Call for reforms to focus on wellbeing of disabled children

A letter, sent to David Cameron and Nick Clegg, has been signed by more than 100 organisations, including the Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign (EDCM), Mencap and the Children’s Society.

They want the government to ensure that the wellbeing of disabled children and young people and their families is made a priority in the legislation, which is due to be discussed by the House of Lords today (Wednesday).

In particular, the signatories of the letter want the Bill to focus on protecting the rights of disabled children and young people, creating joined-up health and social care services and ensuring all local authorities are accountable for the services they provide to disabled children and young people.

The organisations are concerned that little progress has been made since the government published Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special education needs and disability in 2011, which promised a brighter future for disabled children and young people and their families.

Srabani Sen, EDCM board member, said: “The government green paper Support and Aspiration promised disabled and young people and their families a better future.

“It outlined a vision of properly joined-up services and one that all disabled children and young people will benefit from.

“As it stands, the Bill fails to deliver on this promise. We therefore urge the government to listen to the charities and parent groups signed up to this open later and make changes to the Children and Families Bill necessary to achieve the vision families desperately want to become a reality.”

The Pre-school Learning Alliance, one of the signatories of the letter, is concerned that some elements of the Bill will have an adverse affect on the sector, particularly the lack of support for disabled children in early years settings with medical needs and the omission of non-maintained early years settings from Education, Health and Care Plans.