Introduction

The aim of this guidebook is to provide you with some of the information that you may find helpful if you have a child with a special need. The information is meant to go hand in hand with your child’s ‘Personal Health Record’ book, because although your child has special needs, he/she is a child first.

If you have recently been told that your child has a special need, you may feel that you have gone through a whole range of emotions; some of these may have been painful and upsetting. Finding out that you have a child with special needs evokes strange feelings. No one can tell you what you should feel at this stage, as there is no right or wrong way of reacting.

Parents have described a mixture of feelings and emotions, which can come at any time. These feelings, when felt, may only confuse you, but by reading this guidebook you have taken the FIRST STEP to get help and advice. This guidebook tells you where you can get that help.

This website is an electronic companion to the printed guidebook.

Southampton Joint Database of Disabled Children

Southampton’s Children and Learning Service has established jointly with Health Services a register of disabled children in Southampton who are severely or profoundly disabled. The Register of Disabled Children contains information about children in the Southampton area, their disabilities and their individual needs. The Register is the result of collaboration between Southampton City Council’s Health and Social Care Directorate and Southampton City Primary Care Trust. Education services are now engaged in joining the Register. The Register will be the basis of information to providers of services for disabled children so that effective planning and development of these services takes place. No confidential information will be released.

Hampshire Register - Joint Information Link

Hampshire has a Joint Information Link (known as JIL) which is open to all children with disabilities up to the age of 18 years. It is voluntary, and parents do not have to place their child’s name on it if they do not wish to do so. If they do, they will receive a copy of the Linklines newsletter every other month which provides information about activities, changes to legislation or new legislation, links to relevant websites etc. In addition to providing the newsletter, the JIL also provides useful information to Children’s Services including Health, to help with planning and service development

JIL booklets are available at a number of public outlets such as libraries, GP surgeries, schools, or you can apply direct to the Joint Information Link Co-ordinator email joint.information.link@hants.gov.uk or telephone
01962-846123.”