About Us

Children and young people with special educational needs or who are disabled (SEND) want the same, ordinary things, that other children take for granted

■ A nursery, school or college place where they are happy, belong and can achieve

■ The opportunity to make friends and take part in activities and clubs outside and after school

■ The health and care support they need, when they need it

And their parents want the same, ordinary, things as other parents

■ to get the support their children need without an unnecessary fight

■ not having to stop work or put careers on hold

■ to have time for their own friends and their own interests.

Nothing about this sounds any different to what any young person or parent would want. It shouldn’t be anything special. But this is not the reality of their lives now. Young people and parents face delays and a constant battle to get the education they need. It leads to children not getting a nursery place, missing school, lost learning and friendships, and parents having to put their working lives on hold.

 

Secret Life of Us

Only 20% of disabled young people

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...say they have the right amount of formal support to achieve the things they want in life

Secret Life of Us

60% of disabled young people

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...say they are not getting the right support from their school or college

Secret Life of Us

20% of disabled young people...

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...believe that their views and opinions are listened to by health and social care staff

“SEN parents should be allowed to dream ordinary dreams.  Our kids just need a bit more support to achieve them”

The Disabled Children’s Partnership exists to: provide a platform for the voices of disabled children and family members; challenge the inequalities and barriers in the provision of disabled children’s health and social care services; improve the quality of services available; make sure families can access those services; and ensure professionals communicate with each other and work together.

But, we can’t achieve this when nearly half of the British public (43%) don’t know anyone who is disabled so are simply unaware of the challenges they face.

The truth is we need public support, understanding and empathy to affect change and make a lasting difference to the way disabled children are treated in society.

In order to achieve the change we need, we will bring the realities of the lives of disabled children, young people and their families closer to people across England.

Help us fight to make this change.

Help us create a country where disabled children and young people have the right support and access to the same opportunities that most of us take for granted.

The work of the Disabled Children’s Partnership is possible due to the generous support of Pears Foundation.

If you need advice on any aspect of caring for disabled children please call the Contact freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 or visit: www.contact.org.uk

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The campaign is supported by