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

That is what I think mumsnet needs to concentrate on - making people aware and pointing out to people that people with disabilities aren't there getting in the way of your life, staring at you in the changing room, or getting upset by being stared at in a toilet, blocking a parking space, taking up a toilet, making noise in a cafe or theatre, struggling to wait for the swing - this is just life.

^ THIS

provision for adults with disabilities is hard to find and barely discussed, and that the legal situation is not transparent or user friendly.

It's so barren that the only place to help with my PIP claim and legal advice was mumsnet.
As thankful as i am, it shouldn't have been left up to the users of this website site to provide me with help.

No.

I don't think MNHQ really know how to support families who have disabled children. They "academically" pontificate on exact language used in posts and have no idea of real issues. Instead wrongly accusing posters of being disablist.

I'd leave the charities to do their work as they actually know how to do it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2709174-Can-labelling-a-child-be-detrimental-in-some-cases

and today we have a new one, yet all mn hw seem to care about is a few PA's
again you don't start a thread like that with good intentions.

Apparently it is a valid discussion. It's disgusting- and that isn't something I say lightly.

i really feel for posters affected by this.
i am lucky my child has a disability that is so visible that we get left alone(except of course to be told we cost too much money)
mn hq are really going back to the "educate" days of old. no thought given to how hard this time of year is for so many carers,

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2709347-dear-mn-hq-why-are-so-many-disablist-threads-being-left-up

OMG that thread is seriously offensive!
And it is further proof that many people haven't got a clue what disablism is.

Yes we are all saying it's offensive but HQ disagree.

thats why I started the other thread, they arnt reading this one

Wtaf

zzzzz
I am also better informed because of MN posters giving advice, not because of MNHQ. That was the distinction I was making. MN as a talk board is great and I was suggesting that is how it should stay.

Looking at the 'labelling' thread, I think it would be an interesting experiment if everyone did step back.

How will mnhq address the disabilism without the mners doing it for them?

Perhaps a meme would work? One we could each post that didn't require any other engagement...?

I'm going to be very honest here. The only reason I have got involved in threads recently is because it upsets me those of you with younger children with special needs are having to listen to it and defend whatever it is the ignorant brigade want you to defend.

There has always been an element of it, but I think it's far worse now. I think mnhq like a high hits thread, a bit of drama and they don't really care what you are dealing with at home. Obviously that's just my opinion, but what other reason would there be for letting such ignorance, bigotry and disabilism stand? It doesn't make sense if they want to join a campaign like this, does it?

I'd like to pick up on the earlier point about training. Most places now do diversity training, I think it's a good idea for mnhq to do it too.

Oh Dee that is a good idea. We could all co-ordinate and post identical posts.

We need a sign up sheet.

Yes as parent of Dd with Autism.