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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children
@contactfamilies.bsky.social
350 followers 80 following 340 posts
UK disability charity for all families caring for a disabled child ☎️ support, info & advice ❤️ bringing families together 📢 campaigning for change! Find out more: https://linktr.ee/contactfamilies
linktr.ee
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 2h
Here, Christine tells us more about the condition and how she became involved in setting up the Hope Project 👇
The Hope Project: Support for families with Sickle Cell Disease in Scotland
Scotland's Hope Project supports families with Sickle Cell Disease, which predominantly affects people from African and Caribbean backgrounds.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 2h
Sickle cell disease is a very much misunderstood condition that predominantly affects people from African and Caribbean backgrounds. This often that means that the right support is not always available.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 2h
Christine Membi is a parent to two children and lives with her family in Glasgow. They live with sickle cell disease, as do many other families across the UK.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 6h
Find out more about 'illegal exclusions' here: https://f.mtr.cool/mqcywccmcv
contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 6h
A child can only be legally excluded from school for disciplinary reasons. A head teacher must formally tell parents that their child will be excluded by giving them details in writing. Any other exclusions are illegal, and we want them to stop.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 1d
Why do some genetic conditions remain undiagnosed? SWAN UK explains in this short video... 🧬
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 2d
How are genetic conditions diagnosed? SWAN UK explains in this short video... 🧬
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 3d
What is a genetic condition? SWAN UK explains in this short video... 🧬
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 4d
Live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Take our short survey! 📋

Follow the link below 👇
Live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Take our short survey
We are currently reviewing how parents access services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and we want to hear your experiences.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 5d
Read more & find the template here 👇
“Direct payments must cover full cost of care” say legal experts
Direct payments should be enough to cover the full cost of providing social care support for a disabled child, the Law Commission has said.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 5d
Contact has welcomed the report and is urging the Government to implement the reforms without delay.

Parents can use our template email to ask their MP to urge the government to accept the reforms and implement them swiftly. (This will take less than a minute.)
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 5d
Direct payments should be enough to cover the full cost of providing social care support for a disabled child, the Law Commission has said.

One of 40 key recommendations in the their landmark review of disabled children’s social care aimed a fixing an outdated system that fails many families.
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Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 6d
🦖 Parent carers! Help make #DinoDay2026 roar! 🦖

Invite your child’s school or nursery to join in and celebrate inclusion with fun dino-themed activities. 

Copy our ready-to-use email here 👇
Bring DinoDay to your child's school
We know the difference that expert advice and support can make to parent carers of disabled children, and so we want every family to be able to access our vital services when they need it. This year, parent carers can help spread the word about our life-changing support services by inviting their child’s primary school […]
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 10d
Contact CEO Anna Bird on Sky Breakfast calls for all children in England who need it to have a legal guarantee of support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Contact CEO highlights SEND reform need on Sky Breakfast
Anna Bird has appeared on Sky to call on the government to ensure all children in England who need it have a legal guarantee of support.
contact.org.uk
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 11d
October is Black History Month and the theme this year is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride. 

Celebrating Black History Month this October
It's Black History Month this October and the theme this year is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride. Find out what's happening near you.
contact.org.uk
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 11d
Young people on Universal Credit out of employment or learning for 18 months will be offered guaranteed paid work - but the government must consider the barriers young people face.

Chancellor announces "youth guarantee" of paid work
Young people on Universal Credit out of employment or learning for 18 months will be offered guaranteed paid work.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 13d
The Law Commission says it’s time to update the outdated & ableist definition of “disabled child” in the Children Act 1989.

They recommend using the Equality Act definition (with extensions) to simplify the law & make social care fairer
Law Commission calls for new definition of a "disabled child"
The Law Commission is calling for a new definition of "disability" for disabled children, one of 40 recommendations.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 13d
Danielle, a parent carer from Essex, shares her twins’ journey through the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

Your Voice: “Families are being forced into battles they should never face”
Parent carer, Danielle describes a dehumanising and overwhelming SEND appeal process and sharing her experiences with the Schools Minister
contact.org.uk
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 18d
🦖 Parent carers! Help make #DinoDay2026 roar! 🦖

Invite your child’s school or nursery to join in and celebrate inclusion with fun dino-themed activities. 

Copy our ready-to-use email here 👇
Bring DinoDay to your child's school
We know the difference that expert advice and support can make to parent carers of disabled children, and so we want every family to be able to access our vital services when they need it. This year, parent carers can help spread the word about our life-changing support services by inviting their child’s primary school […]
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 19d
Disabled young people need education, not barriers. ❌

Cuts to post-16 school transport leave families stranded.

Join us to demand fair transport based on need, not age. #CloseTheLoophole
Join the campaign: Fairer transport for disabled students
Parent carers have launched a campaign to close the loophole in the law. Please sign their letter to the Schools Minister
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 20d
Live in Conwy or Gwynedd? Book your free appointment and let us help you claim the benefits you deserve with confidence!
Live in Conwy or Gwynedd? Book your free appointment and let us help you claim the benefits you deserve with confidence 
Parent carers in Conwy and Gwynedd can now book free, confidential 1-1 appointments to get help with benefits and financial support. 
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 20d
Claims that paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism are false. Autism isn’t caused by medicine. For guidance visit:
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking paracetamol for adults
NHS medicines information on paracetamol and whether you can take it while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 21d
Do you know whether you are getting the right amount of universal credit as a parent carer?

If you need more information, you can find it at https://f.mtr.cool/ltcbauobvw
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 24d
We are delighted that the committee recognises that SEND reforms must not be based on any withdrawal of statutory entitlements for children and young people. 

Read our summary here:
Solving the SEND crisis: Contact's analysis
Today the Education Select Committee has published a report from its inquiry, Solving the SEND crisis. We welcome this detailed report which puts families at its heart. It comes after the committee carried out evidence sessions with parent groups, charities and professionals with experience of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system. This included […]
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contactfamilies.bsky.social
Contact, for families with disabled children @contactfamilies.bsky.social · 24d
That includes the importance of retaining existing legal rights to support for children with special educational needs; the importance of improving the SEN support system to help children early before needs escalate; the need for improved accountability and the importance of school transport.
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