CDC received over 150 applications from disabled young people
and those with special educational needs from across the country,
which highlights disabled young people's passion and enthusiasm to
influence decisions that affect them.
The selection process for the advisory group has been extremely
demanding, and all the applications were very strong. We want to
say a huge thank you to everyone who applied and were interested in
the group.
Thirty-two young people were invited to an open day at the
Department For Education on 13th October to find out
more about what the advisory group is about and what young people
want it to achieve. Everyone contributed to a successful day, and
it was very difficult to chose a final group. Congratulation to the
16 who were chosen, who all have different skills and experiences
and will be great advocates for the issues for disabled young
people.
Getting Involved
E.P.I.C. is only one of the ways that the government want to
work with disabled young people. The DfE want to make sure that
disabled children and young people not involved in the group still
have the chance to have their say on the SEN and Disability
reforms.
CDC will be working with E.P.I.C. to look at ways to promote
their work and talk to other disabled young people through a
special E.P.I.C. section of the CDC website.
For other ways of getting involved
in participation check out the Making Ourselves Heard Network,
which has links to a range of opportunities and resources for
disabled children's participation.
Please get in touch with Pamela Shaw at pshaw@ncb.org.uk
for more information.