I wasn't at the Moot, or previous ones, so also have no knowledge of the events alluded to by Firecrest. I am a now psychiatric nurse by choice, and currently work in an addictions service, so I see people who are unwell, as well as some who display challenging behaviours on a daily basis. I have previously worked in general psychiatry, and learning disabilities, so have some experience of the concerns addressed by Firecrest in her posts. That said, I have to agree with the sentiments expressed by John in his post above. If someone came to me in the circumstances described by him I would have responded in exactly the same way. Whilst both prejudice and bullying are totally unacceptable, period, so is anti-social behaviour. I agree with Firecrest that people with learning disabilities, or developmental disorders as she terms it, should not be treated with disrespect, held to have lesser value, or become targets of amusement, I'm not sure that I so readily agree with the distinction inferred between people with development disorders and those experiencing mental ill health
In fact, I'm not even sure there needs to be any distinction. Unfortunately though, and this may go some way to ascribe people's lack of awareness of behavioural issues with these individuals, is that in the current climate it has become all too common to give a diagnosis of 'mental ill health' or 'developmental disorder' to so many who's only problem is that they have been allowed to grow up, or develop, without any form of social boundaries and a complete lack of being held responsible for their actions. Sorry, Firecrest, I do agree with what you are trying to achieve here, but I'm not sure that your assertion about 'BCUK being an organisation with more than12 members' makes BCUK responsible in any way for any bullying which took place. BCUK, to my knowledge, is only an internet based social forum, and therefore is not an 'organisation' as defined or intended at law for cases of discrimination, or bullying.