Latest News for Parents & Carers

Almost two-thirds of school staff are concerned about keeping children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) safe at school because of a lack of capacity and resources, according to a new National Autistic Society (NAS) survey.

In a sign that our Child Trust Fund campaign’s momentum is not easing up, even more providers are now allowing young disabled people to access their savings without a costly and lengthy court process. Recently Nationwide, Santander, Coventry Bank and Co-Operative Bank are now offering a route that safeguards money but allows easier access to savings. But not all providers do this – HSBC doesn’t – so there is an unfairness in the system.

Fourteen-year-old Eryn, who has been blind since birth, made the three-hour round-trip for a screening of The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adapted from Enid Blyton’s book series. Eryn said the journey was necessary because the cinema was the only one her family could find offering audio description (AD) headsets.

New government research has proved disabled activists were right to warn that receiving employment advice on top of NHS talking therapy would push many people with mental distress further away from the jobs market.

While disability representation on screen in the TV and film industry is improving, barriers for disabled people working behind the camera remain. Multi-award-winning screenwriter Jack Thorne, whose credits include Adolescence, Falling, Toxic Town and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has spent years using his platform to improve access for those working behind the scenes.