Disabled children have notably lower access to play, Sense reports
Nine out of ten parents of disabled children say that their child does not have the same access to play as non-disabled children, according to national deafblind charity, Sense.
The survey revealed the severe restrictions disabled children face when accessing play, stating that one in two disabled children have been turned away from play settings and activities. Barriers include a lack of attention by government, insufficient funding at a local level as well as a negative attitude towards disabled children and their families.
鈥淲e know that play is vitally important for children with multiple needs and their families, bringing a wide range of developmental and emotional benefits. However, our inquiry found that all too often the parents of children with multiple-needs point to barriers they face in accessing and enjoying play,鈥 said Lord Blunkett, chair of the play inquiry. 鈥淚t means that disabled children don鈥檛 have the same chance to form friendships, and the parents are prevented from taking a break from caring. Both disabled children and their parents are excluded from their own communities.鈥
The report is calling for urgent action to address these inequalities and to enable the prime minister to deliver on his recent call to improve the 鈥渓ife chances鈥 of all children.