John Donne - A Nocturnal upon St Lucy’s Day - a must read on the shortest day of the year, and such a powerful encapsulation of grief

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44122/...

Images of children who have Down's syndrome, in their school uniform.

'Down’s Syndrome Association response to government investment in Resourced Provisions and specialist units' :

The DSA has always been clear: every child and young person who has Down’s syndrome who wants a mainstream education should be able to access one.

Read more here: https://loom.ly/yZ1de7k

A new name for Contact could be on the table - please pull up a chair... Can you help Contact explore a new name that will help us reach more families?

A new name for Contact could be on the table – please pull up a chair…

Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey.

The survey is open until Friday 24 October 💚

The voluntary and community sector doesn’t need or want migrants to do forced labour for us in a form of state exploitation. We do need the govt. to stop targeting the groups we serve and fund us to do the jobs the state relies on us for. And to like end poverty and the economic crisis.

Ed Davey addressing SEND campaigners outside Parliament

A parent-campaigner wearing a Fight For Ordinary t-shirt holding a hand-made banner.

Two parents at the rally holding hand-made placards

A group of parents at the rally, holding hand-made banners

Wow! Thank you to everyone who joined us at Parliament for the #FightForOrdinary rally and MP drop-in. Your voices were powerful, passionate, and impossible to ignore. 💬📢 (1/4)

The SEND system is failing a generation. Every child deserves support to thrive at school. 

Ask your MP to act 🔗
https://f.mtr.cool/ibglzctkhj

This is great - all about the benefits of flexible working to everyone, and especially carers. And there’s lots to say, too, about the absolutely brilliant people that we are so lucky to get to work with, and the huge benefits their lived experience, commitment and skill bring to our work.

The government is proposing to remove access to the health element (currently called the limited capability for work and work-related activity – LCWRA element) of Universal Credit for most young adults aged 16 – 21 once they claim Universal Credit in their own right.

Meet Sunny, our newest colleague!

Do you think your child might be eligible for free school meals in England? Check before 31 March If your child is eligible for free school meals and you register before 31 March, they will receive free school meals until the end of the current phase of their education. If they’re in primary school this means they’ll get free school meals until the end of Year 6, and if they’re in secondary school they’ll get them until the end of Year 11. This ‘transitional protection’ will end on 31 March so check now at gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

Do you think your child might be eligible for free school meals in England?

Make sure you check before Monday. Please share.

gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

96% of the SEND complaints that the LGSCO investigated in this period (the calendar year 2024) were upheld

One in four of all complaints that the LGSCO investigated in 2024 were about local authority SEND maladministration

And this is a lagging indicator

An utterly chilling and incomprehensible chain of events, told with grace and vulnerability, thank you @ellychapple.bsky.social and @georgejulian.bsky.social.

Snowdrops - tiny white flowers and green foliage in the breeze

Ah loves, just noticed this weekend is #Imbolc marking the beginning of spring. Imbolc symbolizes the halfway point between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). Imbolc is often celebrated with fire rituals. Look out for snowdrops, miraculous light in the dark times.

Could not agree more @simonknight100.bsky.social.

***DEADLINE EXTENSION*** You may have had an email from us yesterday about the looming deadline (20 Jan) for the Law Commission consultation on disabled children's social care. However, we've just heard that this is being extended until 31 Jan: so a bit more time to respond!

My latest:

Labour's employment plan could trigger a reimagining of how the state perceives those denied full citizenship.

Starmer wants to get Britain working and cut the 'bulging benefits bill' - a problem for anyone relying on benefits to find and keep a job.

#LearningDisability #HumanRights

How do special educational needs vary across areas in England?

📊 Use our new tool to compare how special educational needs prevalence, funding, and spending differ across local authorities, and changes over time: ifs.org.uk/calculators/how-do-speci...

Families with disabled children are unable to afford basics and forced out of work. They are among the poorest in Britain.

In the words of one of our brilliant parent speakers:

poverty seeks out the vulnerable like a stealth missile
@contactfamilies.bsky.social

Honoured to launch @contactfamilies.bsky.social report into huge additional costs of raising a disabled child and to host moving, powerful discussion with parents about improving services. Thx to Sir Stephen Timms MP for hearing how disabled children need to be at heart of Child Poverty Strategy.

Brilliant article and so important. The unequal burden and sacrifices being forced on women are shameful.

Thank you - so well argued and as a parent of a disabled young person, I fear the direction this legislation would take us. I agree with it all. And I am so very very sorry for your loss.

What an appalling conclusion to make, 50 years on. Relieved that I can’t access it. Incredibly hard to know about, but necessary. Thank you

So interested to read this work - keen to know if you also cover the impact of inappropriate housing - a huge factor in sleep, health and wellbeing. Personalised care for the whole family is much-needed.

Have updated starter packs today, will thread here in case of interest. Shout if you'd like added to any of them and please share so I can find others

Currently I've one on #learningdisability one on #OpenJustice and one of people writing/reporting about #health / #socialcare

go.bsky.app/J6k8Rsr

Would love to be added - I am trying to find folks too. Thanks very much for getting this going, and for all you do 🙏

Transport Matters Survey Take this survey and help Contact campaign for better transport for disabled children and young people

If you’re a parent/carer of a disabled child or young person who uses school/college transport services, please consider completing Contact’s survey
www.surveymonkey.com/r/TransportM...