Parents/carers of disabled children are uniting.  We are frustrated at the lack of services, abuse of our children (emotional and physical), different standards for different families, fighting to get our children the help and education they need, lack of appropriate training for our children to recognise and report abuse in a recognised manner, staff not being adequately trained or qualified to enable our children to reach their potentials and the list goes on.

Parents are often concerned about speaking out in case the little help they already have is removed.  However, if we all speak out together, we can support each other.

If you would like to see the following, please sign our petition:

1. 1.  Information that is accessible, available, relevant, timely and accurate, joined-up, and user-focussed. Information that covers access to local services, local social opportunities, all providers, all services, and at key transition points. 
2. 2.  An independent Family Liaison Officer who is able to liaise with the school/service and parents in a timely manner.  The FLO will be available during school hours and will also organise group training and information sessions for parents if sufficient need is registered.
3. 3.  A Parent Council allowing parents to raise their requests for services or information.  All requests will be discussed with the parent council members and appropriate representatives from each service.  Feedback from Parent Council meetings will be made available to all parents.
4. 4.  Individual participation in the review and planning of your child’s IEP.
5. 5.  All professionals involved with your child will be invited to attend Annual Reviews; and, if appropriate, your child will be given the opportunity to participate in this review.
6. 6.  All policies will be available to parents and staff.  Staff will receive regular training with respect to these policies and the LA will ensure that all policies are strictly adhered to at all times. 
7. 7.  Any accidents involving the child will be accurately and properly recorded and parents will be made aware of this on the date of the accident, in writing.
8. 8.  All professionals involved with the child will be given access, with parental permission, to the child within the school day and feedback of such visits will be provided to the parents.
9. 9.  A full extended school agenda will be available to all pupils and will operate regularly. Children with transport will be given the opportunity to attend if parents can make alternative travel arrangements.
10. 10.  Feedback from families will be sought regularly and then acted upon. Also a clear and well publicised complaints and suggestions process is available for every service and educational venue that enables complaints and suggestions to be promptly and fairly addressed.
11. 11.  Appropriate training for our children to recognise and report abuse.
12. 12.  an anonymous phoneline for reporting abuse directly to the safeguarding children board - who should record all reports and check for pattern.
13. 13.  trained independent support immediately available to help children when needed to report abuse (i.e. Action for Children or Children's Society)
14. 14.  Appropriate services and short breaks for our children
15. 15.  One point of access for ALL help rather than 20 different appointments
16. 16.  Transport with drivers and escorts with appropriate and adequate training

Please put your County as the first word on the comments box, this will help us to filter the responses so we can provide a breakdown for each county to help each county campaign locally.

Links