A report examined the needs of three groups of children not accorded the full protection of the Children Act 1989 - unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; disabled children at residential special schools; and children who were privately fostered or who lived with relatives other than their birth parents.
Source: Jenny Morris, Children on the Edge of Care: Human rights and the Children Act, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2005-Nov
A study compared the extent to which disabled and non-disabled young people had achieved their aspirations for work and education by the age of 26. Many disabled people had had their ambitions frustrated by their mid-twenties, and were left intensely disappointed at their inability to shape their own future.
Source: Tania Burchardt, The Education and Employment of Disabled Young People: Frustrated ambition, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The government announced that families in England needing to adapt their homes to care for a disabled child would no longer be subject to means testing, from December 2005.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 27 October 2005, column 13WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | ODPM press release | JRF press release | NCH press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report made recommendations to improve the service for disabled children in hospital and their families.
Source: Care at its Best: Overview report of the multidisciplinary regional inspection of the service for disabled children in hospital, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | NIE press release
Date: 2005-Oct
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of the different models of multi-agency key worker services for disabled children.
Source: Veronica Greco, Patricia Sloper, Rosemary Webb and Jennifer Beecham, An Exploration of Different Models of Multi-Agency Partnerships in Key Worker Services for Disabled Children: Effectiveness and costs, Research Report 656, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
A report examined the issues affecting children with terminal conditions, and their families. The effect of these conditions on children was profound, especially if the condition was neurological. The lives of their families also became extremely stressful and complicated. Over half of mothers with a life-limited child had significant mental health problems.
Source: Iona Joy, Valuing Short Lives: Children with terminal conditions and their families, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report (pdf) | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Jul
A report examined the needs of disabled children and their families. Disabled children had the same needs as other children: to learn, have fun, make friends, play, and go on holiday. However, they faced many barriers that prevented them from doing these things, leading to loneliness and frustration.
Source: Cathy Langerman and Eve Worrall, Ordinary Lives: Disabled children and their families, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Report (pdf) | NPC press release | Children Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
The Welsh Assembly Government announced that families with disabled children would no longer have to pass a means test for the disabled facilities grant (available to fund adaptations that enabled disabled people to continue to live in their own homes).
Source: Press release 27 April 2005, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: WAG press release | Mencap press release
Date: 2005-Apr
A report summarized evidence on the extra costs incurred by families with two or more disabled children, and considered whether income from state benefits was sufficient to cover their needs.
Source: Gabrielle Preston, Hard-working Families: Caring for two or more disabled children, Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Apr
A report considered whether the benefits system adequately reflected the specific needs of disabled people with parental responsibilities.
Source: Gabrielle Preston, Family Values: Disabled parents, extra costs and the benefit system, Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Apr
A report said that policy on childcare had failed to address the needs of families with disabled children, who could face 'exhausting battles' to find suitable provision.
Source: Everyone Counts: Supporting the childcare needs of disabled children, children with special educational needs and their families, Daycare Trust (020 7840 3350)
Links: Report (pdf) | Daycare Trust press release | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report explored the ways in which experience of, and views about, childcare differed for families with children with special educational needs in England. There were indications that the childcare market was somewhat different for parents with children with SEN compared to other parents. They felt that there were fewer suitable childcare places in their local area; they more often failed to find suitable childcare at the times they needed it; and they frequently suffered from breakdowns at short notice in their childcare arrangements.
Source: Caroline Bryson, Ivana La Valle, Ruth O Shea and Matt Barnes, Use of Childcare Among Families with Children who have Special Educational Needs, Research Report SSU/2005/FR/012, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A report provided detailed information on the specific nature of the socio-economic disadvantage experienced by families bringing up a child with disabilities.
Source: Eric Emerson and Chris Hatton, The Socio-Economic Circumstances of Families Supporting a Child at Risk of Disability in Britain in 2002, Institute for Health Research/Lancaster University (01524 594103)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A paper investigated the experience of families with disabled children who applied for disability living allowance, and how they used additional benefit income. Families reported that DLA made a significant difference, not just for the disabled child but for the whole family. However, the fact that DLA was repeatedly downrated or withdrawn generated considerable fluctuations in income and high levels of stress and ill-health. The report outlined issues that needed to be addressed if poverty among disabled children were to be reduced.
Source: Gabrielle Preston, Helter Skelter: Families, disabled children and the benefit system, CASEpaper 92, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2005-Feb
An article examined approaches to estimating the prevalence of disability among children. It said that diagnostic labels had limited use when collecting data about disabled children: it would be easier and at least equally effective (in most cases) to ask carers directly rather than applying descriptive thresholds and external judgements.
Source: T. Hutchison and David Gordon, 'Ascertaining the prevalence of childhood disability', Child: Care, Health and Development, Volume 31 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan
A report called on the government to do more to support young disabled people in Northern Ireland. It made recommendations designed to encourage improved support in relation to youth-work practice.
Source: Hazel Gordon, The Importance of Being Inclusive, Disability Action (028 9029 7880)
Links: Ulster University press release
Date: 2005-Jan