Words by Smiley Team
For parents and families of disabled children, even the simplest of tasks can present a huge challenge.
Going to the park, visiting a supermarket or going to school can become impossible, but this does not have to be the case.
The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is a coalition of more than 80 charities and organisations that support disabled children and their families. They have launched the Give It Back campaign asking the government to fill a £434 million funding gap, which would transform disabled children’s lives.
This lack of money means that many children and their families are currently unable to lead a fulfilling and fun life.
Research from the DCP revealed that only four per cent of parent carers feel they get the right support to safely care for their disabled children, and more than a third say their disabled child has missed school or college because the staff or services are not available to support them.
Amanda Batten is chair of the DCP. She said: “Services for disabled children have never been perfect.
“But cuts to budgets combined with a 33 per cent increase in the number of disabled children over the last decade means we have reached a critical point – one where we need to decide what kind of country we want to be. We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable children in society.
“We are calling on the Chancellor to give back the £434 million missing from vital services that help families care safely for their disabled child.”
Families of disabled children have backed the campaign, including Vickey Lewis from Southampton.
Vickey’s son Oliver, seven, has an ultra-rare genetic disorder which means any muscle in his body, from his arms to his heart, can become paralysed for anything between minutes to weeks.
In a letter to the Chancellor Vickey writes: “Ollie needs constant supervision and can never be left alone. He can stop breathing at any time, day or night. We put him to bed and pray that tonight won’t be the night that he stops breathing and doesn’t start again.
“Like so many others, we get no support to help us care for Ollie.
“Support would mean that we can simply be mum and dad to Ollie and his sister Lisi rather than having to constantly think about what medications are needed or when the next feed is due or when he last had a wee.
“I know that our story is not unique, that's why we’re asking the Chancellor to give back the funding rightfully owed to our family and thousands of others like us.”
The DCP need you to support the Give It Back campaign. They are urging supporters to write to their MP to ask how they are supporting families with disabled children. Find out who your MP is and their contact details here. You can also follow the DCP on Twitter for more information.
