Disabled children's manifesto

Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) proudly presents the Disabled children's manifesto for change which is based entirely on the views of disabled children and young people themselves.

Why have we written a manifesto?

Disabled young people often get forgotten or are an afterthought. If MPs can just listen to our messages and understand us, hopefully they will make the changes we want and will make a world of difference to the lives of disabled young people.

Who is the manifesto for?

This manifesto is written directly to our politicians. We want them to respond to the questions that we have asked and listen to the issues that are important to us when they are developing policy and legislation.

Download EDCM's policy recommendations in response to the manifesto

What does the manifesto say?

It sets out what we want politicians to do for disabled children and young people.

Our challenge to the next government is:

• Make people understand and respect disabled children and young people.

• Support us to take part in our communities, doing the things that all other children and young people do.

• Make sure the services we use can support us to live ordinary lives.

• Help us to get the education, jobs and training we want.

Watch the Manifesto for Change films!

Watch films of the young people involved in this project, talking about the changes they want to see.

What did we do with the manifesto

A group of disabled young people who are part of the Council for Disabled Children's steering group and who played a big role in the development of the Manifesto for Change presented the Manifesto for Change to MPs and Ministers during the 2009 Political Party Conferences. 

They were invited back to meet with Manifesto leads for the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties to discuss the Disabled children's manifesto for change with them.  You can see what happened at these meetings by looking at our news section.

More from EDCM

Find out how children and young people have been involved
Find out who was involved in the project