News

Parents with learning difficulties who have had their children taken away from them are to launch a campaign this month to raise awareness of the issue and to call for support instead of intervention.

The campaign, Fighting For Our Children, will call for more support from social workers for new parents with learning difficulties so that fewer children are separated from their parents in the future.

They are also calling for a lowering of the age at which they are allowed access to their children who have already been removed.

Group organiser Rachel Taylor, who has learning difficulties and whose two children have both been taken into care, said: "Having no contact with the mother is depriving me and others like me. We are missing out on their childhood. And the children have a right to know who their mother is."

The National Centre for Disabled Parents said parents with learning difficulties were disproportionately represented in the care system. Disabled parents support worker at the centre Susan Moore said about 30 per cent of her caseload was parents involved in court proceedings or who were in danger of losing their children.

"Social workers wouldn't remove a child on the basis that someone has a learning difficulty or is disabled; there has to be neglect," Moore said. "But what these parents are saying is that if they had more support they could overcome these difficulties."

Phillipa Bragnan of learning difficulties organisation Change said: "Parents with learning difficulties have no one to tell them when to stop breast feeding, or what to do when their child has a tantrum. Parents who don't have learning difficulties may go to a parents' group or read books. But if you are a parent with learning difficulties, you are generally more isolated and these books aren't accessible."

She said Change was being funded by the Home Office to produce an information pack to teach parents with learning difficulties how to be good parents.

- For details of the campaign call 0113 243 0202 or minicom 0113 243 2225.