MNHQ here: should Mumsnet sign up as a member of a new campaign on children with disabilities?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

Mumsnet's been asked whether we want to sign up long-term as a supporter of the newly launched Disabled Children's Partnership. So, as ever with these things, we said we'd ask what our users thought.

Here's what the DCP has to say about itself:

"The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is an exciting new collaboration between 25 disability and children’s charities (listed below). As charities we have come together in the shared belief that health and social care services can and must be better if disabled children, young people and families are to get the support they need to enhance their life chances. The partnership was founded in 2015 to build on the excellent work of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign."

"The partnership will work with disabled young people and their families to launch a major new campaign in England in 2017. The campaign will set out to challenge the political status quo and proactively raise the profile of the challenges that so many disabled children, young people and families face."

"The concerns, experiences and stories of disabled children, young people and their families will be at the forefront of the campaign, and therefore need to shape its development."

"Members Steering Group
· Action for Children
· Contact a Family (Chair)
· Mencap (Secretariat)
· National Autistic Society
· National Children’s Bureau
· Sense (Treasurer)
· Scope
· The Children’s Trust
· The Family Fund
· Together for Short Lives
· Well Child
Supporters
· Carers UK
· Carers Trust
· NDCS
· Ambitious About Autism
· Disability Challengers
· Working Families
· Whizz Kids
· Family and Childcare Trust
· Blind Children UK
· Rainbow Trust
· I CAN
· The Communications Trust
· The Seashell Trust"

We here at MNHQ think this looks like a good way to maximise campaigning impact on health and social care issues - but of course as ever we want to know what you think, so please do tell us whether you think we should sign up.

Thanks

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

YES

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

[hazeyjane]

Thats a yes from me.

[x2boys]

Yes from me too!

[mmchocolate]

It sounds wonderful but what will they actually do? In answer to your question yes it's something we should be part of.

[HowToProceed]

definitely.

[MyNewBearTotoro]

A definite yes from me. The list of charities involved looks very credible so i would expect this to be a very successful partnership and it would be excellent to have Mumsnet on board to give parents a voice.

[lorka]

Yes

[Samcro]

can I ask if this will be just about children. or will it include adults?

[honknghaddock]

Yes

[Eva50]

A yes from me.

[HHH3]

Another yes!

[NeedACleverNN]

Anything that encourages disabled people to have more rights and recognition in public can only be a good thing.

[honknghaddock]

Good point Samcro especially since many of our children will not be independent adults at 18 or 25.

[user7755]

Yes, plus what Samcro said

[fourcorneredcircle]

Do you really need to ask?!

[BeyondLovesSweetDee]

An obvious yes, but second (third? Fourth?) samcro's question

[BeyondLovesSweetDee]

I'd also wonder about including young carers?

[catsofa]

Yes

[2016Blyton]

See also www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/the-disabled-children-s-partnership

[BeyondLovesSweetDee]

That's an 'in general' wondering, not specifically related to this thread

[twinkletoedelephant]

Yes

[hazeyjane]

MNHQ, do you have a link to anything online, so that we could read up about it? The only thing I could find seems to be a government initiative focusing on early years and children in care.

I would think that it being a Disabled Children's Partnership, it would focus on young people (up to 18? 25?). Also it would seem this is something not decided by mn, as they would be part of a larger campaign

Does anyone know of campaigns looking at the needs of dependant disabled adults and their parent carers? There are obviously difficulties in having an overarching campaign for children and adults.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Why wouldn't you?