SEN & Disabilities

ERIC is the UK’s national charity dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health.

Friends & Families of Special Children is a charity based in Plymouth, Devon, that offers a broad range of services and projects for children with disabilities. Services include:

• Integrated social and leisure activities for children with disabilities and for their whole family.
• Support for young carers through their ‘Fun and Freedom Club’.
• Information and advice service for emotional support, impartial advice and guidance to access financial aid and advocacy (e.g. support with DLA PIP).
• ‘Youth Adventures’ gives young disabled people aged 14 and over the opportunity to socialise with other young people.
• The ‘Adventure Club’ provides activities and events for disabled children under the age of 14.
• ‘Making Sense’ Project provides a range of services aimed specifically at children with Profound & Multiple Learning Disabilities and their parents/carers.
• Support networks, befriending service and training opportunities for parents/carers to reduce isolation and time-out from the punishing regime of caring.
• Access to specialist equipment and practical resources through their ‘Lending Library’.

Get Your Rights is a website specifically designed for disabled children and young people and those with SEND to help them understand their rights in navigating the health system.

A toolkit published by the Ministry of Justice to help parents and carers better understand their rights and what they need to do under the Mental Capacity Act to manage the finances of their child should they lose the capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Health for Teens provided by Livewell Southwest is designed to engage and benefit young people in Plymouth. It provides information on health, relationships, feelings, lifestyle and growing up, mental health support during COVID-19, dental heath and finding a dentist and common illnesses and wellbeing. You can also text a school nurse for confidential health advice and support.

Information from the Government UK website about the help you can receive from your local council, benefits you can claim and other useful services available to assist parents.

Sensory Solutions provides information, advice and equipment for people of all ages with concerns about sight or hearing. Family members, carers, friends, professionals and employers are welcome to use this confidential and impartial service provided by trained advisors.

Free legal advice and resources from the Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

The Independant Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA) provide information on Annual Reviews for children and young people that have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP).  These ensure that the EHCP is up-to-date and is providing the appropriate level of support for the child or young persons needs.

The Independant Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA) provides guidance for parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their rights to a mainstream education.

This is a charity that works in partnership with parents and carers to enable disabled children and young people to develop their skills and abilities and to fulfil their potential, hopes and aspirations.

Livewell’s children’s speech and language service can offer early help, advice and information if you have concerns for any child or young people with speech, language and communication needs. The site also contains lots of useful information and links to other resources.

Gov.UK provide guidance on how to support school attendance where a pupil is experiencing social, emotional or mental health issues.

NAS Plymouth Adult Aspergers Branch (NAS PAAB) offer support to adults on the autism spectrum.

Information on autism and aspergers syndrome for parents / carers, professionals and adults with the conditions.  

Find local NHS services near you including doctors surgeries, dentists, opticians, pharmacies and hospitals.

Information, advice and support for carers provided by the National Health Service.

NHS website providing information on how young people can take control of their care as they move into adult health services.

The PDA Society offer information, support and training about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) for families and professionals.

The Plymouth Autism Parent Support have a Facebook page for parents and carers of children and young people with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. They also have a closed Facebook group for parents and carers to join.

• Facebook Parent Support
• Facebook (Closed Group)

The Plymouth Autism Spectrum Service (P.A.S.S.) has been developed to provide a dedicated and specialist service for adults with autism, their families, health and social care services and to collaborate with community organisations within Plymouth.

Information provided by Plymouth City Council on special educational needs and disabililty (SEND) and the local offer.

The Plymouth Enhanced Transition Framework is a framework to support children who who are making the transition from early years right through to secondary school or between classes and year groups at both primary and secondary school.

A comprehensive lists of services provided by the Plymouth NHS Trust.