Useful websites

Listed below are links to websites that have a particular relevance for St Luke's School and its pupils, Click on the icons to go to the websites.

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The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE) - www.ncype.org.uk can help parents and families by providing information about epilepsy and signposting you to other sources of support.

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The Family Information Direct programme – www.dcsf.gov.uk/familyinformationdirect (until 20 January 2010 the Parent Know How programme) aims to provide information, advice and support to all parents - mums, dads, grandparents, carers and other adults with caring responsibility and families in England on a range of issues they may face in bringing up children.

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The Government’s Early Support Programme -www.earlysupport.org.uk is focused on young children with disabilities and their families, and the website has colourful photographs and short videos of people talking about their experience of using Early Support. The website has a section for families which explains what the Early Support programme offers. It provides downloadable materials including information about particular categories of special needs such as cerebral palsy, multisensory impairment and autism.  New materials include developmental profiles that can be built by parents as regards their children with Down Syndrome or hearing impairment.

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Contact a Family - www.cafamily.org.uk gives information and advice on a wide range of issues including welfare rights, education, short breaks, local services and local support. It produces a wide range of publications including newsletters, parent guides and research reports, helping parents and professionals to stay informed. It has an invaluable directory – a guide to medical conditions and disabilities with information on over 1000 conditions and each entry provides an overview of the condition with details of support groups where available.

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The DirectGov website - www.direct.gov.uk has a section on caring for a diabled child. It includes such items as:

• A short guide to people you may meet while your child is being looked after.
• The support available for disabled children in education, health and everyday life.
• Direct payments for a disabled child can be made to people with parental responsiblity for the child.
• Extra things to think about when looking for chidcare for a disabled child.
• Support groups for parents of disabled children.
• Claiming Disability Living Allowance for a child.
• What services you and your child are entitled to.

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The Family Fund – www.familyfund.org.uk gives grants for things that make life easier and more enjoyable for the disabled child, young person and their family, such as washing machines, driving lessons, computers and holidays. The Fund is a registered charity, helping around 53,000 families on the lowest of incomes across the UK.

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Shared Care Network  - www.sharedcarenetwork.co.uk is a charity that provides information about short breaks. Short breaks provide opportunities for disabled children to have enjoyable experiences which help them become more independent and form friendships outside their family.

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Mencap - www.mencap.org.uk works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers to change laws and services, challenge prejudice and directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose.

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The PMLD Network - www.pmldnetwork.org is a group of people committed to improving the lives of children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).