A Hampshire parent's response to the Press Release from the Hampshire Parent Carers' Network, following the confirmation of the decision to slash funding for Short Breaks for disabled children:
“If only we could!”
“If only we could continue with
the much loved but limited options of places to play, games to play, and choose who we play with.
“If only we were like regular
kids.”
Our kids are irregular. Individually inconvenient. Hard to
categorise, but conveniently lumped together by assumptions of the regular
parents and their regular kids with their regular lives.
Social Research done in Universities across the country has validated
the real long-term benefits to the families who receive Short Breaks for
Disabled Children. Sadly, some people argue that this evidence is inadmissible
due to the absence of a control-group. However, to do this would have meant denying
any Short Breaks or respite to the control-group of disabled children or young
people and their families.
And this, of course, would be morally repugnant.
And this, of course, would be morally repugnant.
Imagine the public outcry which would have followed as we
watched those families disintegrate, all to prove the point which we all know
to be true. Families with disabled children and young people are 70% more at
risk of collapse than the average.
Successive national and local governments grew to understand
this – providing relatively modest levels of funding for Short Breaks for
disabled children had a significant beneficial impact in the long term. This
investment reduced the risk of the huge financial costs that the State incurs
when families collapse under the relentless burden of caring for disabled
children.
So what became of equal opportunities and fairness?
Fair-play!
Back in the times of increasing understanding from Hampshire:-
“Every Child Matters” (Green Paper 2003) became “Every
Disabled Child Matters” (Hampshire Authority signed up to the “Inclusion
Charter” in 2008)
“Aiming High for Children” became “Aiming High for Disabled
Children” (Better Support for Families programme 2007 including Hampshire
Parent/Carer Short-Breaks questionnaire)
Between 2003 and 2010 – with funding agreed into 2011 – services
were dramatically improved, trying to move towards a “level playing field” for
both disabled and able-bodied children and young people. Support was increased for
play and short breaks for disabled children, with full consultation with
parents resulting in the Local Area Agreement.
How lucky we were!
A level playing field?
That’ll be the day!
More predictable Local Authority funding-levels allowed
local Short Break play & leisure providers for disabled children to extend
their services over the last few years, to meet overwhelming demand.
Hampshire could see all too well what our families needed,
because they had really bought in to making it happen.
Like the young child tentatively creating a house of
building blocks, the Local Authorities have handed to the providers of play-schemes
block after block, saying “Build it better, build it higher, build it bigger
for more children”
They understood what a difference short breaks and respite
care made to our lives, because they asked us, they listened to us, and we told
them in no uncertain terms.
They still have that knowledge – and our needs haven’t changed.
Knowing all that, they are now threatening the precious
edifice with the wrecking-ball, which will demolish the much loved house which we all helped to create.
And then they ask us how we want the replacement building to
look, bearing in mind we can only rebuild it using one third of the blocks!
67% Confirmed Budget Cuts in Short-Breaks, and no
negotiation?
The game setters set the rules.
And this, of course, is morally repugnant.
And this, of course, is morally repugnant.
Child’s-play?
"It's just not cricket"- (as Sir Henry Newbolt might have said)
http://chn.ge/1qNs6MA
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