Children's Society tool to give disabled young people a say in their healthcare

My Health My Choice, an initiative led by the Children's Society, aims to encourage health professionals to involve young people with disabilities in the provision of their own healthcare.

The resource pack contains the views and experiences of young people and their healthcare while also directly outlining what they want and need from health professionals.

The Children's Society's Disability Advocacy Project, a three-year pilot scheme, which is working to protect the rights of young people and improve their health treatments, developed the initiative.  

Senior project worker on the programme Lucy Webster is positive that it will have a positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities. "The Children's Society's resource is absolutely fundamental to disabled young people being able to air their views about their own healthcare, which will lead to them receiving the best possible treatment," she said.

Points raised by disabled children and contained in the resource pack include the need for health professionals to be patient, give them choices, listen to them and respect their wishes.

To find out more information or request a copy of the pack please contact the Disability Advocacy Project on 0207 613 2886 or Disability-Advocacy-Project@childrenssociety.org.uk.