Parents of disabled children and decision makers swap roles for national Walk In Our Shoes event

Published by Nia for Tree House in Communities and also in Central Government, Education, Health, Housing, Local Government

Over 30 key decision makers from across the country spent time with families of disabled children to gain a real insight into what life is like for them. The event, called Walk In Our Shoes, took place in the week starting 21 June and saw MPs, Councillors and other decision makers join families for the school run or a trip to the supermarket to see first hand how everyday activities can bring about challenges; and what could be done to better support these families.

In return, parents were invited to join decision makers to see how they work. The aim of Walk In Our Shoes was to strengthen relationships between parents and decision makers - relationships which can sometimes be fraught.

One parent, Lisa, who took part in Walk In Our Shoes in the Brighton & hove area said:

“Having a child with autism has changed our lives. I rejoice when my son, Daniel, shows even the smallest signs of progress and feel frustration at the constant battle to ensure he gets the understanding and support he needs. Events like Walk in Our Shoes are so important to help change people's attitudes and to raise awareness of the issues families like mine face every day. In an environment where budgets are being cut, it is vital that decision-makers see how their decisions impact upon children with disabilities and their families.”

Councillor Jim Foreman from South Tyneside took part and commented:

“Events like Walk In Our Shoes are of great value to us because they allow us to get a real insight into the daily lives of families living with disabilities. Reading reports and statistics can never bring the same benefits of talking to families of children with disabilities and seeing their experiences at first hand. We are sure to learn a great deal from this event and we are delighted to be taking part.”

Mariana Lewis, Project Manager, said:

“Walk In Our Shoes is a unique opportunity to build positive relationships between families and decision makers. Rather than doing this by more traditional means like writing letters or attending meetings, we had local influencers experiencing the reality for families by spending time with children with disabilities and their families, and vice versa. A key focus of this event is to ensure that under-represented communities have the opportunity to share their experiences with local decision-makers; form sustainable relationships and improve support and services for children with disabilities and their families.”

Walk In Our Shoes was organised by TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education.