Together for Disabled Children has published this guide to help parents and professionals work together and develop effective mechanisms for parent participation.
To develop this guide we have drawn on the learning of parents and professionals who have been successful in this work.
The guide is divided into 12 sections to enable readers to pick and choose relevant sections. We hope that people will find all sections helpful but at the start of each section have identified the audience it is most relevant for.
Alternatively you can download the full document - here - Link
Introduction
1) Parent Participation as a Process
Subject: The Essential Components of Parent Carer Participation
2). Information
Subject: How to Produce Clear and Accessible Information
3). Consultation
Subject: How to Consult with Parents of Disabled Children
4). Starting a Parent Forum
Subject: How to Set Up a Parent Forum
5). Developing Parent Participation
5a)- Successful Meetings
Subject: How to Hold Effective Parent Forum Meetings with your
Membership
5b) Reaching Parents of Disabled Children
Subject: How to Engage a Varied and Wide Constituency of Parents in Consultations and Participation
5c) Supporting Parent Representatives
Subject: How to Get the Best Out of Parent Representatives Who Sit on
Statutory Planning and Strategic Groups (Working Groups)
5d) Training
Subject: How to Improve Skills and Knowledge Through Training
5e) Websites
Subject: How to Develop Websites to Enhance Parent Participation
6). Securing the Future of Parent Forums
6a). What Parent Forums Need to Do
Subject: How to Establish Permanent Parent Participation
6b) What Strategic Leaders Need to Do
Subject: How Commissioners and Service Providers can secure the future of
Parent Carer Participation in Their Local Area
Reference Glossary