Campaigns and research

We influence policy and campaign so politicians and decision-makers tackle the inequalities faced by families with disabled children.

Our latest campaigns

Covid vaccine for children

Campaign win: Vaccine committee and government give go ahead for some clinically vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 to have the Pfizer vaccine : Read our statement and thank you to every family for helping us achieve this.

We have written some questions and answers for families about what the JCVI and government announcement.

More on our Covid-19 vaccine campaign:

• What to do if your eligible child hasn’t been invited for a Covid vaccine including tips on what to do if your GP says they aren’t doing vaccinations for children.
• Getting a covid vaccine off-label for your child – Advice from a parent who was successful
• Latest advice about when your child will be offered a covid vaccine
• Latest about vaccines for 16 and 17 year olds
• Watch us on Channel 4 News urging government to make a decision on vaccinating clinically vulnerable children
• Read our vaccine research and letter from vaccine committee (JCVI) in response to our campaign to prioritise clinically vulnerable children for the vaccine
• Families speak out about vaccine access on BBC Breakfast News
• Watch us on Channel 4 News calling for a roadmap out of lockdown shielding children and their families.

Universal Credit campaign 

Use our new resources to challenge DWP decisions on claiming  Universal Credit for a disabled young person in education.

Universal Credit – Stop the cuts, meaning more than 100,000 families with disabled children will be worse off.  Read our  Universal Credit briefing [PDF] that explains the issues. 

Improving healthcare campaign 

Read our new guides on getting eye, hearing and dental checks.

Get an annual health check for your child – listen to our podcast and answers to your questions including how to get on the learning disability register.

Your questions answered about getting the Flu jab.

Latest from the Disabled Children’s Partnership 

• Take action by sign parent Maureen’s letter to the Chancellor, demanding funding for disabled children’s health and care services 
• Listen to BBC You and Yours programme with Amanda Batten, CEO at Contact and Dan McEvoy, a parent carer talking about the findings from our Longest Lockdown report and call for Covid recovery and catch up for disabled children 
• Left in Lockdown research shows most families left without support 
• Give it Back – we’re calling on government to give back the £434 million of care support owed to disabled children and their families. 
• Read the blog from the Disabled Children’s Partnership on what we want government to do to improve health and social care support for families

You might also be interested in

• School transport  – Calling on governemnt to close the loophole for disabled young people.
• Caring More than Most research –  census data  shows 150,000 parent carers providing more than 100 hours of care per week.
• Past campaigns successes including Stop the DLA Takeaway in hospital.
• Other issues we’re campaigning on such as childcare, illegal exclusions and waiting times for services.
• Our research

You might also be interested in

• Parliamentary Human Rights committee published shocking report on disabled young people detained in private mental health hospitals 
• Scottish Social Security Changes – Latest advice including getting a young carers grant
• Support and benefits advice if your child is in a residential setting
• Returning to school advice 

What we want

• Access to Covid-19 vaccines for disabled children, shielding children and all their family carers
• A Covid recovery plan aimed at tackling the health and educational inequalities disabled children experience 
• Financial support that recognises the extra care and disability costs for families 
• Stop the cuts to child disbled payment in Universial Credit and  increases in carer’s allowance 
• Ending to the wait for assessment, diagnosis and good quality support.
• A clear and joined up legal framework that enhances individual family rights.
• The real experts are parents of disabled children. We want parent carer participation across the UK.

What we’re doing 

• We influence laws and government policy based on what families with disabled children tell us and what we have learnt from our services
• We carry out research to build evidence of the difficulties faced by disabled children and present a case for change.
• We join forces with other charities and support their campaigns.
• We meet with MPs and government departments.
• We support parent carer participation and help parents get directly involved in shaping their services.

What you can do

• Sign up to our campaign updates and join our 10,000 strong campaign network
• Contacting our Head of Campaigns Una Summerson at una.summerson@contact.org.uk to see how you can help us.

What other organisations do we work with?

We join forces with other charities to influence public policy and campaign together. This shared voice strengthens our lobbying activities and helps decision makers and politicians understand shared concerns. These alliances include:

• Disabled Children’s Partnership
• Special Educational Consortium
• Care and Support Alliance
• Disability Benefits Consortium
• End Child Poverty
• Specialised Healthcare Alliance.