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Another Way: a telephone network for families with children with additional needs

Families who have children with additional needs can feel isolated and misunderstood. They may not know anyone who has been through what they’re going through. They can sometimes be seen as ‘bad parents’, if their child’s additional need is, for example, ADHD, which makes the child’s behaviour ‘unacceptable’ to others.

There is pressure on the whole family – particularly on the couple’s marriage, and on the siblings whose own needs must sometimes take second place. And the future can seem long and lonely - because when a child reaches the age of 18, the additional need does not disappear.

These parents need someone to talk to – someone who will listen to them, and understand completely how they feel, because they’ve been there, too.

Statistics

3% of all children under 16 have one or more disabilities.
One in four people is disabled, or is close to someone who is.
Only 8% of disabled people use a wheelchair.
Carers are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled.
Couples caring for disabled children have divorce rates of twice the UK average.

Another Way is Care for the Family’s telephone befriending service for families with children with additional needs. It offers support and encouragement, and lets parents know they are not alone.

All telephone befrienders have children, or experience of caring for children, with additional needs. Read the story of a telephone befriender.

Tell families you meet about Another Way, and encourage them to ring if they need to speak with someone who is able to really understand and identify with them. They may need to ‘say the unsayable’ to someone who has walked the same path, without any fear of being judged.

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Last Updated 10 October 2008

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