Does anyone have a disabled child who goes to Rainbows/Brownies?

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

dd is 6 and has Cerebral Palsy - she can walk unaided indoors but is very wobbly and uses a wheelchair outdoors for any distance. She has been going to Rainbows since last September. They did know about dd's needs before she started but basically it's all a bit crap. The only concession I can see they have made is someone holding her hand going up and down the stairs. Tonight they'd played games for the whole session that involved chasing and catching (like duck, duck, goose) and of course dd is not fast enough to do well and kept falling over.

I am going to talk to the Rainbows leader but I was wondering if anyone has experience so I know what I can ask for. I think dd needs a supporter who looks after her. At school she has a statement for 32 hours and she does need someone with her to keep her safe and to allow her to participate properly. Does anyone know how the Guiding movement caters for special needs? the guiding website is quite vague.

when my son was in Beavers and cubs a scout used to act as his facilitator. Would a guider be able to do this for your daughter. My son used to use his wheelchair in chasing games with the scout pushing him around at frightening speeds. When first in Beavers he used his Kay walker and I have to say when he got knocked over it was because another boy had tripped over the legs of the walker. It was funny because the other boys would rush over to help my son up and completely ignore the other child except to tell tell him off.

I'm not sure about Guides but we have three Beaver Scouts in the group I help at with behavioural extra needs - we manage okay because we have a good number of leaders (three of whom have SN teaching exprience) and very good communication with the parents. Without regular chats with the parents, we'd really stuggle.

I'm told there's also someone at Distict level who's a SN advisor so I should image there will also be someone within Guiding that could advise on how to support or include your DD.

I would hope they'd try and include her as much as possible and gear activities so she can join in, at least in part. I know one of our Beavers with Aspergers will sometimes sit at the side and do some puzzels (usually with one of us to chat to) because the games just get too excitable for him but we make an effort for them all not be be left out if possible.

I'm a former Brown Owl, who had a girl with cerebral palsy in her unit. She came with a helper, who was a volunteer. Mum used to go and do her shopping whilst Kimberley was at Brownies. We used to try and adapt games and activities as much as possible so that she could join in, it didn't always work, but we tried our best. Guiding is inclusive, but the leaders are volunteers who have to complete a training course in order to be qualified. They will, however receive little or no advice or training in how to adapt Guiding to those with special needs. Have you ever had a chat with the Rainbow leader about the situation. She may well feel awkward and not know how to broach the subject.

How does DD feel? Is she enjoying the activity despite her challenges and the falling over?

I'm just wondering whether DD would say (perhaps in a few years time) "I loved the freedom to join in the rough-and-tumble games with the other brownies - I didn't care that I fell over and never won, it was just fun to take part. But my mum always fussed and was over protective and wanted the brownie leaders to stop everyone from enjoying active games for my sake rather than letting me find my own limits"

If she is miserable and not enjoying it then of course you must be her advocate and make sure they give her the support she needs to participate fully.

Hiya,
I am a Rainbow Leader and a Mum of a child with cp so hope I can help in some way....
I too would be disappointed to hear of those activities on offer for my child/Rainbow and Rainbows are supposed to 'chat' about what activities they would like to complete in their programme....try and encourage your dd(and her friends- speak to their parents) to become very vocal about what they want to do and how much they want your dd to be included and not left at the side during games.
here is a link to the Girlguiding website www.girlguiding.org.uk/parents/additional_needs.aspx
and there is more info for the actual Guiders in the members area specially for them.
Do you think an older girl - maybe a Guide (12-14 years) would be able to support your daughter with a little training/help from yourself and local Guiding advisers?
Do they have a parachute? we do quite a few games on our bottoms in this way - this started when my dd was a Rainbow and now she comes along as a Guide to help it still means she can join in.
Do you know anything about ' direct payments' or short breaks offered through your county council?, as these are sometimes supported to help a child with a disability participate in universal services(ie stuff that all children get the opportunity to attend)

Hi - I did support a girl with cp to go to Rainbows, this was done through direct payments, and a charitable organisation.

Yes my 3 down syndrome DC's went right through the Scouting Movement
(1DS &2DD's) and had a fantastic time . They went on many camps including ones in Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Germany.
Our youngest DD goes to R

Sorry computer messing about DD goes to Rainbows and is totally accepted
despite being non verbal and in a wheelchair

thank you, I really do appreciate the replies. I have talked to the Rainbow leader in the past who seems to be a really good person but they don't seem to do much at all, for weeks before Christmas it was craft for the whole session and now it's back to running around games. DD was quite upset when she got back tonight as she is a real go getter and copes with most things thrown at her in life but tonight she had just had enough. They do have one helper from the senior section and I might see if there is another girl who might want to help out. I will definatively have another chat with the Rainbow leader. We don't get direct payments and don't have a social worker, I can't see us qualifying. Where do you think would the starting point to find out if we would be able to qualify? Shortbreaks funding locally consists of activity sessions like crafts or drama that take place in the school holidays, I don't think they fund anything else.

Can't answer your question, but just wanted to say hello Hanging. Haven't seen you around in ages! I used to post as 5inthebed incase you don't recognise this name (or if you even remember the other one)

Oh actually, we get direct payments for ds2, you can ask school to do a CAF which gets sent to th hildren with disabilities team, and they'd tell you if you qualify.

thanks Lego - I do remember you in your previous guise! I had a veeeery long break from MN after a spectacular flaming on an AIBU thread. Got bored over Christmas and started lurking a bit and now here I am.

Well glad to see you back. Yours is my all time favourite MN nickname after all

Honestly? If the leader really is this dim, I'd perhaps ring the locality lead person and give it a few weeks, but then simply look for a different Rainbows, or Beavers. You can only re-educate so many people, and the energy wasted on winning over someone useless who'll be doing 1 hour a week for 2 years max probably isn't justified for the benefit to your dd. Though it'd help the next child.

Ds1 (asd/adhd) is doing great in all things Scouting-related, but I had already crossed a few local groups off, and gone for the further-away one with the switched-on leaders.

If the Brown owl becomes sensible, perhaps you can get a Duke of Edinb. teenager to be your daughter's extra adult.

Hi, I'm a Rainbow Leader and stumbled across a resource that might help your daughter's Leader to adapt activities/games etc. It's called 'Including All - Disabilities' and is £6.25 from the Girlguiding online shop. It has common games in it that have been adapted for a range of (dis)abilities/special needs: www.girlguidingukshop.co.uk/Including-All-Disabilities.aspx It may just be that your daughter's leader needs some pointing in the right direction, as this isn't a topic that we get much (if any) training on. I would also recommend getting another young person involved, either a Guide (10-14), Senior Section member (14-25) or Duke of Edinburgh volunteer to act as one-to-one support for your daughter when needed. Good luck!

Oh, forgot to say, your daughter's leader should be able to buy that resource book out of unit funds.

hanging Should have mentioned DD is supported by Scope Inclusion, she has the same person every week.
Good Luck!!

I managed to get to talk to the Rainbow leader tonight and she is going to see if there is a girl from the senior section or an older guide who could support dd. I'm also going to sit in on a session so I can see the areas dd most needs support. Tbh she was a bit flakey and was making a few excuses but I'm going to try and work with her as I can't expect her to know dd as I do if I don't make it happen iyswim. Thanks again for all the good ideas.