

It sounds as though you are scratching around for reasons to keep Steven where he is.

Tom, you seem very offended by this story which is showing hugely in your inaccurate acccusations of a incident. Just so pleased that ISP addresses are log with peoples comments as this is a very false statement

IP addresses are recorded by the system admin and can be traced back to the exact computer used to post a message.

I think Tom has made a very silly mistake posting that message.

It would take 10 minutes, probably less, to find out who "Tom" is. It wouldn't suprise me if it was a manager or bitter employee.

Yet again they show their true colours to all. This is the care system looking after Steve-O. Unreal.

I have been following this story on Facebook and I'd like to say that Mark and the people who directly know Steven have been very fair in how they have reported their terrible situation. It is obvious that a terrible mistake has been made and the council dont know how to get out of the hole they have dug themselves.
First, we have the post by T Wilson, who I understand is a social worker with a children with disabilities team (not at Hillingdon, I hasten to add)trying to undermine the campaign. And now we have Tom, who should be ashamed of himself for such offensive and untrue comments. I hope I'm proved wrong but like Mr Howard, I think there is something fishy about Tom's post.

I may of got the facts wrong on my previous post, i am very sorry for any upset i have caused, I have nothing to do with the care system that Steven is currently part of and still feel there should of been a compromise for his care to managed from his home instead of an institution

No 'Tom', you are very sorry that you'll be found out and exposed, and that's all. Otherwise, why say what you did in the first place. You are a spineless coward.

What a shame that "Tom" would stoop so low and make such a shameful post. The incident that he grossly exagerates, with such spiteful language is documented on the Facebook group and Steven's circumstances are radically different to how they were two years ago when the incident happened.

Thank you for all the great support on here and on the Facebrook page and the many letters sent to me personally. One really good thing to have come out of this whole painful story is discovering how strong the ASD community is. It is such a shame that the wealth of experience and knowledge that the community has is routinely ignored by the professionals making major decisions about our lives.

Dear "Tom"
I cant believe someone would write such a vile and emotive paragraph about someone who cant defend themselves. If you'd written that about a member of my family I would HAVE to take it further (think its called libel?). As if this family havent got enough to deal with. Your own family/friend(?)must be so so proud of you.

Hello Readers and campaigners for steven release from Merchiston House. I would like to respond to TomÂŜs comment.
How did you know about the incident that happen in the community, when steve kicked a child. Who are you? Are you a staff member from the Care Home, I guess you are and you are sucking on the managers there. Please read my article in the next two days, i will give an exclusive hiden dark stories of that unit and the responsible people. I am glad things are coming out on papers.If Steven was my son, let alone to stay in that home, i would have prevent him to even breeze aroud there. I will disclosed how a whole system has failed in caring not for Steve only but other as well in that care home. what looks good on care plan designed by managers, especially from the civic centre does not mean that it happen .The care home is a live circus. Read soon.
Jim
jim

I am both a parent of a 6year old child with a diagnosis of ASD as well as a former health care professional to adults with additional requirements. My job was supporting people within their own homes, helping to draw up with the client a PCP and various strategies to help their daily lives run smoothly and with the minimum amount of distressed being caused through out the day in addition, where appropriate to practical and personal support.

What has happened to Mr. Neary is disgraceful and I live in constant fear of the same sort of treatment being applied to my son in his adult life.

@ Tom: The case of the infant in the airport is clearly documented via the discussion board Mr. Neary's father set up on facebook. Mr. Neary's father, as much as any parent is able to do where their child is concerned, has presented nothing but factual information when discussing the evidence being put forth in Hillington's defense for their actions.

@ Tina: I fully believe in the ethos that there are always two sides to every story. If Mr. Neary's father is indeed presented a very biased, one sided view of the situation does it not beg the question why, in view of the tremendous public support and interest in the case, have the council refused to comment, using the age old addage "we are not at liberty to discuss individual cases"?

Throughout this entire ordeal it seems to me that not one so called professional whom claims to have Steven's best interests at heart as ever once asked Steven what he wants. Steven, from the information regarding this case I have read, has never once been invited to attend a meeting held to discuss provisional recommendations for him.

I think all too often people see a label and not a person. Social workers and the protection of Vulnerable Person's Act was allegedly implemented to stop these injustices from occurring. Laws have been twisted to suit the LA's needs. At the very least they are legally guilty of being in breech of their clients Human Right's and Civil Liberties entitlement.

Bottom line is Steven is a person, not a statistic and not a label. He is young person with a diagnosis on Autism. He is NOT an Autistic person.

He needs to be at home in the familiar surroundings and the company of those who love and can care for him best to ensure as good as quality of life as Steven deserves.

There are many young people who do not have that love and support and who would benefit far more from the familiar of being in residential care than Steven ever will.

I challenge the so called professionals to bite the bullet, admit by way of a formal apology that they made a serious error of judgement and acted completely inappropriately and do what is best for both the Neary's and for another family who are in desperate need of a care placement. Let Steven return home, live his life and those who know him best care for him, then offer the placement to someone who has a loved one who genuinely would benefit from full time residential care.

I would expect this course of action to be taken in the 60's. It is a great pity and saddens me to see that some so called people in society seem to prefer living in the past.

I wish Steven all the best for his future and pray that he will soon be home and settled with those who love and can care for him best.

I also pray that the so called professionals, like in the case of Baby P, can learn from this devastating tragedy, and make severe changes to how they offer the services on hand.

Stop this, Hillington LA, before it is too late and Steven is scarred for life. His world is complicated enough!

As an adult with an ASD (aspergers) and the father of a 5 year old with suspected ASD (getting tested for it) I am disgusted by social services decision to keep steven away from his family and lying to get him away initialy.

Social Services departments in cities are not to be trusted, mine said my childs behaviour was 'learned and due to interaction within the familly home' and were put on the child protection register for emotional abuse, we moved to the sticks rapidly after this conference and now my sons issues are being recognised.

Sadly stevens story just furthers my assertions that a lot of social services departments are the greatest danger to vulnerable people that is possible, due to their powers and beief in themselves