Tell your MP to help reform disabled children's services

Dan and Elisa

A dad holding his daughter outside in the sun, both of them cuddling and smiling.

We need to send 1,500 emails to MPs.

1,071 people have told their MP to listen to parent carers and disabled children. Will you join them?

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Too many families with disabled children are fighting tooth and nail to get the equipment, care and other services they’re entitled to.

As a result, three in ten disabled children are experiencing more pain as their support is delayed or reduced. Two thirds of disabled children have seen their emotional or mental health deteriorate due to not getting the right support.

This has to change.

The government has announced a consultation with proposals to reform disabled children's services, in a document called the 'SEND Green Paper'. Alarmingly, some of the proposals could further restrict disabled children and carers receiving support, and create extra barriers in the system.

What is in the SEND Green Paper?

We believe the SEND Green Paper recognises a lot of the problems in disabled children’s services.

However, some of the proposals are alarming, in particular:

1) Only letting families with disabled children pick a school from a pre-defined list – this could limit choice and prevent a young person from accessing the school that is best for them.

2) Deciding the levels of support disabled children get from a national banding system, possibly restricting access to support – it should be based on individual need, not blanket rules, as was laid out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

3) Making mediation mandatory before allowing families to go to the SEND Tribunal – this adds an extra step and could make it harder for families to access tribunals.

Finally, the Green Paper does not answer the biggest issue for many families – how are councils, schools, the health service and others going to be held to account if they don’t meet their legal duties?

Join the Disabled Children's Partnership's (DCP) #SENDABetterMessage campaign, and tell your MP that we demand a fairer system of support for every disabled child.

The DCP is running a virtual parliamentary event, hosted by Mary Foy MP, on 17 June 2022 to bring the voices of disabled young people and parent carers directly to politicians. You can also use this action to invite your MP to this event.

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If you have any questions about the #SENDABetterMessage campaign, you can email us at disabledchildrens.partnership@mencap.org.uk.

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