Early years: Childcare for all children

18 January 2010 6 mins read Early Years

Accessible childcare for young disabled children can provide a lifeline for many families. But a lot of parents continue to struggle to find suitable places locally with properly trained staff, as Ross Watson discovers.

Joseph Lewtas will be four years old next week. He struggles to speak, he still wears nappies and his heart rate needs regular monitoring. His mother Louise says he is a happy, loving young boy who puts a smile on the face of everyone he meets. But she admits his first year was the hardest of her life.

Nine hours after being born, Joseph was diagnosed with Down's syndrome, the chromosomal disorder that impairs physical and mental development.

"I was on antidepressants for the first 12 months," says Louise. "The doctors said I was grieving the child I thought I was going to have."

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