The Queen’s speech delivered at the state opening of parliament on May 10 2012 announced new legislation to overhaul the special educational needs (SEN) system. The government plans to introduce a Children and Families Bill in early 2013 containing the following key measures: replacing SEN statements and Learning Difficulty Assessments (for 16- to 25-year-olds) with more »

Afasic was very concerned to hear that the ACE Centre in Oxford may be forced to close at the end of June.  It was set up in 1984 as a centre of excellence for children who needed AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), and their families, offering expert assessments and training. If its closure goes ahead more »

Every Disabled Child Matters today (Thursday March 22 2012) issued a press release calling for an urgent response to the Care Quality Commission’s complacent report on disabled children’s health services. For more information, please see the press release below:

The Communications Forum, an umbrella group of communication charities, has commissioned Allan Tyrer of the British Stammering Association to write a website on the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to adult speech, language and communication needs. A consultation draft of the website is now available at www.equalitytalk.org.uk  and Allan would welcome feedback. There is more »

Afasic is aware that an article appeared in last Sunday’s edition of the Sunday Times (20/11) by Jack Grimston their education correspondent about changes to the exam concessions for academically gifted teenagers such as those with dyslexia or other conditions. The article goes on to describe the changes being introduced by the JCQ (Joint Council more »

Every Disabled Child Matters, in association with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, has launched a template letter to help families with disabled children to gain an assessment for social care services. This letter is intended to help parents who have been told that their council will not assess their disabled child in relation to short breaks or more »