Coalition for Families with Disabled Children in Wales

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The Coalition

Facilitated by Family Fund, the organisations below have formed a coalition to advocate for inclusive policies and services that address the challenges faced by families with disabled children in Wales. 

Why the Coalition is needed

Families with disabled children often face significantly higher living costs and reduced earning capacity, leaving many in financial hardship.  As a result, disabled children and their siblings can be more likely to suffer the effects of child poverty, whilst many parent/carers struggle with stress, isolation and depression.   

Too often, policies and services that should support families with disabled children, fail to take their particular needs into account.   

The Coalition was formed to encourage a more productive dialogue with families raising disabled children, and to advocate for a fair package of financial, practical and well-being support to ensure every disabled child in Wales can live well, play and thrive. 

Manifesto for a fairer Wales

The Coalition’s Manifesto sets out what policy-makers and service providers must do to address the imbalance in support that affects the lives of disabled children and their families in Wales. 

Rooted in families’ lived experience, the Manifesto is informed by the views of those who take part in the pan-Wales Stakeholder Parent and Carer Engagement forum (SPACE), and by Family Fund’s Cost of Caring 2025 research into the financial and emotional costs of caring for a disabled child.  The Manifesto takes a rights-based approach, grounded in the UNCRC, UNCRPD, ALN Act, Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act, and the Well-being of Future Generations Act. 

1. Establish an advisory board to put lived-experience at the heart of policy-making and service design 

• We call for the Welsh Government to establish an advisory board, led by families with lived experience of raising disabled children, to inform and shape decisions about the policies and services that affect their lives

2. Ensure families with disabled children have the financial security and essential support they need by… 

• Increasing disability-related benefits and Carer’s Allowance to reflect the true cost of caring
• Ensuring families have year-round access to grant support for essential items, to avert the risk of falling into debt or crisis 
• Providing tailored energy support for households reliant on life-saving or medical equipment 
• Ensuring timely access to funding for housing adaptations and essential maintenance 
• Increasing access to play, hobbies, sports and arts, so disabled children are not excluded from the experiences that shape childhood 

3. Address employment barriers for parent/carers and disabled young people by… 

• Developing flexible back-to-work programmes that recognise parent/carers often have to juggle work around the equivalent of a full-time unpaid caring role 
• Reforming childcare provision to ensure families can access specialist, trusted and flexible childcare, in-home where needed 
• Removing barriers for disabled pupils being able to access work experience 
• Creating inclusive employment opportunities for disabled young adults through supported internships, job coaching and employer incentives 

4. Prioritize the health and well-being of families with disabled children by… 

• Expanding short-break and respite provision to increase family well-being and support those in caring roles  
• Providing accessible mental health support for carers of disabled children 
• Setting time-limits for obtaining access to therapies and respite care for disabled and seriously ill children to reduce preventable health deterioration and family stress