The meeting was extremely well structured and whilst tea and cakes were provided the emphasis was on a ‘working tea’ through registering the needs of a disabled family.
Those in attendance explained to the MP the realities faced by disabled children and carers across a spectrum of issues including earlier planning in schools transportation, equipment, services, education, housing and funding.
The discussion embraced the cradle to grave development of people with a disability and the affect on families, carers, parents and siblings can be very dramatic, but with strategic planning and a little more common sense there are really sensible opportunities to improve the quality of life of people with a disability.
Commenting on the meeting Mr Clifton-Brown said “this was a very constructive meeting for both myself and SCOPE. The difficulties I have heard today are a reality for a number of my constituents. I am looking forward to moving on from this meeting and helping to tackle the challenges”
“I was touched by some of the examples given by those I met who care for disabled children; the difficulties of an autistic child shouting at you in a supermarket; the cost of specially adapted toys and perhaps above all else, the effect a disabled child can have on his or her siblings.
Medical advances are leading to more seriously disabled children being born, often prematurely. Mr Clifton-Brown believes it is of huge importance
The final message from Anne Stuart, the Chairman of Cirencester SCOPE, was:
“Failure is extremely expensive. Crisis management is not the way forward. If parents give up, the alternative is not worth thinking about”