A local government ombudsman has urged the government to clear
up the confusion about who is responsible for providing
communication aids for disabled young people.
The call came after a woman complained to ombudsman Patricia
Thomas that Kingston upon Hull Council removed a communication aid
from her 17-year-old disabled son without first ensuring he had
access to a replacement. Without his "voice", the young man lost
his place at a further education college.
Thomas ruled there was no clear duty on the council to provide
equipment because there is currently no guidance on whether local
authorities or health authorities should provide such aids or
whether either should.
The council agreed to fund the loan of a communication aid to
the young man and Thomas considered this a satisfactory
settlement.