Special Needs 1 A guide for parents and carers of Jewish children with special educational needs Compiled under the auspices of the Board of Deputies, 6 Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2LP Special Needs 2 Acknowledgements Many people contributed to the development of this booklet in what was truly a combined effort. The production team included Sharon Bourla of Norwood Ravenswood, Ella Marks of the League of Jewish Women and the Board of Deputies, Amanda Moss from Kisharon, Sandy Patashnik from the Agency for Jewish Education, Philippa Travis from the Board of Deputies, and Marlena Schmool and Samantha Blendis of the Board. The original inspiration came from Susan Pascoe, a member of the Community Issues Divisional Board of the Board of Deputies, without her the task would never have been undertaken and she is especially to be thanked for her guidance. We are also indebted to The Ashdown Trust, The Kessler Foundation and The J E Joseph Charitable Trust for making the production possible. We thank them for their generosity and support. Special Needs 3 Preface This guide has been developed in response to a need. It aims to draw together in a ‘one-stop booklet’, information which will help parents of Jewish children with special needs. Specifically, it seeks to advise them where to go to obtain support and assistance at different stages in their children’s lives, covering both general and Jewish aspects. It has been a co- operative initiative in which the Board of Deputies, Norwood Ravenswood, Kisharon and the Agency for Jewish Education have all been involved. The booklet concentrates on children from birth to 16 years of age, the statutory school leaving age. However, it recognises that special needs do not suddenly vanish at 16, indeed they may only come to light at a later date and last for life. Parents then will continue to require information and help as their children grow into adulthood. For 16 to 18 year olds this may mean educational needs but it may also mean, for example, how to adapt to the world of work. We have therefore provided signposts to those organisations that help with older age groups. From a Jewish perspective, we highlight those particular times in a child’s development when parents will need to work with community services - be they synagogue classes or cheder, the synagogue for bar or bat mitzvah, or a youth group for a teenager. We intend the contacts listed to provide a gateway for children who might otherwise be excluded from these experiences. Having a child with special needs presents a huge challenge, but remember that you are not alone and there are plenty of organisations out there who can help you. This booklet is a starting point. Special Needs 4 Contents Page Acknowledgements 2 Preface 3 Contents 4 Organisations involved with Special Educational a) General 5 b) Jewish 12 Glossary of Special Educational Needs Jargon 18 Who are the Professionals and how can they help you? 21 Jewish Aspects 24 Useful Reading 26 Special Needs 5 Organisations involved with SEN General Advisory Centre for Education Unit 1 Aberdeen Studies 22/24 High bury Grove London N5 2EA 0207 354 8321 • General advice on education Association for the treatment of Brain Damaged Children 01203 665450 Carers Association 20-25 Glasshouse Yard London EC1A 4JS 0207 490 8818 Centre for Social and Communication Disorders Elliot House 113 Masons Hill Bromley Kent B9 29HT 0208 466 0098 Contact-a-Family 170 Tottenham Court Road London W1P OHA 0207 383 3555 • Support for families who care for children with special needs Crossroads Crossroads Care 10 Regent Place Rugby Warwickshire CV21 2PN 01788 573 653 • Care for people in their own home Special Needs 6 CSIE (Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education) 1 Redland Close Elm Lane Redland Bristol BS6 6UE 0117 923 8450 DABB (Disablement Association in L.B.Barnet) DABB Advice Centre 4 Oakleigh Gdns Whetstone London N20 9AB 0208 446 6935 Disability Alliance Universal House 88-94 Wentworth St London E1 7SA 0207 247 8763 Disablement Living Foundation 380-384 Harrow Rd London W9 2HU 0207 289 6111 Advice on equipment/aids DISH (Disability Information Service for Hertfordshire) Free phone 0800 181067 GIG (Genetic Interest Group) Farringdon Point 29-35 Farringdon Rd London EC1M 3JB 0207 430 0090 HAPA Fulham Palace Bishops Ave London SW6 6EA 0207 731 1435 • Adventure play for children with special needs Special Needs 7 Holiday Care Services 2nd Floor Imperial Bldg Victoria Rd Horley RH6 7PZ 01293 774535 • Information on holidays for those with special needs In Touch Trust 10 Norman Rd Sale M33 3DF 0161 905 2440 • Contact group for families with children with special needs IPSEA (Independent Panel for Special Education Advice) 4 Ancient House Mews Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1DH 01394 382 814 MENCAP 123 Golden Lane London EC1Y ORT 0207 153 9433 Network 81 1-7 Woodfield Terrace Stanstead Essex CM24 8AJ 01279 647 415 (10am-2pm) • Information and advice on Special Educational