Families can refer themselves or get more information about services, by contacting Services for Disabled Children during office hours at.

Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton le Spring DH4 5HX
Tel: (0191) 566 2190
Fax: (0191) 566 2191
E-mail: child.disability@sunderland.gov.uk

Aiming High for Disabled Children
Sunderland has been selected by the Government to be a pathfinder in the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme which will transform services for disabled children and young people and their families. As a pathfinder, Sunderland will be expected to lead the way in developing the services and ways of working that families want and that work best.

A Participation Fund has been established as part of the Aiming High Programme to enable disabled children to participate in activities that they would like to do, but where there is currently a barrier preventing them from doing so. Common barriers are transport, the need for a support worker, staff training or the need for equipment. The scheme is being trialled between 1 January and 31 March 2009. To apply for funding go to Real Issues website or contact Karen Parry, Aiming High Programme Manager on 0191 566 2178.

“Real Issues” Website
The is designed for children and young people living in Sunderland who are disabled, have special educational needs, or a long term health condition, and their families. It pulls together all the information families tell us they need, into one place and includes:

• Leisure, holidays and days out
• Money matters
• Transport and mobility
• Health
• Voluntary organisations
• Education
• Support for parents
• Early years
• Useful links to lots of other relevant sites and publications

You can visit the website at www.sncwd.org.uk

The Sunderland Network for Disabled Children

The Sunderland Network for Disabled Children is a database of information about disabled children in Sunderland and their families. It is a joint project between Sunderland City Council and local Health Trusts. The benefits of joining the Network for families include having a chance to put your views across about changes to services, and being on a mailing list to be kept up to date with all service developments, including receiving the regular newsletter, Real Issues. By joining the Network, families help agencies to have a more complete picture of the needs of disabled children in Sunderland, which helps planning services for the future. Members of the Network also receive a Max Card which offers the family free entry to over 50 museums, galleries and heritage attractions across the North East.

Families who have a child under the age of 18, whose disability is likely to continue throughout their childhood can join the Network.

More information is available in a leaflet ( 98kb) and application form from: 

Services for Disabled Children, Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH4 5HX. Tel: (0191) 566 2190.

The documents above are in PDF () format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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