Parents of disabled children prefer specialist care in summer play schemes, says new research
Monday 20 August 2012
Social inclusion is a national priority, but a new study by academics at the University of Surrey reveals that many parents prefer specialist play schemes for their disabled children.
A survey of parents whose disabled children attended a range of summer holiday play schemes showed that, while they supported the idea of inclusion, many parents do not have the confidence that non-specialist provision offers the right facilities and staff training for their child.
They prefer special provision, especially parents whose children have autistic spectrum disorders or complex medical needs, and they are prepared to travel further to their scheme of choice.
In general, summer play schemes help to reduce the social isolation particularly experienced by families with a disabled child. They also allow parents and carers to have a break from caring, and to work, or attend to other children, and enable the disabled child to socialise in a safe and fun environment to help promote self-esteem and well-being.
The research found that where families with non-disabled children accessed schemes so that parents could work, families with disabled children used schemes mainly to allow them to have respite.
Parents of disabled children experienced particular problems in accessing information about suitable schemes, and indicated that they had limited choice of schemes.
Laura Sercombe, CEO of the charity, said: “This research is important as it has highlighted the very real need that still exists for families with disabled children. Families with disabled children should not feel isolated.
“They deserve for this to be a high quality experience with play and youth workers who want to make sure they have a wonderful time. Their parents and families need a short break to enable them to remain a strong unit but this will only ever be a break if they have confidence that the needs of their child are being met. At Disability Challengers we recognise that to achieve this level of confidence we need to provide a high level of training for our team”.
The research was undertaken within the University of Surrey’s Schools of Economics and Psychology and with support from a philanthropist supporter of the charity Disability Challengers.
Professor Annette Sterr, who has restricted mobility herself, said: “The provision of adequate leisure and play is immensely important. All children disabled or not, need access to fun activities outside school to support their physical and mental wellbeing, and to help them build up their physical, social and cognitive skills.
“Holiday play schemes are a great tool to provide these activities. But disabilities are diverse and the needs associated with them are very varied. To maximise the value of play schemes, they need to be tailored to the needs of their users - disabled children, their siblings and their parents. This requires a flexible and diverse approach to the conceptualisation of play schemes and the funding streams available to them".
Professor Heather Gage said: ‘This research provides robust evidence for service commissioners about the play and leisure preferences of families with disabled children during the school summer holidays. It indicates the importance of the voluntary sector in the provision of schemes tailored to the varied needs of children with different disabilities’.
Notes for Editors
The research was funded by a private sponsor who came into contact with the children’s charity Disability Challengers. The Charity is based in Guildford and works with over 1300 families with disabled children and young people across Surrey and Hampshire. (www.disability-challengers.org). This research was carried out in summer 2010 in the last year
Media Enquiries
Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
