Find Out About Your Child's Rights

and Who Can Help

When your child’s rights, medical treatment or education are not being supported satisfactorily, it can be a big help to get legal counsel. As budgets tighten nationwide for SEN support, fighting for your child is becoming harder, and knowing the system will be a massive advantage. A lawyer or children’s advocate can be a great ally and really take the pressure off you. Use the buttons at the top of this page to find out about equality legislation, SEN lawyers and free advice. You can also find out about organisations, charities, lawyers and advocates specialising in medical as educational law.

Your Rights as a Parent of a Disabled Child

Parental leave

If you have a disabled child, you may have the right to parental leave for up to 18 weeks' until their 18th birthday. To qualify, you must be an employee and have at least one year's continuous service where you work.

Taking time off

If you are an employee, you have the right to unpaid time off work to deal with emergencies involving a dependent - this could be your husband, wife, partner, child, parent, or anyone living in your household as a member of the family.

Flexible working

You have the statutory right to ask for flexible working if you have, or expect to have, parental responsibility for a disabled child under 18 who receives Disability Living Allowance. Under the law, your employer must seriously consider an application you make, and only reject it if there are good business reasons for doing so.

A lawyer or children’s advocate will understand the legal frameworks you must work within to get the best for your child, and they will know the timescales involved - missing deadlines and not filling in paperwork properly can have a real effect on getting the right support at the right time for your child.