Forgotten Families
Our new nation-wide report, ‘Forgotten Families’ shows social, emotional and financial isolation causes almost three quarters (72%) of families with disabled children to experience poor mental health such as anxiety, depression or breakdown. Almost half (49%) reported feeling so unwell- they have asked their GP for medication or to see a counsellor.
Findings of the report also include:
- One in five (21%) say that isolation has led to a break up of their family or marriage
- Over half (56%) reported the cause of their isolation is due to a lack of support from statutory services such as social services and the education system
- 57% said that they were not able to work as much as they would like to
- 50% feel that their isolation has been caused by the discrimination or stigma they have experienced.
The report also covers the impact of isolation on families with disabled children in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Read the full report here
Read the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland insert
Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) - Making a Difference
Report published by Contact a Family Wales and Shelter Cymru looking at families' experience of Disabled Facilities Grants in Wales. The research highlights progress since the Welsh Assembly government's abolition of the parental means test in Wales in 2005.
Findings include:
- significant increase in the number of enquiries, approvals and completions for DFGs for children in Wales
- steady decreases in the average completion time for DFGs for children since abolition
- means test abolition has not led to a noticeable increase in costs.
But there are still areas of poor performance:
- insufficient information available on DFGs
- limited progress on more complicated adaptations
- levels of satisfaction with the DFGs process still varies considerably depending on where you live in Wales.
Read a copy of the report
The bottom line
What do parents want from the continence supplies service for children and young people in Wales?
Highlights the problems faced by the families of children and young people who use continence supplies and to make suggestions for improving the continence service in all parts of Wales.
Wheelchair services for children and young people in Wales
We know that wheelchairs play a huge part in the lives of disabled children, young people and their families. Having the appropriate wheelchair is the only way many children and young people can attain any degree of mobility and independence. Whenever we meet with families, wheelchair services always crop up in conversation, without fail, and we are aware that there are major concerns. 'Wheelchair services for children and young people in Wales' highlights the key issues raised by families in Wales.
School when you are on wheels
Young wheelchair users in Wales: a snapshot of challenges and experiences in education
Following the launch of 'Wheelchair Services for Children and Young People in Wales' in 2006 during 2006, Barnardo’s Cymru, Contact a Family Wales and Whizz-Kidz were asked by Jane Davidson, former Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, to look at how using a wheelchair can affect a child or young person’s education.
We asked some of the parents and young people we work with to tell us of their experiences of using wheelchairs in the school setting.
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