University of Portsmouth collaborates in research event at Scottish Parliament

An academic from the University of Portsmouth played a key role in a thought-provoking event at the Scottish Parliament, highlighting the critical issue of hospital detention for individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Dr Aaron Pycroft, Associate Professor in Criminal Justice and Social Complexity at the University of Portsmouth, collaborated with Edinburgh Napier University, including Dr Michael Wamposzyc, Associate Professor in Design, PAMIS, the Aiteal Trust, and Louis Sainsbury as part of an exhibition last Thursday (27 February).

The event follows recent reports which revealed the ongoing issue of individuals with learning disabilities and how they are still being admitted to hospitals, violating their human rights according to the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC). 

Despite efforts to reduce institutional care, the data shows the number of inpatient units for adults with learning disabilities in Scotland has increased.

The SHRC is therefore seeking urgent action and new laws to ensure people’s right to live independently and be part of their communities.

The reception - sponsored by Jackie Baillie MSP and attended by members of the Scottish Parliament and Government Ministers, civil servants, families affected, and connected organisations - focused on Louis’s Story: The Story of Appletree, an example of how care and relationships are central to understanding individuals with disabilities.

Louis’s Story highlights the importance of empathy, love, and relational care, showing that human worth is not defined by independence but by our connections with others. 

Louis, who has severe cognitive and communication impairments due to rare bacterial meningitis, demonstrates that everyone deserves respect, care, and the chance to thrive within a supportive community. His story challenges outdated ideas of independence and identity, encouraging a more compassionate and inclusive approach to care.

The event further provided an opportunity to bring together a number of individuals and organisations to take part in meaningful discussions hoping for change in Scotland with the intention of also extending this to the UK. 

It not only served as an important opportunity to raise awareness, and encourage collaboration but prompted a drive for better care and support for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Dr Pycroft, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said: “This marks a crucial step in addressing the issue of hospital detention for individuals with learning disabilities and autism. 

“The Appletree Community is a supportive residential care project designed for Louis Sainsbury to live in his own home and is a key example of what can be achieved and aspired to by the Scottish Government’s Coming Home Report. 

“It demonstrates the importance of providing a bridge between families, service providers, policymakers, community organisations, and universities. By learning from this experience, we can strive for meaningful change across the UK.”

In the UK, more than 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autism are still in inpatient units, including some in solitary confinement demonstrating that the issue is not just a problem in Scotland, but also the rest of the UK. 

The event is part of a co-production project in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and commissioned by The Aiteal Trust.