Transcript Slide 1
Challenging Perceptions of Disabled Children and Young People Amanda Harvey-Assistant Director Council for Disabled Children Council for Disabled Children • The Council • DfE Strategic Reform Partner • With National Children’s Bureau – Department of Health Strategic Partner • Young people at the centre of what we do • Work with parents • Work with practitioners, clinicians, teachers • Work with researchers • Work with commissioners This presentation will •Look at perceptions and impact •Think about how we understand disability •Talk a lot about importance of cyp voice and participation •Ask you to think about how professionals in your area can work together to improve the lives of disabled cyp Perceptions of Disabled CYP • (67%) of the British public feel uncomfortable talking to disabled people. • Over a third of people tend to think of disabled people as not as productive as everyone else. • A quarter of disabled people have experienced attitudes or behaviours where other people expected less of them because of their disability. • (21%) of 18 – 34 years old admit that they have actually avoided talking to a disabled person because they weren’t sure how to communicate with them. Impact- Disabled Children and Young People report that: •People underestimated their ability and held limited expectations and aspirations •Too often they find it hard to get their views heard and taken seriously. •Equally often, they have little autonomy over decisions that affect their lives. •They face barriers to communicating with others including professionals and service providers •They are less likely than their peers to be involved in mainstream participation opportunities. •They grow up experiencing societies negative views about disabled children and young people. Medical Model of Disability Special Bus Special Services Who is the expert? Aspirations and Outcomes for Disabled CYP Social Model of Disability What are the differences? My disabled child My non disabled child Has a placement Uses special transport Accesses a mainstream activity Is in transition Has annual reviews Has siblings Requires intervention Has peers Goes to school Gets the bus Goes swimming Is moving up to college Has parent’s evenings Has brothers and sisters Requires help and support Has friends Quick Quiz! Medical or Social Model? 1. Charlie is a young person with a disability 2. Society creates barriers which results in disabled children having unequal life chances 3. Levi needs a disabled toilet 4. Anna cant read the book because she is blind 5. Helen has needs a special bus to get to school Why does voice matter? What happens if you don’t listen? What about Rebecca? Rebecca is… •13 years old •Has complex health needs •Has a package of support including a day center, weekend respite, physio and occupational therapy •Police have been called to the family home by neighbours with reports of physical fights between parents Children and Families Act 2014 The vision •Section 19 principles •Early identification and support •Trained and equipped workforce •Easily accessible information •Clear focus on outcomes •Assessment and EHC Plan from birth to 25 The culture change, s19 Local authority functions: supporting and involving children and young people A local authority in England must have regard to… (a) The views, wishes and feelings of the child… or the young person… (b) The importance of the child… or the young person participating as fully as possible in decisions… (c) The importance of the child… or the young person being provided with the information and support necessary to enable participation in those decisions Why does voice and participation matter? • Individual children and young people receive the right additional support in the right way to safeguard them when required and enable them to reach their goals and potential • Ensures that those planning services and opportunities for disabled young people are informed by disabled young people and develop services fit for purpose • Challenges disablism, low expectations, and the accompanying complacency about the little it’s OK to do at a societal level Safeguarding disabled children and young people •Review the barriers •Remove the barriers •An individual responsibility for being part of the solution •Agree an agenda for change •Build on existing good practice How can we improve the lives of disabled children and young people? •Focus on value not impairment •Hate crime strategy •Campaign focused on changing general attitudes towards disabled children and young people •Review adequacy of support for disabled cyp •Advocacy •Workforce development •Accessibility •Safeguarding •Transitions to Adulthood •Aspirations, Opportunities and Outcomes CDC-Vision and Values CDC's vision is a society in which disabled children's life chances are assured, their needs met, their aspirations supported and their rights respected. We believe that: Disabled children and young people should enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other children All disabled children and young people communicate and have a right to have their views heard The views of disabled children, young people and their families are vital to the development of an inclusive society All disabled children and young people should be fully included in every aspect of society CDC and Participation •VIPER •CHUMS •EPIC •Our Rights, Our Voice •CDC Young Ambassadors •Making Ourselves Heard Final thoughts Disabled children are not victims, but individuals in their own right with hopes and dreams Safeguarding is about recognising children and young people’s humanity, not losing sight of it and then applying exactly the same procedures we do for all children and young people in that position Today’s conference makes a very good start !!! Want to know more ? About our current work on safeguarding and social care … new toolkit available January 2015 More information at [email protected] See CDC website at www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk Get in touch Visit our website: www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/councilfordisabledchildren Follow us on twitter: @CDC_tweets