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Assisted suicide poses particular risks to neurodivergent people
Former chair of the all-party parliamentary group for special educational needs TOM HUNT examines some tragic cases from countries which have legalised assisted death
Campaigners protest outside Parliament in Westminster, London, ahead of a debate in the House of Commons on assisted dying, April 29, 2024

AT 12 years old, I had the reading and writing age of an eight-year-old. Yet as a young adult, I graduated from Oxford, and had the honour of serving as a member of Parliament for Ipswich 2019-2024. So what happened?

The plight of neurodivergent people is sorely overlooked in the UK. So many are written off because of their differences or weaknesses. With the right support and a lot of hard work, weaknesses can be turned into strengths.

Dyspraxia, for example, can result in improved long-term memory. A difficulty in following instructions can develop innovative, out-of-the-box thinking. Whether it’s autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, having your brain wired a different way isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

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