ALLFIE Celebrates Children’s Rights on ‘World Children’s Day 2020’

World Children’s Day 2020: Strengthening Disabled Young people’s voices

ALLFIE marks ‘World Children’s Day’ on 20th November 2020, highlighting our ongoing campaign for ALL children’s rights to education, through one Young person’s inclusion experience.

The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) campaigns for all Disabled Learners’ rights to education, with a keen focus on strengthening the voices of Disabled children and Young people through our capacity building work. This work brings services such as the Newham Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice Social Service (SENDIASS) and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) together to better support Disabled Young People, like LT.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice Social Service (SENDIASS) is a statutory service provided by Local Authorities, offering impartial information and advice – empowering Disabled children, Young people, and their families. This service is also offered directly to Young people from 16 years upwards.

This is LT’s experience of the support she received from her local SENDIASS team

“The SENDIASS team were introduced to me while I was in college, as they help Young people with disabilities. At first, I didn’t think much of it as I haven’t used these types of services before. I was then introduced to Marcia and Tessa, they explained how they could help me.  I’ve usually been on my own when it came to doing things for myself, so this was amazing, as I struggle with paperwork. As I study media Tessa asked me to creative a poster to help them advertise, this helped me out as I could use it within my portfolio.

Then when my course was coming to an end, Marcia sat down with me to help me explore my options and helped me to make informed choices. I decided that I wanted to go to university as that was what my mum wanted. I wanted to stay close to home, Marcia helped me apply to the university and made sure I had everything that I was entitled to. This was a huge help as I was really worried and scared about messing this up.

SENDIASS then asked me to be part of the Chair of SENDIASS Newham Young people’s Steering Group that they were setting up. At first, I was apprehensive as I didn’t quite understand what they wanted me to do, however after I spoke to them, they explain the group would give disabled young people aged 14 – 25 years a voice. I agreed to do it and am now the Chair of SENDIASS Newham Young people’s Steering Group.  It has been amazing and the best decision I made I’m glad to help.” (LT, Chair of SENDIASS Newham Young people’s Steering Group, studying Media Production at University of East London)

By ALLFIE’s Justine Jones