PAT in Action
PAT Letter Writing Campaign
PAT in Action
New volunteers are always welcome at PAT all the time...Simply click here and you can even join PAT online...
Q. "What would you rather have?"
A. "I'd rather have something what I can do…..Something that would work…I wish somebody…I wish somebody could give me a leg up…..All I need is a leg up…"
"PAT introduced me to the right people who could help me to sort out transport to and from school for my two disabled children...."
PAT parents sat down together in July 2007 to make some plans for an independent and autonomous parent led organisation. We recognised the need to have a voice and we realised the need to support each other in speaking up for our families.
PAT parents eventually decided to create a support organisation for themselves and to provide parents with a Forum for exchanging views, for helping and supporting each other and for campaigning for change. Meetings with council officers and health services managers have also been arranged so that parents had an opportunity to raise their issues with the people responsible in the NHS, in community care and in the local authority.
During this time parents have been gradually becoming more confident in asking for the support their families need and they have become increasingly more effective in dealing with schools, hospitals, transport services and social care providers. Click here to find out what SHOUT is all about!
PAT has begun collecting information about parent's needs and parent's views which you can see here. PAT parents have led a successful campaign to encourage Sefton Council to adopt a Charter of principles proposed by the Every Disabled Child Matters coalition. A similarly successful campaign has been directed at Sefton PCT and we have been informed that both organisations will agree to this charter of principles in commissioning, designing and delivering services for disabled children.
Parent Advocates Together (PAT) is a self-advocacy group that provides parents with a voice and that helps parents to speak out. Sometimes it is necessary to SHOUT! PAT parents are working toward registration as a charity for families with disabled children and toward becoming an effective policy partner. More parents are getting involved all the time. You can click here to join PAT now!
"...Empowerment is of great importance as it enables a person to become more independent and have greater control in their life and I endorse this wholeheartedly. I have never been a service user myself and feel that I have had to fight for services that should have been my son's by right I also understand that lack of resources and local authority funding leads to a lack of information for parents of disabled children that is why I can identify and support what you are doing..."
Letter from parents in L21
Interview with pupil aged 9 years
"Yes I certainly do support this bill and I had already signed the EDM. I would be glad to meet you about local services."
"Dear Ms. Prescott, We understand that a very large number of elected members have been responding to requests from parents. Please would you pass on thanks and appreciation to all councillors who have contacted you to support adoption of the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter for Children's Services."
Letter from Dr. J. Pugh MP supporting the PAT 'Short Breaks' campaign for an Early Day Motion in parliament.
Email from PAT parent
"Dear Mr Benton, We are asking you to support the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign proposed Private Member's Bill, the Disabled Children's Short Breaks Bill, which will create a right to vital short breaks for families with disabled children...."
PAT letter to MP Joe Benton
"...Everybody was really friendly in the support group. I learned a lot from people there. I'm glad there are meetings held in Southport too..."
PAT letter to Sefton Council
Email from parent in Southport
"Dear Councillor Dowd, We are writing to ask you to support the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign. In particular, as the councillor with lead responsibility for children's services, we are asking you to sign up on behalf of our authority to the campaign's Local Authority Charter...."
PAT letter to Sefton councillor Peter Dowd
*
Parents & Advocates Together - The Forum for Parent Advocacy!
