Watch BBC1 now ~~~ WHEN A MOTHER'S LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

[RTKangaMummy]

NOW

In a frank and moving documentary, successful businesswoman, charity worker and confidante of the late Princess Diana, Rosa Monckton, explores the realities families face when caring for a disabled child.

Against a backdrop of headline-grabbing cases in which desperate mothers, such as Fiona Pilkington, killed themselves and their child because they could no longer face the daily reality of their lives, Rosa, who herself has a child with Down's syndrome, admits that she too has felt a crushing despair.

Since the birth of her daughter Domenica, Rosa has campaigned for the rights of disabled children and their families. After the recent shocking high profile cases in which mothers have killed their disabled children, she sets out to show how easy it is for families to reach the brink of despair. She also discovers how the maze of bureaucracy often prevents families getting the help they need.

NOW

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am watching, feel like crying watching that 17 year old boy - is that what life is really like for some parents

might be a bit raw

We do not have T.V. reception tonight. Will it be on iPlayer?

The nappies ~ how stupid are these health auth ?

the red tape is soooooooo stupid

The authorities seem to have forgotten that these are children and families

4 nappies

sure it will be on iplayer

This is so sad

I'm watching.

blimey ~ the red tape is sooooooooooooo stupid

My BF has a son with DS who is at college BUT the education people are so stupid cos they restrict the number of years he can have education for because he is not as disabled as some but he is worst than others

Why cant they just see them all as children and as INDIVIDUALS !!!!!!

I mean how stupid is it to restrict the nappies she is allowed to use

Just came over from the special needs board and yes that is really what life is like. It was not exagerated in any way. The red tape we go through is stupid.

Hi, I am a mother of a severely disabled child. Unfortunately, yes this is all true. Yes, we have to justify why our incontinent children need more than 3 nappies per day. And we can't go out and but 12 years-olds nappies from Tesco, can we!!??

Yes, we have to fill in endless forms to apply for allowances, only to have them rejected (my child cannot walk, talk, is tube fed and incontinent with a life limiting condition but was still rejected for the higher rate of disability benefits)

Nothing, and I mean nothing is offered from Social Services in the way of respite. Friends with disabled children are our best source of information, they tell us what to ask for, what should be available.

The mother who said that the only reason she and her disabled child were still alive was bacause of ther other children spoke a truth that many others secretly aknowledge.

I hope this program opens peoples eyes.

Here is the link redirectingat.com/?id=470X756&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fepisode%2Fb00ntmbf%2FWhen_a MothersLoveisNot_Enough%2F

But remember ladies the thread about you only having SN children for the money!

I watched it in tears last night, I know the nappy thing is true, have seen it first hand through a friends brother. It's utterly disgusting. I know the battles parents of SN children have to go through to get the most basic of equipment.

I thought the programme was very good and raised awareness of the issues, the wee boy who was caring for his big brother was lovely.

But our other children should not feel like primary carers! They are only kids!

When he was hugging his brother and helping his Mum out as well and when those cretins were shouting abuse at him as well, I so felt for him.

What is the answer, more respite carers???

Part of the answer is to make disability hate a crime.
Partly to provide more help at home and for respite.
And more help for siblings.
And make the applicatioons easier.
And...
And...

It goes on.

Assuming the Conservatives win the next election I wonder if they will introduce the passport system that David Cameron spoke about in the programme. That surely has to be the way forward. I can't imagine coping with a severely disabled child let alone having to also deal with all the ridiculous levels of bureaucracy.

I watched this programme in stunned silence. You can't even imagine what daily life must be like for these kids and their parents.

Here's the question though - if other countries have passport systems etc as outlined by DC, what is the actual reason for the UK not having this?

It just strikes me that every time an election rolls around both sides go on about how they're going to cut red tape and slim the civil service etc, passing on savings to public services in need. Yet this doesn't happen.

Gordon Brown also has a disabled child, and seems like a decent human being. Why is it so hard to make these desperately needed changes become reality?

Does anybody have practical answers to this. Although our politicians may seem bombastic, self interested and full of shite at times, I bet all of them to a man would like to see more help given to families like those in the programme.

So what's the stumbling block?