31 October 2018
The States of Jersey is inviting children with disabilities and their families to sign up to a new Children with Disabilities Register.
The register is for any child or young person under 18 with special needs arising from a disability or enduring health condition. It will be used to share information about services and support in Jersey and to give disabled children and their families the opportunity to be involved in future consultations about existing or new services.
Signing up to the register is voluntary. Families who sign up will receive:
- a newsletter three times a year telling them about support groups, benefits, activities and other useful information
- a Max Card which can give discounts, front of queue access and other benefits
The Max Card benefits for Jersey are still being developed, but local families can use their card when they go on holiday to the UK. Local businesses who are interested in providing a discount or benefit to help families with a disabled child are asked to contact Nikki Holmes at the Child Development and Therapy Centre on +44(0)1534 443759. The benefit could be anything from a free cup of tea to ‘front of queue’ access or discounted entry.
In addition to the Max Card and newsletter, ten families who sign up to the register by Friday 16 November will be chosen at random for a behind-the-scenes tour of the States of Jersey Fire Service.
Kerry Coombes-Goodfellow, from the Parent Carer Forum, said: “It will be brilliant for parents to be kept more informed of any events or activities that their children could take part in, so I would encourage as many parents as possible to join the register. We also hope lots of Jersey companies will sign up to the Max Card as this would be exceptionally beneficial to a lot of families in Jersey.”
Children’s Minister, Senator Sam Mézec, explained that the Children with Disabilities Register will help in future consultations. He said: “It’s really important that we get things right when we develop new or existing services for children with disabilities. The register will give us an easy way to reach out to children and their families to make sure that their views and opinions are taken into account.”
Parents or carers who would like to register their child on the Children with Disabilities Register can download an application form online. Children over 13 can register themselves.
Forms are also available at the Child Development Centre Reception at Overdale or can be requested by calling +44(0)1534 444817.
As well as the register, the Child Development and Therapy Centre has also produced a new Children with Disabilities Directory. The directory provides information about support and activities available in Jersey that may be relevant to children with disabilities and their families. The directory can be accessed online without signing up to the register.
gov.je