When a mother's love is not enough

This the title of a documentary on BBC1 television on Tuesday 10 November at 10.35pm and should be of interest to all those with disabled children as it presents it as it is. Rosa Monkton (best known for being a friend of Princess Diana) has a daughter with Down's syndrome and in this film she meets and interviews other families struggling to raise a disabled child.

In the Radio Times it says:

The emphasis here is deliberately - and courageously -on the hardships that come with caring for disabled children rather than the joys...All the parents - including Monckton - and able-bodied siblings talk freely about their lowest points. Some even admit to thinking about harming their children. It's not easy to watch as families battle to keep it together and prepare for a difficult future.

On Tuesday morning there will be a piece about this on BBC1 Breakfast News (between 8.15am and 9.15am) as Julie Evett, a parent who appears in the film and Rosa Monckton are interviewed.

The documentary should be accessible via the BBC's website for those unable to watch it on television

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ntmbf

Who cares?

I have been following the powerful accounts and comments of Norman, Andrew, Judit and Emma re the awful lack of care, consideration and rights of the disabled, not only in the community, but also in the interpretation of the law.

http://www.conductive-world.info/2009/04/personal-and-political.html

I wondered what organisations had already been established that are, or might be able, to fight to change the current status quo and below is a list of what I have found after a short search today on the internet. Perhaps contacting these might generate some coordinated action. Or maybe that is a bit naive of me as this issue is not a simple one and has always been there like the elephant in the room.

There is not as much as I would have expected but a more prolonged search may produce more. If anyone knows of others please let me know and they can be added to the list.

Carers UK http://www.carersuk.org/Home

Offers a free newsletter . It has launched a survey:

Following the Government's announcement that it intends to ban discrimination against carers Carers UK have launched a survey to gather evidence of carer discrimination. Add your story to our 'discrimination dossier' to make sure carers get new protections'

Princess Royal Trust for Carers http://www.carers.org/

Also offers a free newsletter and discussion boards.

Patients UK http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/4/

Lists a variety of organisations connected with care

Disability Awareness in Action http://www.daa.org.uk/

This is an international organisation, set up in 1992, fighting for the rights of the disabled. Rachel Hurst, its director, has written a passionate statement on disability rights which can be found at http://archive.waccglobal.org/wacc/publications/media_development/archive/1998_2/forget_pity_or_charity_disability_is_a_rights_issue

Scope http://www.scope.org.uk/

A British charity originally set up to support those with cerebral palsy has a much wider brief now and campaigns for disability rights.