Al Aynsley-Green, children's commissioner for England, delivered thedamning verdict while giving evidence to the Treasury's ongoing reviewof services for disabled children. His scathing criticisms will beincluded in a report intended to influence next year's ComprehensiveSpending Review and could lead to more money for the sector.
Aynsley-Green told the second of three parliamentary hearings on theissue: "My position is explicit and robust. The plight of children andfamilies with disabilities is nothing short of a national scandal. Weare failing them abysmally and I know that because I've been all overthe country visiting children and families with a wide range ofdisabilities. It's not good enough and things need to change."
The MPs also took evidence from Virginia Bovell, the mother of a12-year-old boy with autism. She told them she was "middle class,middle-England" and found the system hard to deal with.
She said the help provided by social services was nowhere nearenough.
"You'd have to be a millionaire to afford adequate care," she said. "Ifall that social care can offer is four hours a week, then how canfamilies cope?"
Bovell added that parents of disabled children across the country werefacing "a real battle" to get their children in to their preferredschools.
Junior schools minister Lord Andrew Adonis made a brief appearance atthe hearing. The minister arrived late and left with an hour to go. Hetold the MPs: "We fully accept we have further to go."
