Parents With a Disability

The Equality Act 2010 covers many areas of everyday life, including access to goods and services. Classes for disabled parents-to-be should make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make them accessible to all people. Reasonable adjustments could include:

• Using a pen and notepad to communicate with you if you are deaf or hearing impaired and/or providing induction loops in a certain room
• Holding the class in an accessible location (to avoid stairs, for example) for physically disabled parents
• Arranging for someone to explain in simple terms what is being said in class, for a person with a learning disability
• Let the organisers of classes know of any requirements you have before you attend for the first time

• Flashing alarms and intercom systems – if you are a hearing impaired parent and need to know when your baby is crying
• Harnesses – that have easy-to-use straps and clips and contrasting colours to highlight adjustable parts for visually impaired parents
• Pushchairs and buggies – that are lightweight and easy to push, can be attached to a wheelchair, are easy to fold, have adjustable handle height, have a separate carrycot
• Highchairs and eating trays – that have adjustable heights, are sturdy to avoid being knocked over, have easy-to-use straps, clips and removal/cleaning parts, can recline easily, are lightweight
• Adapted cots that have adjustable heights, removable side bars/panels

If you are experiencing difficulties finding a suitable piece of equipment, REMAP can help by making or adapting equipment to meet your needs. Telephone 01732 760209, or Visit www.remap.org.uk/

Examples of how and when schools can make reasonable steps to provide information in alternative formats include:

• Providing a school’s annual report, quarterly newsletter or your child’s school report in Braille, large print, ‘easy-read’ or on CD
• If a school’s complaint procedure says you should write to the head teacher, you should be allowed to make a verbal complaint if you are unable to write because of your impairment
• Contacting you via text message, for example, if a school closes due to flooding

It is also important to speak to your child’s teacher(s) to make sure you have what you need to help with, and supervise, your child’s homework. ‘Learning Journey Guides’ give parents information about what their children are doing at school at different stages in their education. These guides are available in Braille, large print and audio cassette.

Examples of how and when schools can support disabled parents include:

• Using a pen and notepad to communicate with you if you are deaf or hearing impaired and/or providing induction loops in a certain room
• Arranging for an interpreter, for example, in British Sign Language (BSL) and/or allowing more time for one-to-one meetings
• Updating you on your child’s progress by telephone or email if you are unable to attend a meeting because of your impairment
• Holding a meeting in an accessible location (for example, to avoid stairs) if you have impaired mobility
• Providing a script of a school play if you are deaf or hearing impaired to help follow the action

Examples of changes to policies and procedures, where appropriate, that your child’s school could make under the Equality Act include:

• Assigning a member of staff to be responsible for meeting your access needs when you want to be shown around the school, e.g. if you are blind or visually impaired so you can familiarise yourself with the school’s layout
• Providing disabled parking and/or making sure other parents’ vehicles do not block access
• Allowing a disabled parent to be accompanied by their support and assistance dog

Under the Equality Act, a ‘reasonable adjustment’ could include your local authority providing free home to school transport if your impairment prevents you from accompanying your child on a ‘walking route’ to school. Alternatively, your local authority might ensure that there is somebody else who can accompany your child. The decision on whether, and how, to offer transport is made by your local authority and you should contact them for more information. Telephone 01733 747474.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a good source of advice if you feel you may have been discriminated against in education or elsewhere. The commission’s disability helpline 0808 800 0082 can provide advice and information about the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act 2010 to schools and colleges as well as disabled people. Visit www.equalityhumanrights.com

Disabled people share the same general rights of access to health and social care as other people, but there are also some special provisions under the Equality Act 2010. For example, you have the right to get information about health services in a format that is accessible to you, where it is reasonable for the service provider to provide it in that format.

The Children Act 1989 is designed to keep a child safe and well and, if necessary, help the child to live with their family by providing services appropriate to the child’s needs. Local authorities should, for example, make sure that health and education departments and housing associations work together to protect and promote the welfare of children. If your local authority thinks that your child is ‘in need’, then it should carry out an assessment under the Children Act 1989 (section 17).
Fair access to care services
Every local council in England uses a national framework from the Department of Health to decide eligibility criteria for the adult social care services it provides. The aim is to have greater consistency across the country on how decisions are made about whether people have services or not. It states that a disabled adult’s social and family roles should be taken into account when assessing the need for services, this includes parenting tasks. The 2004 Act went further to create, amongst other things, the concept of a clear, single point of professional accountability for children and young people’s outcomes in the director of children’s services. A single individual centred in the local place in which they work, to bring together different parts of the systems in the best interests of children. It also provided the legal underpinning for the Every Child Matters outcomes framework.

If you are over 21 years old and you can provide a permanent, stable and caring home, your application to adopt a child will be welcomed. Health and well-being play a part in the adoption assessment process, but you are not automatically disqualified for being disabled or if you have a medical condition. Once you have made the decision to seek to adopt a child, the first thing you will need to do is contact your local adoption agency to make an initial inquiry.

Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International DPPI is a small UK based registered charity, controlled by disabled parents, which promotes better awareness and support for disabled people considering, during and after pregnancy and as parents. Visit www.disabledparent.org.uk

Health Visiting Services provides services for all children from 0-5 years old and their parents/carers who are registered with a Peterborough-based GP. It works closely with the school nursing service for school-age children to help manage the transition into school and optimise health and promote learning through well-being and inclusion. Telephone 0300 029 5050, or Visit www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk