Childhood and school

Every child deserves the best possible start in life.

In this section, you’ll find information on how to support your disabled child, and how to access help from your local authority and your child’s school.

Supporting your child

A young child smiling while lying on a play mat.

How to support your disabled child in their early years

The first years of a child’s life can be a steep learning curve for parents. If your child has complex disabilities, such as hearing and vision impairments, that curve can be even steeper.

A woman with blonde hair crouching on the floor holding a young boy

How to play with your disabled child

This guide explains why play is so important, and gives you lots of fun ideas for ways children with complex disabilities can enjoy playing.

Support at school

A woman is giving a young boy the thumbs up - she's smiling and he's looking at her hands

Education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

This guide covers the support system in England for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Support from your local authority

Close up of a young girl wearing glasses, holding the outstretched hands of an adult.

Social care support for disabled children

Children and young people with complex disabilities can receive support from social workers based in local authority ‘children with disabilities’ teams.

A small girl plays with a toy, with a woman with blonde hair in the background.

Benefits and financial help for parents of disabled children

This page gives a brief overview of the financial support for parents of disabled children in the UK.

Fernando, a man wearing sunglasses and laughing while holding the hands of another person he is communicating with.

What to expect from your council if you’re deafblind

Councils in England and Wales must follow guidance on how to provide services for children and adults who are deafblind.

Hobbies and wellbeing

Information about sports and physical activities for disabled people

Access to exercise is essential for many disabled people. This page provides information on discounts, free resources and accessible services.

A family in the rain with a little boy smiling in the foreground

Leisure activities and days out for disabled people

Fancy going to the cinema, getting an audiobook subscription or taking a short holiday? Find out about organisations and schemes to help.

A woman and a boy are sitting on the ground and holding footballs

Funding for sports and leisure activities for disabled people

Find out more about different funding sources and schemes that help disabled people access sports and leisure.

Support for you

Nicola Slator and her daughter Rebecca Slator, 20, who is deaf, autistic and wears a tracheostomy.

Support for carers

As a carer, you have rights and it’s important to know what practical, emotional and financial help is available.

Get support from Sense

A young boy with curly hair being supported by a support work at Sense TouchBase Pears.

Support for disabled children and young people

Giving children with disabilities the best possible start in life.

MSI teacher Laura signing with a small child.

Support for children with multi-sensory impairments

Our multi-sensory impairment specialists offer advice and support for anyone up to the age of 25 who is deafblind, to develop their skills to enable them to access the world.

A woman and a girl playing with a blue parachute which has gold stars on it

Connect and Play: free play sessions for disabled children

Our free play service helps children up to 8 years old and their families communicate, develop and connect through free play sessions.

This content was last reviewed in April 2023. We’ll review it again next year.