For ​teachers ​and ​social ​care ​professionals ​working ​with ​disabled ​children ​and ​young people, ​the ​nature ​of ​the ​work ​means ​that ​continuing ​professional ​development ​training ​is integral ​to ​their ​success. ​The ​course ​will ​aid ​learners ​to ​understand ​the ​most ​appropriate terminology ​to ​use ​when ​discussing ​children ​with ​disabilities, ​learn ​about ​why ​children ​with disabilities ​are ​more vulnerable ​to ​abuse ​and ​neglect, ​have ​knowledge ​of ​the ​warning ​signs of ​abuse ​to ​look ​out ​for ​and ​recognise ​when ​it’s ​essential ​to ​report ​safeguarding ​concerns.

This ​course ​covers ​also ​information ​about ​working ​with ​disabled ​children ​and ​young people ​including: ​How ​to ​promote ​inclusion ​for ​all ​children; ​Awareness ​of ​how ​disability can ​be ​stigmatised, ​and ​how ​this ​can ​be ​challenged; ​How ​to ​help ​children ​get ​the ​most ​out of ​life ​and ​meet ​their ​particular ​special ​needs.

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Goals:

• Understand ​the ​social ​model ​of ​disability ​in ​relation ​to ​work ​with ​disabled ​children and ​young ​people.

• Understand ​the ​inclusion ​needs ​of ​disabled ​children ​and ​young ​people.

• Understand ​the ​most ​appropriate ​language ​and ​terminology ​to ​use ​when ​referring to ​a ​child ​or ​young ​person ​with ​a ​disability.

• Understand ​more ​about ​the ​impact ​that ​a ​disability ​can ​have ​on ​a ​child's ​life, ​as ​well as ​that ​of ​their ​family ​and ​their ​care.

• Know ​why ​children ​with ​disabilities ​are ​more ​vulnerable ​to ​abuse ​and ​neglect.

• Understand ​the ​potential ​warning ​signs ​to ​look ​out ​for ​which ​may ​suggest ​a ​child with ​disabilities ​is ​suffering ​from ​abuse.

• Know ​what ​constitutes ​best ​practice ​for ​responding ​to ​concerns ​about ​child ​abuse, understand ​how ​to ​talk ​to ​the ​child ​about      your worries ​and ​know ​why ​it's ​so important ​to ​act ​on ​concerns.
   

Practical activities: 

• Introduction ​– ​why ​training ​is ​important ​and ​language ​guidelines.

• Understanding ​the ​Impact ​of ​Disabilities ​– ​what ​is ​a ​disability? ​Examples ​of disabilities, ​the ​medical ​and ​social ​models ​of ​disability, ​the ​impact ​of ​a ​disability ​on ​a child’s ​life, ​their ​care, ​older ​children ​and ​family ​members.

• Recognising ​the ​Warning ​Signs ​of ​Abuse ​– ​the ​links ​between ​disability ​and ​abuse, why ​children ​with ​disabilities ​are ​more ​vulnerable, ​created ​vulnerability, perpetrators ​of ​abuse, ​warning ​signs ​of ​abuse, ​case ​studies, ​the ​impact ​of ​abuse and ​neglect ​and ​your ​responsibilities.

• Best ​Practice ​for ​Responding ​to ​Concerns ​– ​talking ​to ​children ​with ​disabilities, talking ​to ​a ​child’s ​parents ​or ​carers, ​your ​responsibilities, ​why ​people ​don’t ​act ​on their ​concerns, ​responding ​to ​concerns, ​working ​with ​families, ​best ​practice ​for service ​providers ​and ​further ​resources.