The Disabled Children’s Partnership is calling for MPs and Peers from all parties to show their support for disabled children and families across the country by publicly signing up to become a ‘Disabled Children’s Champion’ – backing our #LeftInLockdown campaign for targeted COVID-19 recovery policies for the whole family.
Disabled children and their families are being #LeftInLockdown and shut out of the public conversation on COVID-19 recovery. Our research shows that nearly three quarters of disabled children have seen their progress managing their conditions – and their overall development – regress in the pandemic, as vital services have been restricted. We can’t let families be left behind.
Every MP has a responsibility to stand-up for those in our society that are facing the worst injustices. Every MP has disabled children in their constituency. Every MP should be a champion for them.
Before becoming a champion, parliamentarians will need to read and sign-up to the following commitment:
I commit to supporting disabled children, young people and families in Westminster as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Research from the Disabled Children’s Partnership clearly shows that they have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic as health services, therapies, respite care and other services have been inevitably interrupted by the virus and its restrictions.
As the Government implements policies to help the country recover from the pandemic, disabled children should be actively included in the conversation. We need a COVID-19 recovery plan for disabled children and families that provides support for burnt out families who feel more isolated than ever, and restores vital therapies and health services to aid children’s development and help them recover both physically and emotionally.
If you are a parliamentarian that wants to sign-up, please email us on disabledchildrens.partnership@mencap.org.uk.
Here is the full list of MPs and Peers that have backed our calls for recovery policies for disabled children and became a champion so far:
Afzal Khan MP
Andrew Mitchell MP
Andy Carter MP
Alan Brown MP
Alan Whitehead MP
Alexander Stafford MP
Alex Cunningham MP
Bambos Charalambous MP
Barbara Keeley MP
Baroness Bertin
Baroness Brinton
Baroness Hollins
Baroness Lister
Baroness Ritchie
Baroness Uddin
Barry Sheerman MP
Bill Esterson MP
Caroline Ansell MP
Caroline Lucas MP
Cat Smith MP
Christine Jardine MP
Clive Betts MP
Daisy Cooper MP
Damian Hinds MP
Dan Carden MP
Debbie Abrahams MP
Derek Twigg MP
Desmond Swayne MP
Diana Johnson MP
Douglas Chapman MP
Ed Davey MP
Elliot Colburn MP
Emma Hardy MP
Emma Lewell-Buck MP
Fleur Anderson MP
Flick Drummond MP
George Howarth MP
Gill Furniss MP
Grahame Morris MP
Graham Stringer MP
Helen Hayes MP
Henry Smith MP
Huw Merriman MP
James Davies MP
Jess Phillips MP
John Hayes MP
John McNally MP
Joy Morrissey MP
Karen Buck MP
Karin Smyth MP
Kate Osborne MP
Kerry McCarthy MP
Kim Johnson MP
Kirsty Blackman MP
Layla Moran MP
Lisa Cameron MP
Liz Twist MP
Lord Touhig
Lord Wigley
Maria Miller MP
Marion Fellows MP
Mark Tami MP
Marsha de Cordova MP
Mary Foy MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
Mick Whitley MP
Mike Penning MP
Miriam Cates MP
Munira Wilson MP
Olivia Blake MP
Ian Lavery MP
Paula Barker MP
Philippa Whitford MP
Rachael Maskell MP
Rachel Hopkins MP
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP
Rosie Cooper MP
Rushanara Ali MP
Sally-Ann Hart MP
Selaine Saxby MP
Sarah Champion MP
Sarah Olney MP
Simon Jupp MP
Stephen Hammond MP
Stephen Timms MP
Steve Brine MP
Siobhan Baillie MP
Siobhain McDonagh MP
Tim Loughton MP
Tony Lloyd MP
Trudy Harrison MP
Vicky Foxcroft MP
Virendra Sharma MP
Virginia Crosbie MP
Wera Hobhouse MP
William Wragg MP