Campaigns
At Child Autism UK, we believe every child deserves access to effective support and education.
Child Autism UK often contributes to campaigns that support autistic children and their families.
This includes working with other like-minded organisations to lobby local authorities and the Government to ensure that autistic children and parents have a voice.
Changes to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
You may have heard that the UK Government is planning significant changes to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
Children and young people with SEND currently have legal rights to an education that meets their individual needs – but those legal rights are under threat.
The Government is considering removing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) from mainstream schools.
If these changes went ahead, they would result in the majority of children losing their EHCPs. This would take away many children’s legal right to education.
In response to the potential changes, Child Autism UK CEO Suzy Yardley said:
“There’s no problem looking at reforms and looking at improving the system, but you can’t take away the legal backstop – that legal backstop has to remain no matter what.”
Save Our Children’s Rights (SOCR)
That’s why we are supporting the #SaveOurChildrensRights campaign, which calls on the Government to abandon any plans that weaken SEND’s legal framework and put children and young people’s futures at risk.
Child Autism UK is supporting the SOCR campaign to ensure autistic young people and their families are at the heart of any debate.
Along with over a hundred other campaigners and organisations, we have signed an open letter demanding that the Government does not deny thousands of children and young people an effective education.
How you can be part of the campaign
To help support the campaign, here’s what you can do:
- Sign SOCR’s petition to protect your children’s legal rights to an education
- Write to your MP using the template letter provided by IPSEA – a charity that specialises in SEND law
- Share your children’s story through SOCR’s photo campaign: “Because of my legal rights”
You can also follow SOCR’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram and spread the word on social media using the hashtag #SaveOurChildrensRights
We’ll also be posting updates on Child Autism UK’s social channels, including our Facebook page.
We are also looking for families who might be interested in sharing videos of their stories. If you’d like to be involved, please email [email protected]
