Help us improve your online experience with Contact a Family

We will be launching a new website in this summer and so need your views. Whether you are a new visitor to the site, or use it on a regular basis - we need your input to help make our website the one-stop-shop for families with disabled children. Last year we had over 350,000 visitors to...   Read more...

Could you share your story with us?

Contact a Family’s _Family Life_ project is here to help support families with disabled children around relationship issues. Part of the project focuses on parents helping other parents, by sharing their stories and experiences about family life and couple relationships. Some people find...   Read more...

Family Fund unable to process grant applications from families in Northern Ireland

A reduction in funding from the Northern Ireland Assembly for the year 2011/12, and a significant increase in family applications, means that all Family Fund grant funding has been used. The Family Fund is currently waiting to hear from the Northern Ireland Assembly as to the level of funding...   Read more...

New funds for housing adaptations

An extra £20 million has been pledged for the fund which helps elderly people and those with disabilities, including families with children with disabilities, to carry on living independently in their own homes. The Disabled Facilities Grant is worth a total of £200 million this year, and...   Read more...

Responsible Reform?

Disability campaigners including Sue Marsh (who has a serious medical condition) of the ‘Diary of a Benefit Scrounger’ blog and Kaliya Franklin, have released a major report on the government’s Welfare Reform Bill. ‘Responsible reform’ was researched, written, funded and supported...   Read more...

New consultation on free early education and childcare: open to parents

A new consultation is open and available for parents to respond to as well as organisations. It seeks to gather views on proposals to set eligibility criteria for entitlement to free early education for two year olds. It also seeks to gather views on the guidance that should be given to Local...   Read more...

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome is a very rare genetic condition. Individuals with the condition display to slow growth, have sparse hair and skin problems as well as other symptoms. In this podcast a mother describes what it is like to have a child with the syndrome. [Click here to listen to the...   Read more...

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome is a very rare genetic condition. Individuals with the condition display to slow growth, have sparse hair and skin problems as well as other symptoms. In this podcast a mother describes what it is like to have a child with the syndrome. [Click here to listen to the...   Read more...

ERIC launches continence web page for children with complex health needs

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) has launched a continence information and support web page for children with complex health needs. Information available includes a continence assessment and leaflet for parents and carers, with tips on what to ask for and the...   Read more...

Into higher education 2012, the higher education guide for people with disabilities - free from the Disability Alliance

*into Higher Education 2012*, the higher education guide for people with disabilities_ by Tony Stevens and Barbara Waters (Disability Alliance, 2011), is a free guide for disabled students thinking about studying in higher education. The Guide will help with questions such as whether the college...   Read more...

Specific Equality Duties for public bodies - quick start guide

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 came into force on 10 September 2011. They require public bodies to publish relevant, proportionate information showing their compliance with the Equality Duty. Public bodies also need to set themselves specific, measurable equality...   Read more...

Supporting parental mental health and families

Families can be helped to stay together and thrive if the right support is offered at the right time. The Social Care Institute for Excellence’s (SCIE) 'Parental mental health resources' focus on the whole family, demonstrating how parents will always receive the best support with...   Read more...

Whizz-Kidz short breaks survey

Calling all parents/primary carers who look after 13-18 year olds with physical disabilities! Whizz-Kidz really need you to complete a short survey to give them the evidence they need to prove to funders that short breaks (like Camp Whizz-Kidz) are massively important to you and your family....   Read more...

Consultation on revised statutory guidance and regulations for exclusions from schools and pupil referral units in England

The Department for Education is running a consultation to gather views on the revised guidance documents and regulations relating to exclusion. This includes proposals for how regulations will be applied to Academies, including Free Schools. The revised guidance is aimed at head teachers,...   Read more...