Needs PATCH 0208 866 0023 • Telephone hotline for children with special needs in L.B. Harrow PHAB Summit House Wandle Rd Croydon CRO 1DF 0208 667 9443 Special Needs 8 Joint activities for physically handicapped and able-bodied people Riding for the Disabled Association Avenue R NAC Stonleigh Park Kenilworth CV8 2LY 01203 696 510 Organisations concerned with Specific Disorders AFASIC (Association for speech impaired children) 347 Central Markets Smithfield London EC1A 9NH 0207 236 3632 Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus 42 Park Rd Peterborough PE1 2UQ 01733 555 988 British Epilepsy Association 40 Hanover Square Leeds LS3 1BE 0113 243 9393 National Society for Epilepsy Chalfont Centre Chalfont St Peter Bucks SL9 ORJ 01494 873 991 British Stammering Association 15 Old Ford Rd London E2 9PJ 0208 983 1003 British Diabetic Association 10 Queen Anne Street London WIM OBD 0208 323 1531 Special Needs 9 British Dyspraxia Foundation 8 West Alley Hitchin SG5 1EG 01462 454 986 British Dyslexia Association 98 London Rd Reading RG1 5AU 01734 668 271 CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association) 235-237 Finchley Rd London NW3 0207 431 0033 Cystic Fibrosis Trust 11 London Rd Bromley BR1 1BY 0208 464 7211 Down’s Syndrome Association 155 Mitcham Rd London SW17 9PG 0208 682 4001 Hyperactive Children’s Support Group 71 Whyke Lane Chichester PO19 2LD 01903 725182 National Deaf Association 15 Dufferin St London EC1Y 8PD 0800 252 3380 National Centre for Eating Disorders 01372 469 493 (Help line) National Autistic Society 393 City Road London EC1V 1NE 0207 833 2299 Special Needs 10 Royal National Institute for the Blind 224 Great Portland St London W1N 6AA 0207 388 1266 Royal National Institute for Deaf People 19-23 Featherstone Road London EC1 0207 296 8000 SCOPE (Cerebral palsy) 6-10 Market Rd London N7 1DF 0800 626 216 (Help line Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat/Sun 2pm-6pm) SENSE (Deaf and Blind Rubella Damaged Children) 11-13 Clifton Terrace London NS 3SR 0207 272 7774 Sickle Cell Society 54 Station Rd London NW10 4UA 0208 961 7795 Legal/Financial Advice and Pressure Groups Children’s Legal Centre 20 Compton Terrace London EC1V 2UN 0207 359 6251 Disability Law Service 2nd Floor High Holborn House 52-54 High Holborn House London WC1V 2RL 0207 831 8031 Family Holiday Association 16 Mortimer Street London W1N 7RD 0207 436 3304 Special Needs 11 Grants for families of children with special needs to have holidays Family Fund Trust PO BOX 50 York YOL 2ZX 01904 621 115 • National charity offering financial assistance to families with special needs and disabled children Family Welfare Association (Administers a variety of funds) The Grants Officer 501-505 Kingsland Rd Dalston London E8 4AU 0207 254 6251 REACT St. Luke’s House 270 Sandycombe Rd Kew Richmond TW9 3NP 0208 940 2572 Grants for special equipment for children with life threatening conditions The Council for Disabled Children) 8 Wakley Street London EC1V 7QE 0207 843 6000 Information sheets in disability and special needs The Commissioner for Local Administration (Ombudsman) 21 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1 0207 915 3210 Special Needs 12 Jewish Alyth Youth and Community Centre Alyth Gardens Finchley Road London NW11 7EN 0208 455 6763 / 0208 458 3506 • A club for people with learning disabilities, whose emphasis is on developing social skills. Annie Lawson Special School Ravenswood Village 9 Mile Ride Crowthorn RG45 6BQ 01344 755508 • An independent Jewish residential school for children and young people between the ages of 11 and 19, with severe or profound learning disabilities. Barnet PHAB (Physically-Handicapped-Able-Bodied) Alyth Youth and Community Centre North Western Reform Synagogue Alyth Gardens London NW11 7EN 0208 455 6765 • A social group integrating disabled and able-bodied adults from age 17 upwards. Beth Hayeled 3 Allerton Road London N16 5UJ 0208 800 1798 • Short term and respite care home for learning disabled children and young persons under the age of 20, in a Jewish environment. Binoh - The Jewish Special Education Service. The Binoh Centre Norwood House Harmony Way off Victoria Road London NW4 2DR 0208 203 3030 • A community-wide, multi-disciplinary support service for children with learning difficulties, from age 3 to school leavers. • In-service training for teachers working with children with special needs. Special Needs 13 • A Resource Centre where parents and teachers can obtain advice on current materials for children with special needs. Jacob Benjamin Ellas Synagogue Welfare Department Ohel David Synagogue, Golders Green Ilford Eastern Synagogue Head Office: 7 Kyverdale Road London N16 7AB 0208 806 8109/4387 • Provides information, help and advice to the Sephardi and Eastern Jewish communities. Jewish Blind and Physically Handicapped Society 118 Seymour Place London W1H 5DJ 0207 262 2003 • Provides assistance, advice and support to necessitous Jewish visually or physically disabled persons of all age groups.