At a packed Labour conference fringe event today (Tuesday 26 September), Economic Secretary Ed Balls MP, left, offered his support to the objectives of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign. 26 September 2006
At a packed Labour conference fringe event today (Tuesday 26 September), Economic Secretary Ed Balls MP, left, offered his support to the objectives of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign.
This followed the description of services for disabled children as one of the ‘greatest failures of social policy’ in Chancellor Gordon Brown’s speech to conference yesterday.
Responding to a speech by Jo Williams CBE, Mencap Chief Executive, Mr Balls said.
‘This campaign is hugely important, not just for disabled children and their families but for the government’.
Mr Balls told delegates that he supported the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign objectives - full inclusion in society for disabled children and their families; the right support and services for disabled children and families, wherever they live; and an end to poverty amongst disabled children by 2020.
In his speech, Mr Balls highlighted three key issues for families with disabled children - a shortage of respite and short break services, a lack of service co-ordination and the need for early intervention. He stated that transition to adulthood for disabled children was ‘a hugely neglected part of the policy debate’.
Mr Balls concluded, ‘For me as a Labour MP and Minister, this is ultimately about fairness and social justice. Because if we are serious about ending child poverty and building a fairer society, as this government is deeply committed to, then we must do more for the disabled children and their families in my constituency and in every constituency across the country. It is only by giving every child the best possible start in life, by recognising that every child and every disabled child matters, that we can build a truly just society.’
The event marked the launch of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign website - www.edcm.org.uk - and a campaign briefing, Between a rock and a hard place, which shows that the national childcare strategy is failing disabled children. The aim is for 10,000 individuals to log onto the website and register their support for the campaign by Christmas 2006. A range of Every Disabled Child Matters campaign activity will roll out in the coming months.