A report examined the practice and commissioning implications of the widespread introduction of individual budgets for children with disabilities. It highlighted the key role that commissioning at both the strategic and operational levels should play in: enabling the use of self-directed support, and the complementary changes in the way integrated services were provided; personalizing universal services; and developing the capacity of local communities to provide informal support.
Source: Nic Crosby and Clive Miller, Introducing Individual Budgets and Self-directed Support for Disabled Children, Young People and Their Families and Carers, Office of Public Management (020 7239 7800)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined the socio-economic circumstances faced by families supporting a child at risk of disability, and the extent to which disability was associated with hardship. Families supporting a child at risk of disability were significantly more disadvantaged across a wide range of indicators of socio-economic position. The hardship experienced by these families was only partly accounted for by between group differences in income, debt, and savings. Children who were already at risk of disability as a result of a range of physical and cognitive impairments were more likely than other children to live under conditions that impeded development, increased the risk of poor health and (additional) disability, and increase the risk of social exclusion.
Source: Eric Emerson and Chris Hatton, 'The socio-economic circumstances of children at risk of disability in Britain', Disability & Society, Volume 22 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Oct
A report examined household characteristics of disabled people and carers. Disabled people were more likely to live alone and less likely to be a parent of dependent children. Disabled people also tended to be older as a group then non-disabled people. Children were least likely to be reported as disabled if they were living with a married couple, compared to those living with cohabiting couples or lone parents. Over 40 per cent of disabled lone parents reported having a disabled child.
Source: Stephen McKay and Adele Atkinson, Disability and Caring Among Families with Children: Family employment and poverty characteristics, Research Report 460, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release | Bristol University press release
Date: 2007-Oct
An article examined the experiences of disabled foster-children compared to non-disabled foster-children. Foster-children with learning but not other impairments were less likely to be adopted. All disabled children were less likely to return home, and therefore remained in foster-care for longer. Disabled children who were adopted, or who returned home, did so after a greater delay compared to non-disabled children. By contrast, children who were 'clearly disabled' achieved a greater degree of permanence within the care system.
Source: Claire Baker, 'Disabled children's experience of permanency in the looked after system', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Oct
An article examined the policy objective of treating children with learning disabilities as 'children first' – that is, providing them with equality of treatment based on assessment of need. Families of children with disabilities had far greater problems and difficulties than other families refused support by children's services: but they experienced significantly more positive outcomes at 6-month follow up than other families. This suggested a far more complex situation than was generally indicated in the literature.
Source: John Clibbens and Michael Sheppard, 'Are children with learning disabilities really "children first"? A needs and outcome evaluation of policy', Social and Public Policy Review, Volume 1 Issue 2
Links: Article
Date: 2007-Oct
A report examined the relationships between health, disability, caring, and employment in families with children. Similar proportions of working and non-working parents reported long-standing health conditions among children: but those who were not working were more likely to describe the condition as limiting.
Source: Adele Atkinson, Andrea Finney and Stephen McKay, Health, Disability, Caring and Employment Longitudinal analysis, Research Report 461, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release | Bristol University press release
Date: 2007-Oct
Researchers examined the financial costs and benefits of two services for disabled children and their families – short breaks and key worker services. It highlighted the fact that financial savings were only one potential benefit of services for disabled children. Other non-economic benefits, such as the happiness of the family, might also affect decisions: but as yet sufficient tools did not exist with which to measure their impact.
Source: John Copps and Lucy Heady, What Price an Ordinary Life? The financial costs and benefits of supporting disabled children and their families, New Philanthropy Capital (0207 401 8080)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Sep
A report examined which outcomes disabled children and their parents wished to achieve from service provision. There was a need to widen the definitions of key concepts within the government's 'Every Child Matters' framework to take into account the views and capabilities of disabled children. There was also a need for a better balance between parents' caring and parenting roles.
Source: Bryony Beresford, Parvaneh Rabiee and Patricia Sloper, Priorities and Perceptions of Disabled Children and Young People and Their Parents Regarding Outcomes from Support Services, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Date: 2007-Sep
A report examined the findings from focus groups conducted with parents of children with disabilities and special educational needs, asking them about their use of, views on, and needs for childcare. Some parents of children with severe and complex additional needs used very little or no formal childcare, instead becoming full-time carers themselves and/or relying on direct payments to employ care workers in the home.
Source: Listening to Parents of Disabled Children about Childcare, Daycare Trust (020 7840 3350)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Sep
A report provided evidence for policy formulation across the disabled children?s services market, linked to a government review.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Market for Disabled Children?s Services: A review, Research Report RW003, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Aug
A report said that almost all families with disabled children were suffering from financial difficulties.
Source: Disabled Children and Child Poverty, Every Disabled Child Matters (020 7843 6448)
Links: Report | EDCM press release | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Aug
A survey found that children with learning disabilities were twice as likely to face bullying as other youngsters: 8 out of 10 were bullied either at school or when they went out in the evening.
Source: Press release 18 June 2007, Mencap (020 7454 0454)
Links: Mencap press release | EDCM press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jun
A report called for greater investment in toy libraries to help families on low incomes and children with disabilities. It said that toy libraries should be an integral part of Sure Start children?s centres and schools.
Source: Toy Libraries: Their benefits for children, families and communities, Capacity (020 8977 1688)
Links: Capacity press release
Date: 2007-Jun
A briefing paper said that regardless of the nature of their child's impairment, most black and minority ethnic families with a disabled child were living in unsuitable housing.
