The National Learning Disabilities Awards celebrate excellence in the support for people with learning disabilities and aim to pay tribute to those individuals or organisation who excel in providing quality care.
Hospital Manager James Harrison won the Highly Commended award at The National Learning Disabilities & Autism Award 2023
James has commented “A few years ago I met a patient, at the time I treated them like I always do, with care and compassion and crucially as an individual. Years later this patient has become a bit of a phenomenon of her own and the fabulous Zaynab Sohawon remembered me and approached me to support her in setting up her charity Emotion Dysregulation in Autism which I was only to happy to become a trustee for!
She asked me what I was up to and I talked to her about my work at Ellern Mede, little did I know that would result in a nomination for “The Great Autism Practice Award” at the Learning Disability and Autism Awards. I knew nothing of this until I was invited to an interview having been shortlisted but today I found out that I had been recognised as “Highly Commended”.
The work I have done throughout my career has become ever more specialised but it has always been dedicated to people with autism, improving their lives by working with them, to understand the support they need and ensure they receive it. Now I am involved in the charity too, we are working to change the approach to autism throughout the country starting with legislation, policy and rolling out training and support where we can!
For everyone who knows me and anyone who doesn’t, I’m very proud of the work I do for Ellern Mede but I’m only doing my job, as for the work I do with Emotion Dysregulation in Autism it genuinely could change the future for thousands of autistic individuals around the country so I will keep doing it! Thank you for all the support I have received to get where I am today mostly from individuals who never knew the impact they had on my knowledge and understanding of autism”
The National Learning Disability Awards has commented “James has made life changing differences to many people over the years, through recognising the needs of autistic people are different when providing treatment and care for those with an eating disorder or disordered eating. James spends his spare time supporting a charity who are campaigning for changes to hospitals to improve the care and support offered. James is working hard to share his knowledge and skills to those within his organisation and other people who are wanting to learn more about Eating Disorders and Neurodiversity”
“James has made life changing differences to many people over the years, through recognising the needs of autistic people are different when providing treatment and care for those with an eating disorder or disordered eating. James spends his spare time supporting a charity who are campaigning for changes to hospitals to improve the care and support offered. James is working hard to share his knowledge and skills to those within his organisation and other people who are wanting to learn more about Eating Disorders and Neurodiversity”
