Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance (CDSA)
The Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance (CDSA) has published its new Manifesto, which identifies the increasing difficulties being faced by local children with disabilities and their families in accessing public services due to the squeeze on public expenditure.
Commenting on this worrying trend and highlighting the urgent need for Government to re-focus its commitment to disabled children, Pauline Leeson, Chief Executive Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), the regional umbrella group for the children’s sector, and co-chair of CDSA, said:
“The Children and Disabilities Strategic Alliance is asking MLAs to give their support to prioritising children with disabilities and their families in the Programme for Government and Budget processes. More transparency is required to show how public monies are being targeted to benefit children with disabilities and their families. We need to see agencies collaborating and co-operating to bring forward innovative solutions and make the best use of the monies available for children and young people with disabilities.”
Pauline adds: “The Manifesto recommends that Government undertakes a strategic review of all aspects of services for disabled children and young people to ensure that the current configuration of disabled children’s services meets their needs and that identified areas of need are appropriately filled.”
The Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance represents a network of 26 disability organisations in Northern Ireland, chaired jointly by Children in Northern Ireland and Disability Action.
The Alliance produced its first Manifesto in 2009, outlining what Government could do to make a positive difference to the lives of disabled children and young people.
The updated Manifesto calls for children with disabilities and their families to have a greater say when decisions are being made about the planning, delivery and funding of services which they rely on. The lack of clarity on the amount of Government spending on children with disabilities makes it more difficult to determine the impact and benefit to children and their families, and there is real concern that critical services relied upon by families are simply disappearing as budgets tighten.
Monica Wilson, Chief Executive, Disability Action discusses the issue:
“Government has a responsibility under the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; this document clearly outlines what Government needs to do to make those rights a reality for children with disabilities living here.
“I would urge all our MLAs to make sure that they put children with disabilities at the forefront of their thinking when developing policy and programmes which will impact on their lives.”
Welcoming the launch of the CDSA Manifesto, Michelle McIlveen, MLA and Chair of the All Party Group on Children and Young People, said:
“[The] launch of the CDSA Manifesto review is very timely as we are entering a crucial period that will determine the future direction of special education needs provision for children with disabilities.
“There is now a momentum for positive change building. Government must deliver a response to disabled children and young people’s particular educational needs that enables them to enjoy a rich educational experience that will open many doors into the future.”
The Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance (CDSA) Alliance came together through a shared and passionate commitment to getting the voice of children with disabilities and their families heard by policy makers so that the barriers to disabled children living a full and happy life are removed.
>>Download the CDSA Manifesto 2012 (PDF)
>>Download the CDSA Manifesto 2012 in Large Print (PDF)
Alternatively a copy of the Manifesto can be obtained by contacting:
CiNI (Children in Northern Ireland)
Telephone: 02890 401290
Website: www.ci-ni.org.uk
Disability Action
Telephone: 02890 297880 or Textphone:02890 297882.
