Disabilities and Additional Needs

This section of the website contains core information and resources to support members of the YorOK workforce with their work around disabilities or additional needs.

Local Resources

Hello! National Year of Communication

• Hello is the 2011 national year of communication - a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills. Hello aims to make communication for all children and young people a priority in homes and schools across the UK so that they can live life to the full.
  The national year was originally proposed by John Bercow MP in his 2008 Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs, (SLCN). The Bercow Review noted “there is grossly inadequate recognition across society of the importance of communication development..”  Find out more about "Hello"

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!"

Disabled Children's Charter

• The Disabled Children's Charter sets out what those working with children, young people and famiies have committed to doing for disabled children in York.

Building confidence with parents of disabled children

• Find out 5 Top Tips for building confidence with parents of disabled children. These tips have been identified through a survey of parental satisfaction.

Listen to me

• 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
  • Listen to me - Booklet 1 (0-5 years)
  • Listen to me - Booklet 2 (5-11 years)
  • Listen to me - Booklet 3 (11 years+)
  • Listen to me - Taking an active part in meetings with your child

Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare

• Find out what York is doing as part of the Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare project

National Resources

Early Support

• Early Support: Services for disabled children in Early Years
• Early Support materials and resources
• Early Support materials that have been translated

Contact a Family

• Contact a Family information for practitioners

Aspirations For Life

• Aspirations For Life is a campaign funded by the Department for Education as part of the Valuing Employment Now strategy. The campaign will raise aspirations and expectations for children and young people with learning disabilities; with a particular focus on employment.