Alesha Dixon Backs Disability Campaign

22/01/2012

Pop star come TV presenter Alesha Dixon is supporting a campaign to help thousands of families with disabled children in the UK.

Contact a Family is calling on local authorities to provide more early intervention services such as key workers, children’s centres, support groups and short breaks to help families with disabled kids.  The campaign follows a recently published report claiming that three quarters of families with disabled children are becoming more isolated and stressed.  

Almost half of the 1,100 families who took part in the survey reported feeling so unwell that they have asked their GP for medication or to see a advisor, with 65 per cent feeling isolated frequently or all of the time.

Disabled Welfare Concern

Alesha, who’s younger brother has cerebral palsy, commented: “I understand how easy it can be for close family members of a disabled child to feel isolated and alone – not because there aren’t enough people around, but because no one you know can relate to your experience.”

The charity is urging the Government not to go back on its promise to protect vulnerable families and to ensure planned welfare reform changes don’t increase isolation.

Srabani Sen, chief executive of Contact a Family, said: “Isolation is having a devastating impact on the health and well being of some of society’s most vulnerable families. 

“Effective early intervention services and financial help allow families with disabled children to take control of their lives, hold down a job, be more involved in their community and feel less isolated.”