EDCM Resources

Disabled children's manifesto for change
The 'Disabled children's manifesto for change' is a resource launched in 2009 that sets out what disabled children and young people want the next government to do for them.

Resources available:

- The full manifesto booklet   [PDF 2.41MB]
- An accessible versionof the manifesto [PDF 499KB]
- An Awareness Raising Tool  [PDF 828KB]
- Film clips of young people
- EDCM's policy recommendations [PDF 126KB]
- A summary of questions for MPs [PDF 141KB]

Going Places!
'Going Places!' was launched in 2008 and sets out what disabled children and young people think about the play and leisure opportunities available to them and what needs to change to improve them.

Resources available:

- The full 'Going Places!' booklet   [PDF 753KB]
- The 'Going Places!' campaign tool [PDF 276KB]
- An accessible version of 'Going Places!' [PDF 1.72MB]
- A film of disabled young people talking about their experiences of having things to do and places to go

'If I could change one thing...'
The 'If I could change one thing…' booklets were launched in 2007. Disabled children, young people and their parents were asked 'If you were Prime Minister for the day, and could change one thing, what would it be?'.  Their answers are set out in a number of booklets.

Resources available:

- Children and young people's views [PDF 1.71MB]
- Parents' views [PDF 644KB]
- A general summary [PDF 590KB]
- An accessible version [PDF 379KB]
- A DVD of young peopl

Short Breaks Services Statements: Commitment and Transparency
This report published in January 2012 looks at Short Breaks Services Statements, produced under the Short Break Duty, by 55 local authorities. It makes recommendations both to Central Government and local authorities on its findings.

Download the full report here [PDF 347 KB]

Raised Expectations: Parental experiences of short breaks
This report published in October 2011 is the final report in EDCM's three year research programme which charted parents experiences of short breaks throughout the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

Download the full report here [PDF 391 KB]

Calling for Clarity: Eligibility Criteria for Short Breaks
This report published in November 2010 examines 60 local authorities eligibility criteria for short breaks. It makes a series of recommendations to both Central Government and local authorities on its findings.

Download the full report here [PDF 255KB]

No going back! Parents' expectations of short breaks
This report published in July 2010 is the second of three annual reports charting parents' experiences of short breaks over the course of the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

Download the full report here [PDF 988KB]

The Social and Economic Value of Short Breaks
A report commissioned by Action for Children and EDCM and published by nef consulting in December 2009, showing that that substantial cost savings can be made to the State through sustained funding for short breaks for disabled children and their families.

Download the full report here  [PDF 231KB]
Download the policy briefing here  [PDF 208KB]

Short Breaks Tracking Interim Report
A report published in April 2009 which highlights the interim findings from an EDCM research project evaluating the impact of the Aiming High for Disabled Children short breaks programme on the lives of disabled children and their families.

Download the report here [PDF 225KB]

Disabled Young People and Personal Independence Payments
This report is based on four focus groups with nearly 30 young people across England and Scotland, who were between 14-24 years old.

Download the report here [PDF 168KB]
Download the easy read report here [PDF 414KB]
Download the summary here [PDF 71KB]

Special Educational Needs and Disability Reform: Making it work for all disabled children
This report sets out the findings of a survey of EDCM supporters about Government proposals to reform special educational needs (SEN) and disability services in England.

Download the report here [PDF 150KB]

Unlocking key working: information and transparency for families with disabled children
This report examines the information on key working support provided by local authorities that is currently available for families of disabled children.

Download the report here [PDF 192 KB]

Disabled Children and Health Reform: Questions, Challenges and Opportunities
This report is based on a series of interviews with families with disabled children and health professionals. It sets out failures of the current health system and the impact of proposed health reforms on disabled children's services.

Download the report here. [PDF 2MB]
Download the executive summary here. [PDF 510 KB]
Download a supporting statement from the disabled children's sector here. [PDF. 422KB]
Download a diagram of the proposed new health system here. [PDF 93KB]

Breaking down barriers: making work pay for families with disabled children
This report sets out the findings of a survey of families with disabled children who receive grant help from the Family Fund on the barriers they face entering and remaining in employment.

Download the report here [PDF 2.46MB

Close to Crisis: Frontline service cuts for disabled children
This report published in September 2010 highlights the impact that local budget cuts have had on the lives of disabled children. The evidence was used to inform the Government Spending Review.

