Information day for parents of children with a disability
A free information day is being held for parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs on Monday 13 February 2012 from 10am – 2pm at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.
Shropshire Council’s Family Information Service (FIS), together with the Parent and Carers Council (PACC), have organised the event to help parents navigate the range of information and services which may be available to their children or their families.
Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for education and skills, said:
“Parents tell us there are times in their lives when they need advice and support in their parenting role, yet many are either unaware of the services that already exist or they have difficulties in accessing them.
“The Family Information Service reaches out to parents and carers to make these possibilities a reality, linking families to services and providing an early intervention in terms of information provision.”
The information day is an annual event and will have representation from local parent support groups, specialist services and support from within Shropshire, as well as information on grants and benefits and specialist equipment displays.
The Family Information Service will also be launching an updated version of the Rainbow Pack, which is a publication specifically for parents of children with a disability or additional need. As the information day is being held during half term, there will also be plenty of fun for children and young people too, including circus skills, junk modelling and face painting.
The FIS has been running for more than 11 years, and since it was launched in 2000 it has dealt with over 60,000 enquiries from families. The service was the first in the West Midlands to achieve the national Family First Award, which shows that the council delivers a quality service to families, providing varied information, advice and assistance.
Note to media
Photographers are welcome on the day.
