Latest News for Parents & Carers

Next year the UK government will decide whether to legalise e-scooters, following the results of the trials that are taking place in England. Illegal e-scooter use can have a dramatic and serious impact on people with disabilities, especially those with sight loss. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has launched a new petition asking the Prime Minister to make sure that safety is at the heart of any new law that is decided. Clearer information for the public on the illegal use of e-scooters is also needed, given that recent research shows that nearly two thirds of people don’t understand the law.

Get Ahead’s annual conference for Disabled young people, careers and enterprise advisers, coaches, teachers, employers, mentors, training providers, family carers and others working with Disabled young people, will take place on 22 February 2022. Register for the conference here.

The charity, Contact, was pleased to see the government heed the advice in their Counting the Costs campaign by agreeing to expand the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), but this alone will not solve all the many complex housing problems faced by families. Ministers have committed £570m per year so that local areas can deliver the DFG as part of adult social care reform plans, as well as pledged to increase the grant threshold for individual adaptations and to fund a new service focused on minor home repairs. While this is good news, it fulfils just one of the four urgent recommendations made by Contact in light of the worrying findings of their survey.

Spokz People’s new online resource includes information and tool kits on how to improve self-esteem and manage the many challenging situations being disabled brings. It also enables you to work with a peer to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Disability Horizons has always championed the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing, just as you would your physical health. This is why they’ve partnered with Spokz People to enable more disabled people to access mental health services and improve their lives.

Two gold medal-winning Paralympians have told MPs of the need to improve access to grassroots sports facilities for disabled people. Lauren Rowles, a double Paralympic gold medallist in rowing, and Ellie Robinson, a Paralympic gold medallist in swimming, were giving evidence to members of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee.