Disability and Additional Needs

Playdo There are many different services available to support families with disabled children. This section has information about some of the key services that are available. However there are a large range of other services that can be found in our online directory.

If you can't find what you are looking for then get in touch with York Family Information Service.

Information and advice for parents and carers

CANDI - CANDI stands for Children AND Inclusion. They are the forum for parents of disabled children and young people, or those who have additional needs, in York and the surrounding area.
Parent Mentoring Service - Parent mentoring is an exciting new service offering the opportunity for volunteers to support families with disabled children. We know that volunteers can have a huge impact on families, helping them decide what changes they want to make and how to achieve them.
Special educational needs and disability - Special educational needs (SEN) can be any learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made. City of York councils website contains lots of information about what services and support is available locally.
Changing Places - Disabled young people at The Children's Society have produced a leaflet because they want to ensure everyone knows about Changing Places and changing facilities in York.
Contact a Family - A UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.

Pre-School information

Childcare for disabled children and young people - When it comes to childcare for a disabled child, a lot of the considerations are the same as for any other child. However there are a few extra things to think about, such as training or a child's medical needs. This short guide will take you through all of the key things you need to know about arranging childcare for a disabled child.
Specialist Early Years Support Team - This preschool service has four components:
- Early Support Service
- Portage Service
- Specialist Early Years Teachers (SEN)
- Early Years Educational Psychology

School information

Starting Primary School - This booklet is intended for parent/carers and all those who support disabled children and children with additional needs, as they approach school age. It can be used as a basis for discussion as your child starts school.
Specialist Teaching Team - The Specialist Teaching Team promotes the inclusion of children with low incidence conditions by providing specialist assessments, advice and teaching. The team offers a wide range of services to schools, families and young people.
Speech and Language Therapy Support in Mainstream Schools - The Support in Mainstream Schools Speech and Language Therapy Service is made up of a team of Therapists who work in schools with children who have a statement of Special Educational Need or are at School Action Plus/school action with an identified support worker or teaching assistant.

Transition

Transition pathway - The transition pathway shows the journey through transition, to help and support young people and their families prepare for the future. Click on the links below to show you what happens at each age.
The Transition Team - The City of York’s Multi-Agency Team supporting disabled young people and those with Special Educational Needs as they become adults
Personalised Learning and Work Package - The Personalised Learning and Work Package is your chance to choose what activities you can do when you leave school and live in York.

Money Matters

Cash Counts - Cash Counts is Contact a Family's one-stop shop for benefits advice and money tips for families with disabled children.

Listending to disabled children and young people

The "Listen to Me" series of booklets include practical and innovative examples of how children can express
their views.. Their opinions are really important and have definitely shaped priorities for services in the City of York. Clearly some children and young people require more support to be involved and we know that parents and practitioners are eager to help them do this.
Listen to me - Guidance enabling participation and listening to children and young people








	Short Breaks for disabled children and young people, and their families Short breaks have two main aims: To give parents or full time carers of disabled children and young people a break from their caring responsibilities. To enable disabled children to have social opportunities and join in with safe, fun and interesting activities.
	Disability Equality Training All staff working with children need to ensure that they have a good awareness of the needs of disabled children and those with additional needs. Level 1 training can be accessed by the following link: www.disabilitytrainingyork.org You will gain a certificate when you have completed this. If you would like to access level 2 training, please speak to your line manager, as this training is delivered to teams and services. The training can then be booked through the workforce development unit. There is also a bespoke web based training for taxi drivers at the same link. www.disabilitytrainingyork.org These modules of Disability Training have all been written in partnership with parents of disabled children and the examples and scenarios used are all genuine examples of issues that York families have faced.This training will take you between 20-40 minutes- well worth you time. Do have a go!