A SALISBURY mum is taking the lead in a campaign to ensure there is more support for disabled children and their families.

Helen Taylor travelled to the Houses of Parliament with her daughter Maja Reeve, who has severe learning |disabilities, to speak to MPs and other invited guests about the impact caring for a disabled child has had on her family and the struggles they have faced.

Her visit was part of the launch of a new report by Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) and was also attended by Salisbury MP John Glen.

The report, Right from the start, is calling for political parties to commit to producing a cross department strategy to ensure the needs of disabled children are met if they are elected into |government.

Helen said: “If the government, whoever that may be, can start to think about us in everything they have to consider then that surely will get drip fed down.

“The more disabled children and their families are considered the more |organisations are going to think about us and put things in place.”

Her daughter Maja, 16, suffers from Kleefstra Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder. Helen says she would also like to see more support and services to allow disabled children like Maja to “access their own community” and be more independent.

She added: “Supporting children should also be about supporting parents and the rest of the family.

“Short breaks should give families the opportunity to be together and have a break from their caring role.

“Maja was able to attend a special weekly youth club where she could interact with mainstream peers, which was brilliant, but has now been closed due to local authority cuts.”

Since September 2014 Wiltshire Council no longer directly provides the Salisbury Bridging Project but instead gives funding to South Wilts Mencap to run the youth club for young people with special educational needs and or disabilities in the Salisbury area.

The club meets weekly and recently rebranded itself “Our Club” based on feedback from the young people attending it.

The report outlines some of the challenges disabled children, young people and their families face, including poverty and financial wellbeing.

EDCM board member Christine Lenehan said: “It is vital that a new joined up strategy between government departments is created so that disabled children get the support they need right from the start of a new government.”

For more information visit edcm.org.uk.