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Your local council can provide help if you have a disabled child, including:

• short break services
• holiday play schemes
• care at home
• some aids and adaptations
• financial help, for example money towards travel costs for hospital visits

Your council has a duty to provide these services under Some are free of charge - the council might ask you to contribute towards others.

If you think your child may qualify, contact the social services team at your local council.

A social worker will then talk to you about the needs of your family, including:

• health
• social care
• education

This is called a 鈥榥eeds assessment鈥� - the social worker will give you advice on what to do next.

Help with costs

If your child qualifies for services from your local council, you鈥檒l also have the option of getting direct payments.

These are paid directly to you so you can arrange services you need. They鈥檙e an alternative to social care services provided by your local council.

Help if you鈥檙e on a low income

You may be able to get a Family Fund grant if you鈥檙e raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person. This can help pay for things like:

• furniture and household products
• clothing and toys
• family breaks and days out

Family Fund will assess your finances to see if you鈥檙e eligible.

You can find more information about grants on the .

You can also contact:

Your local council鈥檚 Family Information Service can give you details about childcare in your local area.

You can also ask them about other specialist services that your child may need because of their disability.

Help with childcare costs

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free education for 38 weeks of the year - read the information on childcare and tax credits for more details.

Some 2-year-olds (even if they have an education, health and care plan or get Disability Living Allowance) are also entitled to the 15 hours of free education.

You can also get direct payments from your local council to help pay for childcare.

If you鈥檙e working, you may be able to get up to 拢4,000 a year to help pay for childcare for a disabled child through Tax-Free Childcare.

Under the it鈥檚 against the law for schools and other education providers to discriminate against disabled children.

Examples of discrimination include:

• a school refusing to admit a disabled child just because of their disability
• stopping a disabled pupil going outside at break time because it takes them longer to get there

Making 鈥榬easonable adjustments鈥�

Schools have to make 鈥榬easonable adjustments鈥� for disabled children. These can include:

• changes to physical features, for example adding a ramp
• changes to how learners are assessed
• providing extra support and aids, for example specialist teachers or equipment

Special educational needs

Some children may have special educational needs because their disabilities affect their ability to learn.

You can ask your council to carry out an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment for your child. They may get an EHC plan, which will explain the extra support they need.

The council must make sure your child gets this support.

if you need impartial advice about special educational needs.

The Motability Scheme can help you lease a car if your child is aged 3 or over and is entitled to either the:

• higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment

More information about the scheme is on the .

You can also contact:

If your home needs to be adapted to meet your child鈥檚 needs, you may be able to get a Disabled Facilities Grant to help with the costs.

Usually, an occupational therapist will talk to you to work out what adaptations would be best for your child.