fSDC, along with 65 other organisations have committed our support to Together Scotland’s Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child – an assessment of progress (and the lack of it) on the Implementation of Children’s Rights in Scotland.

The Reoprt covers the huge range of issues affecting children, most of which have an even greater impact on disabled childen, and makes 109 recommendations for improvements. Among these are a number secifically related to disability:

• Recommendation 63. Take all possible steps to ensure that disabled children receive the support necessary to meet their needs. Spending decisions must be assessed on evidence that they will not have a detrimental impact on disabled children.
• Recommendation 64. Local and national governments should undertake Childs Rights Impact Assesments on the draft Disability Delivery plan to ensure they proactively consider and promote the rights of disabled children, and take account of their experiences.
• Recommendation 65. Scottish Government should evidence how the views of disabled children are taken into account in the development of government strategies, policies and programmes and evaluate the influence these views have had.
• Recommendation 66. Ensure that training for professionals working with children includes the development of skills and competencies to support the needs of disabled children.
• Recommendation 67. The Scottish Goverment should ensure accessible and child-friendly guidance to support the effective participation of disabled children in decisions affecting them is made widely available to children and practitioners.
• Recommendation 68. Target resources at ensuring disabled children are able to overcome social isolation and establish and maintain friendships.
• Recommendation 92. Focus resources on ensuring vulnerable groups, including disabled children and children living in more deprived areas, have access to safe and inclusive play, leisure and cultural activities. Coordinate and implement efforts to further Article 31 in a consistent and integrated way and ensure policies are sufficiently and sustainably resourced, monitored and reviewed to measure progress.
• Recommendation 69. Legislation and policy relating to transitions must be coordinated to ensure planning involves children at all stages, is coordinated across all services (including health, education and social care) and continues up to age 25.
• Recommendation 70. Ensure young people undergoing transitions are involved in the design of services and have access to advice and information regarding options available.
• Recommendation 71. Invest in universal preventative and early intervention children’s services to prevent an increase in mental ill health among children.
• Recommendation 72. Ensure new funding for mental health is sustained and focused on children and particularly directed at those who are most at risk, including children with a disability, looked after children, children living in poverty, LGBTI children and children with additional support needs. Invest sufficient resources in CAMHS to meet the needs of all children requiring support in a timely and effective manner.
• Recommendation 92. Focus resources on ensuring vulnerable groups, including disabled children and children living in more deprived areas, have access to safe and inclusive play, leisure and cultural activities. Coordinate and implement efforts to further Article 31 in a consistent and integrated way and ensure policies are sufficiently and sustainably resourced, monitored and reviewed to measure progress.

The Report serves as a timely reminder of the huge extent of issues affecting all children and the faltering steps taken towards children being given their proper place in the world. fSDC will continue to play its part in seeking to address these shortcomings on behalf of disabled children through our ongoing work with Scottish Government and other bodies. It’s a daunting list of issues and that’s before you consider wider areas like Education, Poverty, Advocacy where disadvantage is compounded but .

For more information on the Report click here or download a copy here.