PARENTS’ CONSULTATION SUMMARY – JANUARY 20TH 2010, LANDGUARD MANOR

This day was held as part of the ongoing consultation process for the Aiming High for Disabled Children Transformation Programme.  The fourth conference to be held, this event targeted parents only of disabled children and those with complex needs.

Two workshops were held throughout the morning in order to find out what barriers exist with regard to accessing social and leisure opportunities for disabled children and their families on the Island.  The second workshop reinforced earlier consultation about what parents want from their short break service.  

Lizzie Streeter, from the Children’s Society, spoke about her work in enabling disabled children and young people to speak about their needs so as to impact on service development.

Responses from both workshops are summarised below.

Workshop 1: Improving Access To Social And Leisure Facilities

Most leisure facilities on the Island can only be accessed with parental support.  

The main barriers to accessing services relate to the lack of information, training and facilities available.   Little information exists for parents about what activities or services they can access for their children.  Changing facilities are poor.  Space, privacy, signage, equipment are all key issues.  Disability awareness and training programmes are essential to ensure that short breaks can be successfully accessed by disabled children.

Play equipment is often not accessible or too small for older children.  Many children are not steady and therefore find accessibility difficult.  Venues need to be secure, safe and easily accessible.

Parents would welcome a range of enjoyable and well-structured specialist SEN and fully inclusive clubs for their children. 

Key recommendations from the workshop were that a directory of information is provided, in a variety of accessible formats, as to what is available for disabled children and their parents.  Venues need to be adapted so that they are safe and accessible; for example, make changing rooms larger and unisex.  Parents want a range of well-planned and enjoyable activities which are both specialist (ie. for disabled children only) and inclusive (for all).  Activities should be provided all year round, not just in the school holidays and be inexpensive, preferably after school during the week.   Siblings should be included in this provision.  Challenging outdoor activities could be offered, alongside indoor activities such as dance/drama, swimming and trampolining.

Training is key to building sustainability.  Parents want more ‘Teacch’ workshops for all (it's a way of helping  people to adjust to the way that children and young people with autism interpret what's going on around them) and for these to include other types of disability.  Parents themselves, would welcome training and the opportunity to gain accreditation.  Training should be made available to social and leisure providers, particularly with regard to disability awareness, communication and in dealing with challenging behaviour. 

Workshop 2: Creating A Wish List For Short Breaks

Parents expressed a strong wish to have a few hours’ quality time on their own, or to be able to spend time with siblings and to be a ‘normal’ family through accessing regular, planned short breaks.  Equally important was the opportunity for their child to experience social interaction and to achieve independence from the family for short periods, building self-esteem and confidence – so important to adult life.

Short breaks need to be enjoyable, affordable and accessible; too many short breaks can only currently be accessed by means of a key professional.  Moreover, short breaks need to be well-designed and structured with a range of challenging and fun activities from computer gaming to quad biking and rocketry.   

Parents want a good relationship with their child’s carer, to have trust and confidence in staffing and to know that the child’s relationship with that carer will be consistent. 

After school clubs and weekend activities, along with youth clubs, uniformed groups (Brownies/Scouts), activities for siblings or evening activities for teenagers were of the highest priority, closely followed by play schemes, overnight breaks and holiday and residential provision.