A new book looked at the experiences of children with a disabled brother or sister.
Source: Peter Burke, Brothers and Sisters of Disabled Children, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Sep
A think-tank paper said that recent government initiatives on services for disabled children, while well-intentioned, had worsened already poor levels of care. The money spent on social service commissioning should be allocated directly to disabled families, as a non-means-tested payment paid in addition to existing benefits: families would be free to decide how to spend the money on the care of their choice. 'Care assessment teams' should be established as a one-stop shop for disabled families. The supply of respite and residential care homes should be liberated by 'modernizing' the regulatory approach, and by providing a more attractive fiscal regime.
Source: Florence Heath and Richard Smith, People, Not Budgets: Valuing disabled children, Centre for Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
An article reported 'significant gaps' in the research evidence about the participation of disabled children in decision-making, both regarding their own lives and about the shape of service delivery.
Source: Judith Cavet and Patricia Sloper, 'Participation of disabled children in individual decisions about their lives and in public decisions about service development', Children & Society, Volume 18 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Sep
A report called for radical changes in the design of playgrounds to give disabled children a better chance - in particular, firm, smooth access paths; dropped kerbs at entrances and on pathways; and bright colours to identify changes in levels or other hazards.
Source: Can Play, Will Play; Playgrounds for disabled children, National Playing Fields Association (024 7652 1122)
Links: NPFA press release
Date: 2004-Aug
A report said that disabled children and their brothers and sisters suffered an acute lack of the summer holiday activities that other families took for granted.
Source: Neera Sharma and Rachel Dowling, Postcards from Home: The experience of disabled children in the school holidays, Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Report (pdf) | Barnardo's press release | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Aug
A study investigated participation work which included disabled children and young people. It was found that disabled children were being involved in a range of decision-making areas concerning their own care and within service development. But participation was still patchy, and involvement at a higher strategic level was rare.
Source: Anita Franklin and Patricia Sloper, Participation of Disabled Children and Young People in Decision-Making within Social Services Departments in England, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
The government said that it had adopted the estimate of around 700,000 children in Britain covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, based on the Family Resources Survey 2002-03. The estimate included all persons aged under 16, and those aged 16-18 who were unmarried, in full-time non-advanced education and living at home. The estimate would be updated annually, at the same time as the estimate of adults covered by the Act.
Source: Press release 21 July 2004, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: DWP press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A report described some of the barriers experienced by disabled people in getting involved in their children's education.
Source: Jenny Morris, Disabled Parents and Schools: Barriers to parental involvement in children's education, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A report reviewed young disabled people s experience of leisure provision and access, and how leisure providers could work with them to develop more inclusive facilities.
Source: Pippa Murray, Making Connections: Developing inclusive leisure in policy and practice, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Jun
An article explored disabled young people s own accounts of the transition to adulthood, and what had facilitated their achievement of jobs and independent living - in particular the role of their parents.
Source: Gillian Pascall and Nicola Hendey, 'Disability and transition to adulthood: The politics of parenting', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-May
A report drew together available information about the numbers, circumstances and outcomes of disabled children in residential placements provided by social care, education and health services.
Source: Disabled Children in Residential Placements, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288) and Department of Health
Links: Report (Word file) | Summary
Date: 2004-Apr
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the human rights of a severely disabled boy and his mother were violated when doctors (who thought the boy was dying) overrode his mother's objections and gave him drugs to ease his death.
Source: Glass v United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights (+33 0 3884 12018)
Links: Summary of judgement | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
Researchers examined the co-ordination of care services for families with disabled children. Only 35 local authority areas (22 per cent) reported having a care co-ordination service.
Source: Veronica Greco, Patricia Sloper and Katy Barton, Care Coordination and Key Worker Services for Disabled Children in the UK, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Findings (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
A survey asked parents of disabled children what effect they thought having a disabled child had had on their relationship. 23 per cent thought that it had brought them closer together; 19 per cent that it had little effect; 31 per cent that it had caused some problems; 13 per cent that it had caused major problems; and 9 per cent that it had led to separation.
Source: Relationships between Parents who have a Disabled Child: A survey of over 2,000 parents in the UK, Contact a Family (020 7608 8700)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Feb
A report examined the provision of support services for children with disabilities and their families in Northern Ireland. It said that policy developments such as the appointment of the Commissioner for Children, and the 10-year strategy for children and young people, should help to improve service provision.
Source: Berni Kelly and Marina Monteith, Supporting Disabled Children and their Families in Northern Ireland: Research and policy review, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Feb
A report by an independent review group (led by Frank Dobson MP) said that children would enjoy a healthier lifestyle if they had access to better-quality, safe and clean outdoor play areas. It recommended that play areas and facilities should be updated and modified to ensure that more disabled youngsters could have access to them; and should also be open to more children outside normal school hours. It said that most of the 200 million being offered by the government to upgrade and build new facilities (out of Lottery cash from the New Opportunities Fund) should be allocated to areas based on their levels of deprivation.
Source: Getting Serious About Play: A review of children s play, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6412)
Links: Report (pdf) | CABE press release | Mencap press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Community Care article
Date: 2004-Jan
A working group in Northern Ireland recommended that the parents of disabled children (up to age 18) should be exempt from the means test for disabled facilities grant.
Source: Disabled Facilities Grant Working Group, Review of the Means Test for Parents with Disabled Children, Department of Social Development/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9056 9216)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
A new book described the lives of South Asian families with a child with severe disabilities, and placed their experiences in the wider context of how culture and ethnicity can impact on a family s experience of disability. It highlighted ways of improving the cultural sensitivity of disability services and parental and family support.
Source: Chris Hatton, Yasmeen Akram, Robina Shah, Janet Robertson and Eric Emerson, Supporting South Asian Families with a Child with Severe Disabilities, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jan
A report described the research conducted to inform development of the non-statutory good practice guide on accessible play space for disabled children, published by the government in November 2003.
Source: Karen Dunn, Michele Moore and Pippa Murray, Research on Developing Accessible Play Space: Final report, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan