Your local council can provide help if you have a disabled child, including:

• short break services
• holiday play schemes
• care at home
• some aids and adaptations
• financial help (eg money towards travel costs for hospital visits)

Your council has a duty to provide these services under the Children Act 1989. Some are free of charge - the council might ask you to contribute towards others.

If you think your child may qualify, contact the social services team at your local council.

A social worker will then talk to you about the needs of your family, including:

• health
• social care
• education

This is called a ‘needs assessment’ - the social worker will give you advice on what to do next.

You can also ask your council about local support groups for carers and families with disabled children.

Help with costs

If your child qualifies for services from your local council, you’ll also have the option of getting direct payments.

These are paid directly to you so you can arrange services you need. They’re an alternative to social care services provided by your local council.

You may also be eligible for extra Child Tax Credit for each disabled child you're responsible for or Disability Living Allowance for children.

The Early Support Programme is for parents and carers of disabled children and young people from birth to adulthood. This includes coordinating support for:

• health
• education
• social care

How to join

To find out if the Early Support Programme is running in your area, contact your local council.

If it’s not yet running where you live, ask when it will be introduced.

Once you’ve joined the programme, a key worker will be assigned to help you.

Resources to help you

The Early Support Programme has a range of materials to help families with a disabled child. These include:

• a family pack with information about services available
• booklets on a range of disabilities
• training courses for families and carers

Your local council’s Family Information Service can give you details about childcare in your local area.

You can also ask them about other specialist services that your child may need because of their disability.

Help with childcare costs

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free education for 38 weeks of the year - read the information on childcare and tax credits for more details.

You can also get direct payments from your local council to help pay for childcare.

If you're on the Early Support Programme and have a Family File, show this to your childcare provider.

Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s against the law for schools and other education providers to discriminate against disabled children.

For example:

• a school can't refuse admission to disabled children just because of their disability
• a school can’t stop a disabled pupil going outside at break time because it takes them longer to get there
• a teacher can’t shout at a disabled child if their disability means they have trouble concentrating

Contact the Equality Advisory Support Service if you think your child has been discriminated against because of their disability.

Making ‘reasonable adjustments’

Schools have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled children. These can include:

• changes to physical features (eg adding a ramp)
• changes to how learners are assessed
• providing extra support and aids (eg specialist teachers or equipment)

Special educational needs

Some children may have special educational needs because their disabilities affect their ability to learn.

You can ask your council to carry out a special educational needs assessment for your child. They may get a statement of special educational needs afterwards.

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, your local educational authority has to provide support as they approach leaving school.

Ask to see a school's policy on special educational needs so you know what support they can offer.

Contact your local Parent Partnership Service for impartial advice about special educational needs.

The Motability Scheme can help you lease a car if your child is aged 3 or over and is entitled to either the:

• higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment

More information about the scheme is on the Motability website.

You can also contact:

Motability
Telephone: 0845 456 4566
Textphone: 0845 675 0009
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm
Find out about call charges

If your home needs to be adapted to meet your child’s needs, you may be able to get a Disabled Facilities Grant to help with the costs.

Usually, an occupational therapist will talk to you to work out what adaptations would be best for your child.

A Disabled Facilities Grant will not affect any benefits that you're getting.