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

"coming up with something that specifically addresses the needs of dependent adults with disabilities and their parent carers"

that is really good to hear. even on mn we are homeless.

Definitely. I wish it had been around when DS25 was a child.

I think its a good idea to support this.

Yes

Yes, but with all the reservations raised by parents of young and not so young adults.

For example, will they be looking at the black hole of what few services they have between 16 and 21 years old? DS is nearly 18, the final group he was involved in here ends when he turns 18. There is then NOTHING until he's 21.

Yes, as long as you have a voice and are not just a 'logo' as a supporting group, and are able to put points forward. I agree on the lack of support for those between 16 - 21(ish) mentioned by previous posters BTW, even though the situation is different here in Wales

As this appears to only include health and social care I do have some reservations about this.

You only need to read some of the threads on the SN boards to see that there is little or no cohesion between services even if a child has an Education, Health and Care plan.

No
I've used this site since my daughter was a baby and she's seventeen this year. You've constantly dismissed people concerns regarding language and behaviour towards those with disabilities on the talk section and I find it laughable you now think you can represent them.

I have several reservations .Mainly what do we actually know about this 'partnership' - there is absolutely nothing about it on line, only the repeated statement in the Autism link. It could be a complete rouse for all we know. Once they have got all these charities and organisations to say yes. then they become 'credible'. Who is it? what experience have they in lobbying? Is it a rouse to get funding for this from other organisations? I just find it very suspicious that there is absolutely nothing about them on line.

What owl said.

Though I've given my answer already, about how it would be good for Mumsnet to improve its approach to disability, like Owl and Bishop I did mention that the disablism on the boards is shocking. A particular thread about a special needs playgroup was so fucking appalling I felt compelled to hide it and now avoid all disability type threads. Lots of disabled posters also follow suit, so what you get on those threads is hives of ignorance and keyboard warrior nastiness. When disabled posters do venture on they are inevitably harangued and shouted down, and their posts challenging ignorance are deleted and others left to stand

It's a yes from me obviously but I really wish there was more awareness raised around the isolation and difficulties adults face. It's like the.world thinks they cease to exist once they reach 18 When actually it's.a.very worrying time and the age they need the most support.

I think it's partly due to the cute child thing and the fact that kids rake in more money for charities and partly because they tend to get lost in the system, either way it's very sad. Moreso for parents whose children remain at home, that's also the.age a lot of charity funding stops at. Why ??

I agree with everysongbird the disablism on the boards is appalling - raise awareness and be a good ally by stopping and deleting the disabilist postings - 'charity' starts at home - flag them up as being disabilist. I have seen a disabilist deletion note which is great but it needs to be used more frequently.

And ban those who are repeat offenders. It gets very tedious seeing the same vile ignorant and prejudiced posters spout the same shit over and over.

YES

Owllady makes a good point,mn hq allow a lot of disablim on this site and it needs to be dealt with. this imo will end up like the TIMC campaign, just used to allow disablist threads to stay

Everysongbird, I didn't see the thread you are talking about but I have felt the same way following some other threads. I just don't understand why when someone starts a disabled parking or toilet thread or any of the other regular threads, mumsnet don't post the guidelines to disabled toilets and close the thread. It can't be that difficult.

There are a few hateful posters who should be banned as well imo. But generally your own posts are deleted instead.

As a minority group and community we have been at the brunt of most of the austerity cuts under this current government and have been on the receiving end of the persecution against those on disability benefit. We now have the nhs collapse to look forward to.

A website for mothers/parents should have been much more compassionate and empathetic and its unfortunate the opposite is often true.

Massive thank you to everyone for all your ideas and comments - much appreciated. Keep them coming

I'm sure it's unintentional, but FlissMumsnet, your post straight after Owllady's, without acknowledging any of the content and concerns of which, comes across as incredibly dismissive, especially considering the content. You might want to consider fixing that.

Mumsnet HQ should ask "does this fit with our purpose/what we set out to do?" I think perhaps not.

"Mumsnet is a community and is not a lobby group." There is no real membership code or objectives (or behaviours) that we have all signed up to. In essence we are just a collection of parents looking for a combination of help and advice, top tips, humour and handholding. We all have different views and therefore to add the MN weighting to this group, without knowing what it is supposed to achieve I think is too soon. At the moment it just looks like a fancy list of charities.

Where I can definitely see a place for Mumsnet is once the group has some clearly defined goals e.g. to raise awareness of X and ask for volunteers to share their views - for which Mumsnet could put out details on a thread to inform MN users of the opportunity to get involved if they wish. Also if the group were starting a petition for something specific eg increase funding for young people aged 16-25 and ensure they don't fall through the cracks in social care etc. This is when they could take out ad space or have web chats to discuss with interested MN members and provide a link to the petition.

I just think MN works best when there is a clear call to action rather than a "lets just join a list of charities" with no clear purpose.

I think no. You really have to sort out the disabilism on the main boarfs and not by us 'educating' either. I've been 'educating' & sharing experiences about ds1 on here for 15 years.

We've had 2 years of hell with ds1 - there's no way in god's earth I'd post about it on here at the moment - I'd get ripped to shreds.

Agree with Roman as well. You're not a lobby group although you could maybe provide some experts by exoerience.

Maybe your campaign needs to be to get your own house in order - stop tolerating/accepting disabilism on here.

Mind you Mencap & the NAS could do with getting their own houses in order as well (I am referring to the widely reported issues - some would say abuses -at Mencap and NAS run residential provisions).

Agree with everyone about the problems with provision from 18.

YY to sorting out the disabilism.

This is something you can do NOW without having to canvass opinion.

I take back my "why not" and vote "no" for all the reasons so eloquently put by pps.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2707834-to-think-it-s-not-just-me-who-doesn-t-like-being-stared-at-while-partially-dressed
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2706904-To-think-that-when-youre-using-play-equipment-in-the-park-its-rude-for-parents-to-stand-next-to-you-waiting-for-you-to-finish

whilst mn hq allow threads like this i don't think they should get involved at all

Jesus that sauna thread is a textbook lesson in endemic social oppression, even displaying some 'nicely' internalised ableism. The shrieking and shrillness is beyond the pale. That really makes me angry.

I dare not read the other one. FFS deal with it MN. Take on the social responsibility not to perpetuate this type of shrill ableist discourse.