The report of an independent review (led by Peter Doran) set out a strategy for provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs in Scotland.
Source: The Right Help at the Right Time in the Right Place: Strategic review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs, Scottish Government
Links: Review report | Scottish Government response | Scottish Government press release | Capability Scotland press release | Children in Scotland press release | Cosla press release | NASUWT press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A survey found that 9 out of 10 unemployed parents of disabled children wanted to work, but were unable to do so because of a lack of flexibility by employers.
Source: Eamonn Fetton and Janet Mearns, Finding Flexibility: Parents of disabled children and paid work, Working Families
Links: Report | Working Families press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A report raised concerns about the impact that reforms to disability living allowance (DLA) would have on the ability of young disabled people aged 16-25 to establish independent living. It warned that not enough consultation had been done with disabled young people to ensure that personal independence payments (PIP), which would replace DLA from October 2013, met their needs. It called on the government to work more closely with disabled young people and to monitor the impact PIP had on them when it was introduced.
Source: Disabled Young People and Personal Independence Payments, Every Disabled Child Matters/Royal National Institute of Blind People
Links: Report | EDCM press release
Date: 2012-Oct
A report said that families with disabled children were 'at breaking point' due to a chronic shortage of support and services in their local area. Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of families with disabled children were not getting critical support such as childcare or nursery places, appropriate schools, essential therapies, or even healthcare.
Source: Keep Us Close: Ensuring good, inclusive and accessible local services for disabled children and their families, Scope
Links: Report | Scope press release | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Oct
An article examined the evidence relating to the impact of institutionalization on disabled children in Europe. It explored the human rights, legislative, and policy framework underpinning institutionalization and outlined areas that required development. It assessed some of the most recent advances in policy and action to address the issue and made recommendations for transforming systems of health, education, and social protection services for children and families, in order to end the institutionalization of children.
Source: Georgette Mulheir, 'Deinstitutionalisation a human rights priority for children with disabilities', Equal Rights Review, Volume 9
Links: Article
Date: 2012-Sep
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that disabled children were at risk of slipping through the child protection net. Many children and their families received good multi-agency early support: but too many children had child protection needs that went unidentified.
Source: Protecting Disabled Children: Thematic inspection report, HMI 120122, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | LGA press release | Mencap press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report | Public Finance report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Aug
An article examined parallels between childhood studies and disability studies, focusing on children's participation in research.
Source: Kay Tisdall, 'The challenge and challenging of childhood studies? Learning from disability studies and research with disabled children', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
An article said that secondary analyses of large-scale population-based survey data could provide valuable insights into the ways in which the social and environmental contexts of disabled childhoods could compound (or redress) the disadvantage and inequality faced by disabled children.
Source: Eric Emerson, 'Understanding disabled childhoods: what can we learn from population-based studies?', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
An annual survey of families with disabled children found that 1 in 7 (14 per cent) of those with an earner(s) were missing meals, and 1 in 6 (17 per cent) could not afford to heat their homes. For families without an earner due to caring responsibilities, almost one-quarter (24 per cent) were going without food, and one-third (32 per cent) without heating.
Source: Counting the Costs 2012: The financial reality for families with disabled children across the UK, Contact a Family
Links: CAF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2012-May
An article examined policy and legal changes in relation to disabled children and their families. It discussed attempts to transform the ways that disabled children were perceived and the rights accorded to them; and it considered whether these initiatives had contributed to equality of opportunity for disabled children. The association between poverty, deprivation, and child disability was a major challenge for social policy.
Source: Janet Read, Clare Blackburn, and Nick Spencer, 'Disabled children and their families: a decade of policy change', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
An article examined recent developments in disability theory and their usefulness for providing an understanding of the lives of disabled children.
Source: Nick Watson, 'Theorising the lives of disabled children: how can disability theory help?', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
An article outlined a schema to guide future research into disabled children's lives, designed to reduce the fragmented approach that currently existed.
Source: John Carpenter and Roy McConkey, 'Disabled children's voices: the nature and role of future empirical enquiry', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
A report examined the relationship between the distribution of families with disabled children in Wales and child poverty. It found a complex picture, with the highest density of families with disabled children living in the most deprived areas: but with large numbers living across Wales in the least deprived areas.
Source: Keith Bowen and Clare Kassa, Reaching Families in Wales: Mapping families with disabled children, Family Fund/Contact a Family Wales
Links: Report
Date: 2012-May
A collection of articles examined different aspects of research into the lives of disabled children and young people.
Source: John Carpenter and Roy McConkey, 'Disabled children's voices: the nature and role of future empirical enquiry', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3 | Bryony Beresford, 'Working on well-being: researchers experiences of a participative approach to understanding the subjective well-being of disabled young people', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3 | Janet Read, Clare Blackburn, and Nick Spencer, 'Disabled children and their families: a decade of policy change', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3 | Eric Emerson, 'Understanding disabled childhoods: what can we learn from population-based studies?', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3 | Nick Watson, 'Theorising the lives of disabled children: how can disability theory help?', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3 | Kay Tisdall, 'The challenge and challenging of childhood studies? Learning from disability studies and research with disabled children', Children & Society, Volume 26 Number 3
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2012-Apr
The inspectorate for healthcare and social care said that access to health care services for disabled children and young people in England was 'variable'. Five primary care trusts claimed that there were no disabled children living in their area.
Source: Health Care for Disabled Children and Young People: A review of how the health care needs of disabled children and young people are met by the commissioners and providers of health care in England, Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | CQC press release | ADCS press release | Community Care report
Date: 2012-Mar
An article reviewed research about child abuse, child protection, and disabled children published in academic journals between 1996 and 2009. In Britain, little was known about what happened to disabled children who had been abused and how well safeguarding services addressed their needs. Very few studies had sought disabled children's own accounts of abuse or safeguarding.
Source: Kirsten Stalker and Katherine McArthur, 'Child abuse, child protection and disabled children: a review of recent research', Child Abuse Review, Volume 21 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
A study examined statements published by local authorities on short break provision for parents of disabled children. Most statements met the requirements of statutory regulations in almost every criterion: this demonstrated a marked improvement in local provision of short breaks, in transparency, and in information provision.
Source: Helen Honstvet, Short Breaks Services Statements: Commitment and transparency, Every Disabled Child Matters
Links: Report | EDCM press release
Date: 2012-Jan
A report provided an overview of the situation of children with intellectual disabilities in 22 European countries (including the United Kingdom), with a particular focus on their rights in 5 areas: protection against abuse, family support and (de-)institutionalization, health, education, and participation.
Source: Camille Latimier and Jan Siska, Children s Rights for All! Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for children with intellectual disabilities – A European report, Inclusion Europe
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Jan