40 organisations from the disabled children's sector urge prospective MPs to sign up to prioritise disabled children and their families
The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) is today calling on all political candidates to sign up to a Constituency Pledge. If candidates are elected to represent their constituency as an MP, the Constituency Pledge will commit them to meeting with local disabled children and their families, visiting the services they use and to raising issues of concern to them in Parliament.
The EDCM Constituency Pledge has been endorsed by 40 organisations from the disabled children's sector and MP's giving early sign up include: Danny Alexander MP, Ed Balls MP, Annette Brooke MP, Tom Clarke MP, Phil Hope MP, Joan Humble MP, Diana Johnson MP, Norman Lamb MP and David Laws MP.
1. Meet with disabled children, young people and their families to discuss key issues of concern to them
2. Raise these issues of concern, and promote rights and resources, for disabled children, young people and families from my constituency in Parliament
3. Visit local services for disabled children and their families on a regular basis
4. Support measures to transform services for disabled children and their families, such as the Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) programme in England
5. Find out how funding is being used in my constituency to improve services for disabled children, young people and their families
There is also an EDCM Constituency Pledge for UK Devolved Nations - an alternative version for MPs in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This Pledge has been endorsed by Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance Northern Ireland, Disabled Children Matter Wales and For Scotland's Disabled Children.
Alongside the Constituency Pledge, EDCM has also launched a 'Campaigning Toolkit' to help supporters to engage their local candidates in a debate on issues for disabled children.
Christine Lenehan, EDCM Board member and Director, Council for Disabled Children, said: 'Disabled children aged 0 -16 are the fastest growing group amongst the population of disabled people. However, despite recent funding and policy focus, disabled children and their families still face unnecessary barriers in accessing the services and support they need to lead ordinary lives. If services for disabled children are to be transformed, every MP in the country must be committed to promoting rights and resources for disabled children and their families in their constituency. We urge every prospective MP to sign the EDCM Constituency Pledge in the run up to the General Election.'