Campaign to give voice back to children with communication impairments - Burstow

12.00.00am GMT Tue 14th Feb 2006

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam is adding his weight to a campaign the disability charity Scope, calling on the Government to renew on funding a project to help children with communication difficulties.

Thousands of children with communications impairments will be affected by the Government's decision not to renew funding for The Communications Aids project (CAP). Unless this decision is reversed thousands of school-aged children with communication difficulties nationwide will lose access to communication aids such as computer equipment and voice output communication aids.

Paul Burstow MP, who signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to provide funding for Communication Aids, said:

"Communication Aids are vital to help children with communication impairments express their decisions and dreams. I am giving this campaign by Scope my full support to ensure children and teenagers who depend on these technologies continue to receive the help they need to put across their unique views and feelings."

CAP has provided assessment, equipment and training to more than 4,000 children since it was set up in 2002, but many more still didn't get the equipment or support they needed because of local authorities constant battle with Government over funding. As a result disabled children with communication impairments were left without the means to communicate their wishes or decisions.

Ends.