A survey of 3,000 parents of severely disabled children provided, for the first time, data at a national level on the housing needs of disabled children and their families.
Source: Bryony Beresford and Christine Oldman, Housing Matters: National evidence relating to disabled children and their housing, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings N72
Date: 2002-Nov
Researchers spoke to 44 visually impaired children about the difficulties they have finding their way around their homes and neighbourhoods and how they and their families overcome these.
Source: Chris Allen, Joanne Milner and Dawn Price, Home is Where the Start is: The housing and urban experiences of visually impaired children, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings N82
Date: 2002-Nov
A review examined policy, practice and research in Scotland regarding young disabled people as they become adults, and made a series of recommendations for improving support.
Source: Kirsten Stalker, Young Disabled People Moving into Adulthood in Scotland, Foundations N42, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: JRF Foundations N42
Date: 2002-Nov
A study drew out a number of underlying principles and themes that are important in meeting the housing needs of disabled children and their families. A key issue for families is being able to find out information about the kinds of help that are available.
Source: Mark Bevan, Housing and Disabled Children: The art of the possible, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings N62
Date: 2002-Nov
Researchers found that young people with physical disabilities who are cared for by multidisciplinary 'young adult teams' are much more likely than those who use ad hoc services to participate in society.
Source: N. Bent, A. Tennant, T. Swift, J. Posnett, P. Scuffham, and M. Chamberlain, 'Team approach versus ad hoc health services for young people with physical disabilities: a retrospective cohort study', The Lancet 26.10.02 (020 7424 4910)
Links: Article
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers found that short breaks are beneficial for children with autistic spectrum disorders, if provided appropriately; but that the provision of support for children and teenagers with ASD and their families is inhibited by a lack of services and adequate funding.
Source: Better for the Break: Support for children and teenagers with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, Barnardo's (01268 522872)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
A study explored the concept of quality in services as defined by disabled or chronically ill children and young people and their families, and identified key quality service indicators.
Source: Wendy Mitchell and Patricia Sloper, Quality Services for Disabled Children, Research Works 2002-02, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A research report on childhood disability provided a baseline measurement of the response of key public services in Northern Ireland to disabled children and their families.
Source: Marina Monteith, Eithne McLaughlin, Sharon Milner and Linda Hamilton, 'Is Anyone Listening?': Childhood Disability and Public Services in Northern Ireland, Barnardo's Northern Ireland (028 9067 2366)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A new book provided an overview of current policy and practice in the provision of services for disabled children and their families, together with a guide to best practice for the production of an information guide to services.
Source: Val Bagnall and Bridgette Wessels, Information and Joining up Services: The case of an information guide for parents of disabled children, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Sep
From September 2002 it is unlawful for providers of educational facilities to discriminate against disabled children and young people.
Source: Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Act
Date: 2002-Sep
A charity called for government action to tackle poverty and social exclusion among disabled children, by providing suitable childcare, accessible housing, and support for parents who are working or seeking work.
Source: Neera Sharma, Still Missing Out?, Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A project consulted over 100 disabled teenagers to find out about their access to leisure services, activities and pastimes.
Source: Pippa Murray, Hello! Are you Listening? Disabled Teenagers Experience of Access to Inclusive Leisure, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 712
Date: 2002-Jul
A study of South Asian young disabled people concluded that there is a need for policy and practice to recognise diversity, and not assume that Western ideas about disability have the same meaning for Asian young people and their families.
Source: Yasmin Hussain, Karl Atkin and Waqar Ahmad, South Asian Disabled Young People and their Families, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings 742
Date: 2002-Jul
A research review identified key barriers faced by young disabled people moving into adulthood.
Source: J. Morris, Moving into Adulthood, Foundations 512, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: JRF Foundations 512
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 1.8)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report found disabled children suffer widespread exclusion from leisure and play activities.
Source: Pauline Shelley, Everybody Here?: Play and Leisure for Disabled Children and Young People, Contact a Family (020 7608 8700)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 1.8)
Date: 2002-Jun
A review examined the difficulties faced by families of black disabled children in getting access to short breaks.
Sources: R. Flynn, Short Breaks: Providing Better Access and More Choice for Black Disabled Children and Their Parents, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings 582
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 5.4)
Date: 2002-May