The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) has published a joint report with the Pears Foundation on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on disabled children and their families in England.
A Parent Survey Panel of 1,200 families will participate in a series of surveys during 2021 to track the experiences of disabled children and their families. The panel has been set up to be demographically representative of the population of families with disabled children across England in terms of geography, disability and ethnicity.
635 families responded to the first survey in January 2021, focusing around schooling and education, health for children with complex needs and family support.
The findings reveal disabled children are not receiving sufficient support for their disability or medical condition via health services or their school placement. 75% of families reported delays to routine health appointments for their disabled child, which delays may lead to additional problems with anxiety and behaviour (70%), sleep (66%) and loneliness (65%).
Parents report the pandemic has a detrimental impact on their children’s disability, and their longer-term education, health and wellbeing are also at risk. 70% or more children could not access complementary therapies essential for their development: “My son had an intensive physiotherapy programme 3 days a week and hydrotherapy once per week. He has had NONE of this taking place” – reported a parent.
According to the survey, adjustments of online teaching are also lacking: “Our daughter has hearing loss, vision problems, blue light sensitivities hence five Zoom lessons a day is overwhelming” – added a participant.
The DCP is calling for a Covid recovery plan for disabled children covering education, health and wellbeing, including a therapies catch-up plan to address where children have regressed in their physical development and social skills and additional support for children and young people at key transition points.