Disability Living Allowance and EHCP Information Sessions
Mencap Family Engagement Project are running an information session on Disability Living Allowance and Education Health Care Plans online via Teams each month. The next sessions are 18th July DLA information session, 15th August EHCP information session.
They support families of children aged 0-6 with SEND and emerging needs. No diagnosis or pathway is necessary. The information sessions provide a brief overview of Disability Living Allowance and Education Health Care plans. The presentations have been put together by the team using factual information and advice plus their own experiences. They try their best to tailor each session to suit the individual needs of the families attending to ensure they are getting the most out of the session.
Following the session, families are sent a list of links and advice in order to help them with their applications. The sessions have been designed to inform and empower parents and carers to pursue an application independently. However, registered families are also able to gain 1:1 advice either over the phone or in person if they require.
Many of their families have received support from the project in order to claim DLA. This has had a huge impact on their lives as it provides additional money for the family on order to cover costs of raising a SEND child. It has also opened the door to other benefits which in some cases have been lifechanging.
Parents have been given the confidence and knowledge to apply for an EHCP. They have also had the tools and support to ensure their child receives adequate support on these documents. This has had a hugely positive effect on the child’s wellbeing and education. One comment from a parent said:
“Today’s session was incredibly insightful and helpful. I truly appreciate and great full having access to this service.”
Any parent or carer of a child under six years old with SEND or emerging needs can sign up and join them. Families are asked to register in order to access Mencap’s full offer, but there is no need to complete this before their first session as it can be done following the session if they feel the project would be useful to them. The online information sessions require booking via email.
The registration form can be found here.
Contact details:
Jennifer Watson: Family Engagement Worker 07977162375 Jennifer.watson@mencap.org.uk
Project email address: familyengagementgm@mencap.org.uk
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/familyengagementtameside