Source: Bryony Beresford, The Housing Needs of Black and Minority Ethnic Disabled Children and Their Families, Race Equality Foundation (020 7619 6220)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2007-Jun
Researchers examined desired outcomes of support services from the perspectives of disabled children, young people, and their parents. What an outcome meant for a disabled child could sometimes be very different to what that outcome would mean for a non-disabled child.
Source: Bryony Beresford, Parvaneh Rabiee and Patricia Sloper, Priorities and Perceptions of Disabled Children and Young People and Their Parents Regarding Outcomes from Support Services, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-May
An article reported the findings of interviews with parents of disabled children who were users of seven key-worker schemes in England and Wales. It highlighted the need for protected time for key workers; for clear information about their role; for access to training and information; for key workers to be proactive; and for involving them in care plan and review meetings.
Source: Veronica Greco, Patricia Sloper, Rosemary Webb and Jennifer Beecham, 'Key worker services for disabled children: the views of parents', Children & Society, Volume 21 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
An article examined how one local authority (in the north-west of England) had made direct payments widely available to carers of disabled children, and the effect that this had had on the carers' and their children's lives.
Source: Craig Blyth and Ali Gardner, '"We're not asking for anything special": direct payments and the carers of disabled children', Disability & Society, Volume 22 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
The government published a review of services and support for families with disabled children. It set out a programme of action across health, social services, and education, designed to provide a more co-ordinated approach to service provision, and to enhance equality and opportunity for disabled children and their families. It focused on three priority areas: access and empowerment, response services and timely support; and improving quality and capacity of services. It was underpinned by an additional public funding of £340 million.
Source: Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558) and Department for Education and Skills
Links: Report | HMT press release | Speech | OCC press release | EDCM press release (1) | EDCM press release (2) | Carers UK press release | DRC press release | CPAG press release | Mencap press release | Princess Royal Trust press release | FT report | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Community Care report | Children Now report | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-May
An article examined the strategies of service providers, and the benefits reported by disabled children and their parents/carers, in three Children's Fund programmes in England. It highlighted the need for holistic approaches which had a broad view of inclusion, supported children's networks, and tackled disabling barriers within all the spheres of children's lives.
Source: Ruth Evans and Gill Plumridge, 'Inclusion, social networks and resilience: strategies, practices and outcomes for disabled children and their families', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
A report examined how Sure Start local programmes delivered services to families where there were children with specials needs and disabilities.
Source: Anne Pinney, A Better Start: Children and families with special needs and disabilities in Sure Start local programmes, Report 019, Sure Start Unit/Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Date: 2007-Mar
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to provide for the assessment and delivery (in England and Wales) of short breaks and respite care for carers of disabled children; to amend the law relating to disabled children and their carers; and to place duties on local authorities and the National Health Service in respect of disabled children and their carers. The Bill failed to receive a second reading after the government said that it would not support it because of the £190 million annual cost.
Source: Disabled Children (Family Support) Bill, Gary Streeter MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Briefing | HOC research brief | EDCM press release | NCH press release | Community Care report (1) | Community Care report (2) | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2007-Feb
The disability rights watchdog said that many schools failed to listen to advice from disabled children or their parents about what helped them at school and in accessing the curriculum.
Source: Ann Lewis, Sarah Parsons and Christopher Robertson, My School, My Family, My Life: Telling It Like It Is, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | Summary | DRC press release
Date: 2007-Feb
An article examined the experiences of disabled children aged 7-15. They experienced disability in four ways - in terms of impairment, difference, other people's behaviour towards them, and material barriers.
Source: Clare Connors and Kirsten Stalker, 'Children's experiences of disability: pointers to a social model of childhood disability', Disability & Society, Volume 22 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Feb
An article examined the experiences of care and support for parents with a disabled child or children. It identified areas where services, and service representatives, might do more to challenge the disabling assumptions and work practices around the child and family.
Source: Emma Kay Clavering, 'Enabling carers to care: processes of exclusion and support for parents of young disabled children', Benefits, Volume 15 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Feb
Researchers examined participation by disabled children and young people in decision-making relating to social care. Participation at any level was only happening for a small number of disabled children. More training was needed for staff to enable them to support children's participation.
Source: Anita Franklin and Patricia Sloper, Participation of Disabled Children and Young People in Decision-making Relating to Social Care, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Date: 2007-Jan
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales examined services for disabled young people in Wales. Its recommendations included more involvement for young disabled people to choose their own carers; better complaints procedures; and more suitable rented accommodation to be made available.
Source: Service Provision for Disabled Young People: 'Why is it that disabled young people are always left until last?', Equality of Opportunity Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jan
The social care inspectorate criticized local authorities for failing to plan care for severely disabled young people when they became adults; and also for failing to consult young people about their futures.
Source: Growing Up Matters: Better transition planning for young people with complex needs, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release | DRC press release | EDCM press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
Researchers examined the exclusion of disabled children with little or no verbal communication from decision-making processes in education. The relatively low levels of involvement of such children in meetings that concerned them was indicative of the need for more consistency in the approach to their needs.
Source: Debby Watson, Beth Tarleton and Anthony Feiler, Full Report on the Findings from Research on the Involvement of Children with Little or No Verbal Communication, Norah Fry Research Centre/University of Bristol (0117 923 8137)
Date: 2007-Jan