Download the report here [PDF 123KB]
Download EDCM's key recommendations to the Government Spending Review here [78.2KB]

Disabled Children: Agenda for the New Government
This campaign briefing sets out the challenges that disabled children and their families face as we gain a new Government.

Download the briefing here [PDF 824 KB]
View the accompanying statement of support from the disabled children's sector here

Disabled Children and Health
A campaign briefing launched in June 2009 setting out the experiences of disabled children and their families in relation to health services.  It includes policy recommendations for Primary Care Trusts and the Department of Health.

Download the briefing here [PDF 417KB]

Disabled Children and Housing
A campaign briefing launched in 2008 supported by evidence from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The briefing shows that families with disabled children may be the worst housed families in Britain and makes recommendations for change.

Download the briefing here [PDF 171KB]

Disabled children and child poverty

A campaign briefing launched in 2007 setting out the evidence that shows disabled children are more likely to live in poverty than other children. The briefing includes recommendations for change.

Download the briefing here [PDF 128KB]

Between a rock and a hard place
A campaign briefing launched in 2006 which sets out the challenges parents face accessing childcare for disabled children.

Download the briefing here [PDF 315KB]
Download the flyer here [PDF 176KB]

The Inclusion Charter

An A2-sized poster produced in partnership with Children and Young People Now magazine, promoting key principles of inclusion. An excellent resource to display in inclusive settings.

Download here [PDF 391KB]

Top Tips for Participation

An A2-sized poster produced by Making Ourselves Heard and Participation Works in partnership with young people from Generate UK and 1Voice.

Download here [PDF 483KB]

Inclusion Policy posters

Six A3-sized posters showing strong images of why inclusion is important, produced by the Council for Disabled Children. The posters are ideal to display in all children and young people's settings to keep inclusion at the forefront of our minds.

Browse and order online here

Making Disabled Children Matter Locally 2010
A guide for supporters on campaigning to make disabled children and their families a local priority. It includes practical tools on the EDCM Charters, knowing your rights, challenging local cuts and lobbying your local area.

Download the guide here [PDF 82KB].

Local Authority Disabled Children's Charter (updated May 2011)
This Charter sets out key commitments for disabled children and young people that each Local Authority can sign up to.

- Download the Local Authority Disabled Children's Charter [PDF 105KB]
- Download the Local Authority Disabled Children's Charter - accessible version [PDF 228KB]
- Download the parent's guide for the Local Authority Disabled Children's Charter [PDF 265KB]

Primary Care Trust Charter (updated January 2010)
This Charter sets out key commitments for disabled children and young people that each Primary Care Trust can sign up to.

- Download the Primary Care Trust Charter [PDF 335KB]
- Download the Primary Care Trust Charter - accessible version [PDF 136KB]
- Download the briefing for supporters on Primary Care Trust Charter [PDF 381KB]
- Download the Joint Primary Care Trust and Local Authority Charter [PDF 652KB]

Influencing for Impact: a guide to influencing policy and politicians for the disabled children's voluntary sector (March 2010)

A guide for professionals within the disabled children's voluntary sector. Influencing for Impact gives advice on how to use a wide range of campaigning tools. It also provides guidance on working with specific individuals and political groups. More information available here.

My Rights, Your Responsibility - Your child's right to be included

This is an information pack written primarily for parents of disabled children. It provides information to parents on their child's rights to access activities, community facilities and other services. Printed leaflets and web-based information is available here.

Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook

This is a guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England and Wales. Written by Steve Broach, Luke Clements and Janet Read, the book explains the difference between what public bodies must and may do to support disabled children. More information avaliable here

Cemented to the floor by law: Respecting legal duties in a time of cuts

This paper outlines the central legal duties in relation to disabled children and their families with which public bodies must comply. It is essential reading for all commissioners, managers and professionals working in local authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other public bodies, particularly given the rise in spending cuts and their impact on disabled children's services. More information available here.

Using the Law to Fight the Cuts to Disabled Children's Services

A practical guide for campaigners - parents, carers and local groups. This paper is intended to help campaigners - including parents and carers - understand how the law can be used to help fight cuts to valued services for disabled children in their area.  The paper is available here.