Tim Loughton MP (East Worthing and Shoreham), today gave his support to the Secret Life of Us campaign, led by a coalition of over 35 children’s charities called the Disabled Children’s Partnership.
The campaign, Secret Life of Us, is responding to an alarming survey which revealed that 97% of parents with a disabled child say the public do not understand the challenges they face.
A further survey shows that in the South East:
- More than 4 in 5 parents of a disabled child face problems accessing the services they need; with 58% believing this has a negative impact on their child’s health and wellbeing, development (53%), and their ability to make friends (50%).
- In the South East, 79% of parents have experienced mental health issues, compared to 1 in 6 in the general population.
- 93% of parents believe the needs of their disabled child wouldn’t be met if they could no longer care for them.
- Only 7% of families in the region believe that the health and social care services in their area adequately meet the needs of their disabled child.
Responding to these statistics and the launch of the campaign, Tim Loughton MP, said:
“I am pleased to add my support to the Disabled Children’s Partnership campaign, Secret Life of US, to shine a light and share the stories, challenges, hopes and opportunities of disabled children and their families across the country, in the South East and in my constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham.
“I am extremely concerned that 97% of parents with a disabled child say the public do not understand the challenges they face. The campaign provides us all with the opportunity help address this. By increasing awareness and public support a real difference can be made to the lives of disabled children, young people and their families.
“The new campaign, Secret Life of Us, will show the day-to-day lives of disabled children, young people and their families, the similarities they share with everyone in the things they love and enjoy, but importantly, the unacceptable struggles they face on a daily basis, in living a life that we all take for granted. It will reveal parts of their lives that most people simply do not see.
“As Chairman of the Conservative Disability Group for seven years and my work with Whizz Kids, particularly as Children’s Minister, I have had the pleasure to meet many inspiring individuals. This issue has been a long-term interest of mine and I am delighted to support this campaign.
“I am committed to supporting the campaign to raise awareness of the challenges that disabled children, young people and their families face but also to find solutions to them.”
Tim Loughton MP is I urging constituents interested in the campaign to sign up for updates here: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=78&ea.campaign.id=55271 and to tweet their support using #SecretLifeofUs and to follow @DCPCampaign.