In this webinar for Making Research Count, Dr Claire Baker, Senior Practice Adviser at Coram Voice, discusses what we do (and importantly do not) know about the numbers and experiences of children in care and care leavers with a disability – a group whose experiences and voices can often be missing in research and data.
This presentation drew on Coram Voice’s research in the Disability, Disparity and Demand report, which brought together results from a freedom of information request to local authorities, learning from the Bright Spot Programme and workshops conducted with young people and leaving care professionals.
The presentation looks at the challenges these children can face growing up in the care system and the gaps in disability support, including disparities in how disabilities are recorded and understood by professionals versus young people themselves. It was an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the report recommendations for how improved data collection and an increased focus on inclusivity in services can better address the needs of disabled young people.