Children with Disabilities

20.3. Websites

Websites containing information about resources to support communication with disabled children including: 

 www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/ integratedchildrenssystem/resources/ contains information about resources to help with enabling children to be involved in decision- making, advice and information about involving disabled children and resources to help practitioners communicate with disabled children. 

 www.disabilitytoolkit.org.uk designed by practitioners at The Children’s Society, the is a one-stop information hub, providing essential resources, information and support that are required by professionals to support disabled children in decision-making and participation activities. This website is fully interactive and encourages users to share their resources, practice and ideas using the upload facility. Currently the database contains information on 45 resources reviewed by practitioners and 17 examples of good practice. 

www.ace-centre.org.uk provides support and advice in relation to children and young people with complex physical and communication impairments. The website offers information about assessments, communication technology and other methods of communication and the training available for the people supporting children to communicate. 

www.talkingpoint.org.uk I CAN runs a website called Talking Point. This provides a wide range of information about speech, language and communication. The site is for parents and professionals who help children with speech, language and communication needs and includes speech and language information, a glossary, a directory of resources, news, case studies, discussion groups, ask-the-panels write ups and frequently asked questions. 

www.callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk/ provides a wide range of information guidance and resources on how Information Technology can assist disabled children including many free resources about Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 

http://hbr.nya.org.uk/ The Hear by Right website provides ready access to a range of resources aimed at improving participation for all young people. Many of these resources can be used with no little or no adaptation for disabled children and young people depending on the nature of their impairment. Of particular interest is the standards framework, which has been used to assess the quality of young people’s participation across the range of statutory and voluntary organisations.

The Speech Language and Communication Framework developed by The Communication Trust is a comprehensive framework of speech, language and communication skills and knowledge needed by anyone who works with children and young people. It is available to download and can be used as an interactive online tool at www.communicationhelppoint.org.uk. Practitioners and managers can complete an on line evaluation of current skills and knowledge and identify competencies. The website links to training and resources that will support these competencies. 

(Gov.uk, July 2009)