14
A
VERY
special baby
Oxfordshire
resident Caroline
Meek explains why
she’s so proud of daughter
Chantel (22), who is excelling
despite her learning
disabilities.
Having a baby with a disability can be a worrying
prospect but armed with the best information and
with a good support network in place, you can
enjoy parenthood with your very special child.
According to the organisation
Contact a Family, one child
in 20 under the age of 16
has a disability in the UK,
ranging from cerebral palsy
and Down’s Syndrome to
behavioural problems and
learning difficulties.
Knowledge is power
Raising a child can be
bewildering at the best of
times but when faced with
the additional challenges of a
disability, parents can easily
become overwhelmed.
Normally, it’s less the medical
side that’s an issue and more
the practical aspects, such as
knowing what benefits
Sandy
Markwell,
from The Wychwoods,
explains how she and
son Alex (13) coped
with his severe
hearing loss
you’re entitled to
and where to look
for special nurseries,
schools and training.
However, there is a great deal
of help and support available
and on the following pages are
a few examples…
The Code of Practice for SEN (Special Educational Needs) and Disability (2014) set out guidance on
how the needs of children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEN or disability (SEND) should be met.
There is information on the Oxfordshire County Council web site about how this is