Latest News for Parents & Carers

Children struggling with their speech and language are at greater risk of developing mental health problems like anxiety and depression, the charity Speech and Language UK has warned in a report seen exclusively by the BBC. The charity says almost half (45%) of all young people referred to mental health services are also dealing with serious speech and language challenges.

A mother with two sons with autism has said the government’s planned welfare changes would devastate her family’s future. Lorraine Griffin, from Dudley, relies on the Disability Living Allowance for her boys, Sam and Ben, aged 12 and 13. Lorraine faces constant costs – medicine, nappies for Ben, who has more severe autism, and replacing TVs he has broken.

Scores of disabled students have demonstrated in protest at their university’s “discriminatory” decision to secretly introduce cuts to their support. They say the University of Derby has removed the entitlement to support from many of the disabled students who started their studies in autumn 2024, but it has yet to issue a formal policy explaining its new rules. The university appears to have told many disabled students starting undergraduate or masters degrees this year that they will no longer be entitled to reasonable adjustments such as extra time in exams or extensions to deadlines.

A woman who made history as the first model with Down’s syndrome to feature on the front cover of Vogue said she was honoured to be making her acting debut. Ellie Goldstein, from Essex, plays Nancy in the new series of Malory Towers on CBBC.

The government is currently consulting on some of the changes announced in the Pathways for Work disability reform green paper. Among the proposals the government is seeking views on is cutting Universal Credit healthcare payments for under 22s. Contact is campaigning against this change.