New local campaigning guide from EDCM!
Posted by
asteroids
on 18th August 2010
at 13:24
I think the tips are good. I wish I'd had some of them before I set out on my walk. The guide will be useful for parent groups in particular.
I do wonder just how influential the 'common people' can be though. I frequently emailed my proevious MP and never got more than a standard letter back. I have contacted my new MP but she hasn't even bothered to reply. The best response I've had from an MP was from John Bercow (before he became Speaker). I wrote to him to say how impressed I was with his comments regarding the early readings of the Autism Bill. He sent a long letter back, explaining about his own family circumstances.
A few gripes about children's services:
'Assessments should
primarily identify barriers that prevent the child and family living
an ordinary life and then look at what support the local area can
give to tackle these barriers.'
This does look like the assessment is tailored to fit the support available. What if there is a service available but it doesn't exist in your local area?
'Adequate progress': how is this measured? Many parents feel that this discriminates against their ASD children because many children with ASD are intellectually average or above average. They make 'adequate progress' academically but lack social and life skills. Also, many fail to achieve their potential in education and subsequent employment.
Statements: too many parents of children with ASD are being told by their local authorities that statements are not given to children with ASD.
Asteroids Sara - Community Champion
Posted by
Elena - former Community Manager
on 18th August 2010
at 14:32
Thanks Robbie, I've been spreading the word!
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Posted by
Robbie de Santos
on 17th August 2010
at 16:08
Hello everyone!
The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign has today published Making Disabled Children Matter Locally, a helpful guide for local campaigners to campaign effectively for better services for disabled children in their area. TreeHouse is a member of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, which campaigns to raise the political profile of disabled children and their families within central and local government.
The guide explains the laws and regulations that give rights to disabled children and how campaigners can refer to them, and sets out top tips for local campaigning, whether it is organising a major local campaign or making good use of local representatives.
The publication of this guide comes at an important time, as the Coalition Government has emphasised that more decisions and policies about services, including services for disabled children, will be decided locally. This means that local individuals, families and groups will have a vital role to play in ensuring that local services meet their needs.
You can download the guide as a PDF or as a Word Document. For more information about the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, please visit their website.
What do you think of the tips in the guide? Any surprises or inspirational bits of advice in there for you?
Robbie