PSP News 2007

20 December 2007

In December, every primary and secondary school in all ten local authority areas has been sent a new and very special calendar for 2008, produced by TreeHouse. The ‘autism calendar’ has been inspired by parents and carers who worked with the project team and other TreeHouse staff to identify 12 strategies or techniques, one for each month. Each one describes a small change in approach that could be tried out in the classroom or elsewhere in school, if a child or young person has autism.

As well as the 12 messages , the calendar has pictures of children and young people, including some whose parents are part of the Parent Support Project and others who attend TreeHouse School. We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all the parents and carers, children and young people and TreeHouse colleagues for all their help in making it happen. Please feel free to download a version of the TreeHouse Calendar, Happy 2008!

29 September 2007

TreeHouse, Scope and Working Families hosted fringe events at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Party Conferences this autumn. The theme of the events was ‘Making Work, Work’, and focused on tackling the barriers that prevent parents of children with disabilities from working.

All three fringes generated a debate about how education and social care services can better respond to disabled children's needs, therefore making work a real option for their parents. The fringes also explored what more employers might do to help parents of children with disabilities to gain employment, and to stay in work.

Machita Denny, parent and group leader of the Staffordshire - based JIGSAW group, was one of three speakers on the panel for the Conservative Party fringe event, held in Blackpool on the 29^th September. The panel was chaired by Andrew Sparrow (former political editor of the telegraph), with Sarah Jackson (CEO of Working Families), and Mark Harper MP (Shadow Minister for Disabled People).

Machita spoke movingly on how having a child with a disability has affected her ability to work, and her experiences whilst in work. The audience at the fringe were taken through Machita’s personal journey, hearing about the daily struggle and time constraints a parent of a child with a disability often faces, and why sometimes work simply isn’t a viable option.

Machita said of the event

‘I was delighted to be asked to present a parent’s point of view regarding the difficulties we encounter when trying to hold down a job and care for our disabled children. It was a pleasure to meet many other people who understood these difficulties and were campaigning to improve the quality of life for children and families in these situations.

The impact recounting a personal experience can have on policy makers is immeasurable. I felt as though my presentation really hit home with Mark Harper, Shadow Minister for Disabled People and that he recognised what it is like negotiating the many obstacles that get in our way on a daily basis’

All three fringe events were very successful, highlighting important disability issues, and drawing attention and debate from a wide selection of conference attendees.

24 August 2007

Parent Support Project members attend the Lombard & Lashings World XI family cricket event

On Friday 24^th August 2007 members of the Lincolnshire based PSP group CAPAAS, attended a Lombard organised Lashings World XI cricket family event. The event was held at Kibworth cricket club in Leicester. The Lashings team of international cricket players, which includes stars such as Henry Olonga, is currently on a national tour of the UK. During the event on Friday, the team ran coaching clinics for the children, giving them the opportunity to practice with the world class players. The Lashings team then played a match against Lombard, a team made up of staff and customers.

Steve McGuinness (Capaas group leader) and family joined the Parent Support Project Communications Officer and other TreeHouse staff for the day. Taylor, age 9, apparently hasn’t stopped talking about meeting the Lashings players! Steve, his father, said "The Lashings players were excellent with Taylor and Chris Harris was great, taking Taylor to meet the team and collect their autographs….he enjoyed the day so much.”

31 July 2007

Proposals for Parent Support Project 2008 Calendar

One of the outcomes of the PSP parents seminar was looking at ways to get parents ideas and strategies for making the classroom a better place, out to schools as easily as possible. The Parent Support Project are in the process of creating a 2008 calendar, which will hopefully be put on classroom notice boards in every school in the project.

We would like to promote 12 messages which ‘came out’ of the parents seminar, displaying one of each of the months. The theme will be based around the idea of ‘What every child with autism wishes you knew’ and will highlight powerful and concise messages to aid in the education of children with autism.

Currently we are deciding on appropriate images to use for each month, and would appreciate your input and ideas on the calendar images and messages to be used. It is important the pictures used don’t detract from the vital messages we want the calendar to promote, so are additionally wondering whether it would in fact be better plain than with photographs or drawings?

We are aiming to have these wall and desk calendars distributed by late autumn for the start of the new year, therefore would appreciate any feedback, or ideas you may have as soon as possible. In order to give input on this project please email the PSP, or phone on 0208 815 5443.

24 July 2007

Signing Up for Parent Power - Transform Confrontation into Collaboration

In the July/August issue of the London Bulletin the TreeHouse Constructive Campaigning Parent Support Project featured in a double page spread entitled ‘Signing up for Parent Power’. The article argues persuasively that collaboration between parents and local authorities, can transform autism education. The article specifically focuses on the Havering RAGS group, and how the involvement of the PSP has given the group a ‘real boost’ and a united focus. Please follow this link for the full London Bulletin Article

20 June 2007

Every Disabled Child Matters - July Number Target

Campaigns need supporters, as numbers matter. Since the EDCM campaign launch last September, 20,000 people have signed the petition to get rights and justice for every disabled child, which is an amazing start!

Without supporters, EDCM would not have been able to persuade the government to invest £340 million more in disabled children's services, or make disabled children a priority with a new national target. With every new supporter added to the campaign, the chance of making real change happen increases.

The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign has set a target of 25,000 supporters by July. With two weeks to go, 5,000 more are needed.

Please help EDCM meet and beat their target by signing up to the campaign on the EDCM website, I already have and can honestly say it takes only a second to help make every disabled child matter

Thank you in advance for your support.

13 March 2007

Ministers are consulting on new Guidance on Exclusion, Improving Behaviour and Attendance; Guidance on Exclusion form Schools and Pupil Referral Units - please respond by 18th May...

Exclusion from school is one of the issues raised most frequently by members of the 10 autism support groups participating in the TreeHouse Constructive Campaigning Parent Support Project. We know there are many families who would like to share their experiences to improve the system so please look at the consultation and respond through the DfES consultation website.