Children and young people
The voice of children and young people with special educational needs and their parents and carers is an integral part of the special educational needs and disabilities reforms implemented since September 2014.
Overwhelmingly, children and young people tell us they want to have a job, live independently, have friends and eventually a partner, and be able to have a good social life just like any other young person. They identified a number of barriers that prevent them from having the kind of life they want.
“I just want to go to the match with my mates without someone who looks like my Aunty Sheila trotting behind me. I want a befriender that looks like a mate.”
We work with children and young people to ensure that their views are at the heart of planning for their own lives, and for shaping services. We also have a local offer review board co-chaired by a parent. This has strong parent representation, which informs the Manchester local offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Disabled children and adults and their supporters told us that most of the issues they face stem from:
- lack of access
- negative attitudes and lack of awareness
- assumptions about ability
- poor access to information
- the amount of bureaucracy
- poor planning (at all levels)
- poor communication
- parental fears that stop children and young people going out on their own.
The experiences described here are summed up well by these participants:
“We have to tell our story over and over again! We should only have to tell it once.”
“Assessments are clipboard exercises and staff don’t listen to people. Assessments are sometimes done over the phone.”
“It’s all about having the confidence to speak up.”
“Doctors and other professionals don’t talk to the patient – they talk to the carer.”
“The carers’ forum is a great service. It supports us and keeps us informed about what I am entitled to.”
“I don’t feel able to talk to the police – they don’t listen.”
“There are no records for demand for accessible housing in the private sector.”
“There isn’t enough support for older carers.”
“Signs on the wall at the hospital explaining how to better communicate with people with autism need replicating for other disabilities.”