Children with Disabilities 

Children and young people who are disabled or who have complex health needs should receive coordinated, high-quality and family-centred services which are based on assessed needs; which promote social inclusion and, where possible, which enable them and their families to live ordinary lives.
Every Child Matters: Change for Children aims to improve outcomes for all children and young people, including disabled children. As many disabled children's needs are complex and cross traditional service boundaries, they are one of the groups who stand to gain the most from this programme.

A child will be considered to be in need as a result of their disability if they have a substantial and permanent
 

 
and that, resulting from this impairment, the child is limited or prevented from undertaking activities appropriate to their daily living.
 
We know that social and environmental factors affect a child’s level of disability.  We also know that the care needs of these children and the demands on parent/carer and siblings can be exceptional.