Latest News for Parents & Carers

Taylor, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was helped by a charity and a gardener who specialises in making outside spaces disability-friendly. Taylor’s family says it means he can now enjoy his trampoline and slide.

New figures exclusively revealed by the BBC shows that 80,683 disabled young people in England and Wales will miss out on Child Trust Fund savings worth £209,801,255. Parent campaigner Andrew Turner, working with Contact, calculated the total loss of money to disabled young people who lack mental capacity over the course of the Child Trust Fund scheme maturity.

Barbie is launching its first doll with Down’s syndrome in an effort to help more children find a toy that represents them. Mattel bosses said they wanted to bring out the doll to “enable all children to see themselves in Barbie”. They partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society in the US to bring the product to market.

Disability Rights UK is working with Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, and Mission Diverse on the New to Nature programme. This programme gives young people aged 18-25 paid work placements in nature and landscape organisations across the UK. It also aims to increase diversity and enrich the environment sector by bringing in young Disabled people’s skills and perspectives.

The Department for Transport is introducing rules requiring almost every local bus or coach service to provide audible announcements and visual displays identifying the route and direction, each upcoming stop, and the beginning of any diversions.