Write to your MP about fixing disabled children’s social care in England
2 mins read
Friday 17 July 2026
It’s just 2 months to go until the government must respond to recommendations to improve outdated social care law for disabled children.
Families caring for disabled children are routinely left without essential support in the home, short breaks and direct payments. Instead, they are pushed into crisis and subjected to unnecessary and unwarranted safeguarding investigations.
The Law Commission has set out a clear, practical blueprint for fixing this. And on 16 September the government must respond to these proposals.
We need your help to raise awareness of the importance of a good social care system for disabled children by emailing your MP about your experience – good and bad of getting help from social services.
Huge thanks to the 650 of you who have already taken action.
Why act now?
This is a rare opportunity to make meaningful change in a decades-long overlooked area. We need MPs to support the Law Commission proposals to create a fairer, more modern and workable social care system of support for disabled children.
Una Summerson, Contact’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, said: “We hear daily from families with disabled children failed by the current social care system.
“However, there is little awareness amongst MPs and policy makers about the importance of good social care support. We now have two months to create greater understanding of the importance of social care support.
“Without law change, disabled children will continue to face a postcode lottery of support. This leads to more pressure on schools and teachers who are left to pick up the pieces when a child and family aren’t supported outside the classroom. It also creates more pressure on the NHS as physical and mental health conditions worsen without support and respite and more pressure on the benefits system as families without adequate support struggle to maintain work and caring responsibilities.”
Take action
Write to your MP today to improve disabled children’s social care law and create a better system of support.
If you would be willing to share your story in the media, get in touch [email protected] or telephone 07599 930 090.
Further information
We have lots of advice and information on how to ask for social care help.
Contact has a briefing on how to improve social care for disabled children.