Parent participation grants for 2010

We are pleased to let you know that the funding levels for Phase 3 of Together for Disabled Children have been confirmed, and that a parent participation grant of £10,000 will be available in each local authority area in 2010-11. We will shortly be publishing the Phase 3 Application forms...   Read more...

Extra support for families with disabled children outlined in Families Green Paper welcome

*Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper*, launched today by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, proposes new measures to support families with disabled children to lead ordinary lives. Srabani Sen, Chief Executive of Contact a Family, said: “We...   Read more...

Families with disabled children lack mental health support

The results of a survey by youth mental-health charity YoungMinds show that a third of parents with disabled children aren’t receiving the support they need for their children’s emotional or mental health problems. 87% of parents found barriers to getting help, including lack of available...   Read more...

Could you be a short break carer?

This year's Share the Care Week, 7-12 March, focuses on The BIG difference short break carers make to disabled children and their families. There are an estimated 3,498 disabled children waiting for family based short break services in the UK. An additional 10,000 disabled children could...   Read more...

Have your say on charges for NHS car parks

Parents visiting children in hospital will know the high cost of hospital parking, the lack of parking space close to hospital wards for families and the great difficulties families face when trying to claim reimbursement for these charges. A consultation on Improving Access for Patients...   Read more...

Could your child be a young ambassador?

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) is currently recruiting a number of disabled young people to become young ambassadors. Making Ourselves Heard is a project which aims to ensure the active participation of disabled children and young people in all decisions directly affecting them: *...   Read more...

Welsh local group podcast

Mae llawer o rieni yn gwerthfawrogi mynychu grwpiau cefnogi rhieni, allen nhw fod yn grwp lleol i bob un mynychu neu, grwp cenedlaethol sy'n cefnogi cyflwr penodol. Cliciwch yma i wrando ar brofiad rhiant o mynychu grwp cefnogi lleol. Mae'r recordiad yma yn Gymraeg. Many parents find it...   Read more...

New podcast on Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

A mother discusses her experience of having one of her twins diagnosed with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.  [Listen to this podcast] [1] [Read more medical information on Spina Bifida][2] [Read more medical...   Read more...

Government grants for low-income families in England to buy laptops and internet connections

The Home Access scheme will allow 270,000 low-income families with children in the age-band three to nine to apply for grants to buy laptops and broadband internet connections from approved suppliers. Parents might be eligible for a grant if they are living with a child who is in years 3 to 9...   Read more...

Parent Participation Works! Find out How

Parent Participation Works! Find out How Together for Disabled Children (TDC), a partnership between Serco and Contact a Family, have just published the _Parent Participation How to Guide_. The purpose of parent participation is to enable parents to get involved in service planning and...   Read more...

Parent Participation Works! Find out How

Together for Disabled Children (TDC), a partnership between Serco and Contact a Family, have just published the _Parent Participation How to Guide_. The purpose of parent participation is to enable parents to get involved in service planning and decision making so that services meet the needs of...   Read more...

Free teaching materials on disability

Scope is offering free teaching materials on disability for both primary and secondary schools. ‘Imagine the difference’ is a free and easy-to-use resource designed to help teachers of Key Stages 1 and 2 deliver lessons, assemblies and circle-time activities about celebrating diversity,...   Read more...

Tell us what you think about the draft regulations for short breaks for carers of disabled children and young people

The government is consulting on draft regulations and guidance to require local authorities in England to provide services to help parents of disabled children take short breaks. The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 introduced a new statutory duty on local authorities to help parents to...   Read more...

NICE search for stakeholders on spasticity in children

The NICE is looking for organisations wishing to register as stakeholders for their forthcoming clinical guideline. The remit from the Department of Health is: “To prepare a clinical guideline on the management of spasticity in children with a non-progressive brain injury.” Those...   Read more...