Disabled are denied advocacy services

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, said the Bill was a crucial opportunity to uphold the rights of disabled children. "A statutory right to independent advocacy would make a real difference, as it would provide a safeguard for disabled children and young people by helping them speak out about problems they are experiencing," he said.

Wendy Banks, head of advocacy at disability charity Scope, said there was a huge lack of advocacy support, especially for disabled children placed away from family and community support.

The criticisms came as The Children's Society published a study showing how disabled children are being denied access to vital advocacy services.

The When Will We Be Heard? Advocacy provision for disabled children study, launched yesterday (20 November), found less than three per cent of disabled children in England have access to an independent advocate.

The study also found just 877 disabled children and young people had received advocacy services during the previous nine months, out of a total of more than 34,000.

"Without advocates, disabled children and young people often have no say over their care."

Steve Broach, campaign manager for Every Disabled Child Matters, described The Children's Society's findings as extremely worrying. "It highlights exactly why a right to advocacy for disabled children and young people placed away from home is urgently needed," he said.

The Children's Society's study also found a quarter of advocacy providers had not been able to respond to a referral of a disabled child at all in the previous nine months. One provider said they had turned away 213 referrals because they were unable to support children with serious disabilities and two-fifths said they did not provide advocacy services for children who did not communicate verbally.

The Children's Society's findings were based on a survey of 68 advocacy providers and 14 people who have strategic roles in promoting the participation of children and young people.

- www.childrenssociety.org.uk.