A blinkered view of disability still prevails

These 770,000 children and young people must face a number of barriers to achieve their potential, enjoy childhood and feel included in mainstream society. Families with disabled children also report a failure to meet their needs, leading to isolation and stress.

Two studies undertaken by the Thomas Coram Research Unit have found that disabled children experience social exclusion out of school and during holidays. In addition, families of children with disabilities continue to experience negative attitudes towards them when using leisure and play facilities and a shortage of accessible services.

But there are some innovative schemes out there promoting precisely this sort of inclusion. One such national scheme, which focuses on play, is run by the charity AbilityNet. Its Play AT IT project, funded over two years by the Big Lottery Fund, aims to widen play options for nursery-age disabled children through technology. AbilityNet discovered an acute shortage of accessible computing equipment, training and expertise for disabled children within early years settings. Its project aims to address this imbalance and provide disabled children across the UK with play opportunities in IT, which will provide the building blocks for future learning and the skills to progress.