From: Olly Cooper [olafk@waitrose.com]
Sent: 14 February 2011 09:39
To: DWP Consultation DLAReform
Subject: Disability Information Service Huntingdonshire

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

Dear Sirs,

Please accept my comments on DLA and children on behalf of the  
charity that I represent.

DLA for children has been problematic and many parents find it very  
difficult to complete the form. However in our disabled children's  
project we have discovered that DLA is very important in helping  
parents to provide the sorts of therapy/training/activity that are  
not funded through local authorities or health services.

For example an autistic boy with limited speech receiving a 40 hour  
per week programme (from the age of 3) that helps him to develop his  
speech, vocalise and explain his frustrations and to help him cope  
with his dislike of noise and social situations. Without this he  
would not have been able to speak adequately or start his gradual  
transition into school years later. The contribution from DLA was  
essential in helping the parents to pay for this.

Many parents have to give up work to cope with the needs of their  
disabled child and need money to equip, assist and provide them with  
activities which aid their development or sense of well being.  The  
assessment for the new PIP must be more effective than the current  
need to prove difference from the norm which many parents find  
impossible to explain. There is really no doubt that a disabled child  
has more needs and therefore will cost more to bring up and in our  
view parents should have to do no more than notify their child's  
disability to qualify for the payment.

Yours sincerely
Walter Cooper
Charity Representative
Disability Information Service Huntingdonshire
Charity no: 1061702