 | Disabled Parents Network (DPN) is a national organisation of and for disabled people who are parents or who hope to become parents, and their families, friends and supporters. |  Contact Us 0300 3300 639 |
| Disabled Parents Network (DPN) is a national organisation of and for disabled people who are parents or who hope to become parents, and their families, friends and supporters. | Contact Us 0300 3300 639 |
The Partnership will work together on key messages for policy makers, media and public.
Aim 1: Messages about services working together Message 1: Adults' and children's services should have plans in place that allow them to work jointly to assess and support families. They should not leave families unsupported while they debate the funding arrangements for services that all agreed are needed.
Message 2: Many disabled parents cannot get their children to school unassisted but get no help with this. For some parents Direct Payments would be the best option, others would benefit from free school transport. Some parents, particularly those with an unpredictable condition like MS, have to choose between sending young children to school several miles unaccompanied, keeping them at home, or spending food money on taxis. For a disabled parent, a school that is just around the corner may as well be several miles away.
Aim 2: Messages about adults' services Message 3: Adult's services should plan with the families they support rather than only providing services reactively. Parents should get the early support they need before there is a crisis.
Message 4: Many Community Care packages rely on the unacknowledged caring role of a child because some agencies that support adults ignore their parenting role. These agencies should ask everyone they support three key questions:
Aim 3: Messages about children's services Message 5: Children's services should find out if the children they support are affected by disability, and should know how to contact their colleagues who support adults.
Message 6: Every school should identify and support young carers so that they do not have to choose between caring and their education. Schools should have a named member of staff with responsibility for this area, as advised in the Government's Carers Strategy. Schools should be accessible to all parents and aware of people's communication needs. For instance they should make alternative arrangements for meeting parents where necessary.
Message 7: Many young carers and parents see the support of a Young Carers Project as a lifeline but many areas still lack a well-funded, specialist service.
Message 8: The Children Act 1989 states that the rights of the child remain paramount.
Aim 4: Other messages Message 9: Some parents feel that the label 'young carer' implies that they lack parenting skills so this label should be used sensitively.
Message 10: Young carers aged 16 miss out on Education Maintenance Allowance when they miss school because some one needs their care. Young carers aged 16+ have to choose between Carers Benefit and education.
How will these messages be delivered in 2005?
last updated: 08 Jun 07
tags : Resources Young Carers
Registered Office: Disabled Parents Network, 81 Melton Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 8EN. Registered Charity No: 1087662
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