CONSULTATION WITH PARENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Analysis of current short breaks on offer show a dependence upon services provided by the Local Authority whereby the child is referred through a social worker and assessment to a package of services. Few weekend short breaks are available, some holiday provision is provided by the special schools but most disabled children depend upon their parents and carers in order to access a short break opportunity.

A recent consultation with parents stressed that most leisure or social activities could only be accessed with parental support. Parents want their child to have the opportunity to socialise with their friends and to gain some independence from their primary carers; parents also want to spend time with the siblings of the disabled child. Disabled teenagers, in particular, and those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are very isolated socially. Very little exists for them to access in the evenings or at weekends.

The largest barriers to inclusion can be summarised as a combination of factors: lack of information which is available to parents and young people about opportunities which exist; poor changing facilities; inadequate venues and equipment; lack of staff training in disability awareness and in integrating disabled children into sport and leisure opportunities and barriers to communicating with disabled children.

Few specialist clubs exist for disabled children on the Island eg. a lack of football clubs for children with Autism or Asbergers. These children lack concentration and may have poor behaviour. No wheelchair clubs exist for different sports such as basketball, football or archery. As mentioned, disabled teenagers want different activities from younger children, with their peers in a social setting. However, other teenage children may still want to access play; there are few facilities for them.

A lack of understanding and support – whether from staff or the general public – make accessing clubs and activities by disabled children difficult. Behaviour and noise are often problematic, as can be mixing with other children who are not disabled. Here a befriender or mentor would be ideal to help the disabled child gradually access more inclusive services.

Finally, parents identified their desire to spend more time with siblings of the disabled child and for their disabled child to have the opportunity to access social interaction and independence from the family. Regular, planned short breaks would provide the carers or parents with a much-needed break from caring whilst the experience for the disabled child would build confidence and self-esteem: both important for adult life.

Parents and young people, in particular, specified a wish for more SEN specific clubs eg in football, swimming, dancing, trampolining and for more dance/drama clubs. Also listed were fun days out, more adventurous and challenging activities and those activities where parents do not have to accompany their child. Safety was a big concern for parents.

Weekend activities were identified as being of the highest priority, closely followed by after-school clubs, uniformed clubs (Brownies/Scouts/Guides), and holiday schemes. Parents wanted a mix of both specialist clubs and activities (for disabled children only) and those which are open to both disabled and non-disabled children.

Consultation with young students showed that disabled children have the same needs and desires for social activities which are no different from their peers.

These range from learning new skills, to dance, drama and artistic pursuits; to more active outdoors pursuits such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking, horse riding, trampolining, golf; to team activities such as football and volleyball to attendance at local leisure opportunities and attractions such as museums, the Spinnaker Tower, music festivals and special events at the weekend eg. medieval weekends at Carisbrooke Castle. Students also expressed a desire to range further afield eg. to experience trips to London and France, in short, to do many of the things that their peers can do.

A key part of the consultation highlighted the desire to access ordinary sports and leisure facilities such as swimming. Barriers to access often identified staff as needing further training.

Parents of autistic children have highlighted the need for their children to have opportunities to socialise with other children and a chance to build their skills at gaining independence.

Ultimately, there is no difference between disabled children and those without disabilities: both want to access and experience everything that a non-disabled child would wish to.