Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect…a week in the life of our cause-driven communications consultancy
“To try and get the support you need…you have to fight every step of the way”.
EastEnders’ actress Kellie Bright spoke for so many parents in last week’s BBC Panorama “Autism School and Families on the Edge” - an hour-long documentary that laid bare what countless families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) already know: working within a “computer-says-no” system that is meant to offer support too often feels like a relentless battle, fought in silence and without enough understanding from those in power.
As mother to an autistic son who also has ADHD and dyslexia, Kellie is a well-known campaigner and part of the SEND community, using her platform to highlight the failings of the current education, health and social care framework.
A powerful watch, Kellie’s film told the stories of Etta, six, Charis, 12 and Buddy, 14, showing how these wonderful 21st Century children don’t necessarily fit into our 19th Century model classrooms.
It also stamped out unhelpful (not to mention disturbing) narratives suggesting that parents are ‘gaming the system’ - showing instead how they want to work, earn a living and have children in safe and happy learning environments. It’s not really much to ask, is it?
Cause was pleased to have played its part in the piece, too, advising on the use of appropriate language. And after welcoming Kellie and her producers to last month’s #FightForOrdinary rally we were delighted to see footage from the Parliament Square event (including all of those amazing placards) featured in the programme.
L-R is Rally organiser and founder of campaign group Let Us Learn Too Hayley Harding, SEND campaigner Katie Nellist and Cause founder Sam Carlisle
If you’re a SEND parent who has watched the documentary, we hope it made you feel less alone and more understood. If you’re not, perhaps it will have given you an important insight into what many families are facing day in, day out and why SEND reform is at a crucial and once-in-a-generation tipping point.
In what has been a great week for positive and authentic representations of life as a SEND parent it was also a sheer joy to read May Race’s first-person account of attending the #FightForOrdinary rally on behalf of her young son, Joe, in Stylist.
Her heartfelt words, along with Kellie’s own broadcast hint towards the fact that this was so much more than a gathering - it gave the community a focal point, a rallying cry and a much-needed collective hug.
We’re very proud of the work we do with the DCP - we’ve successfully established it as the media’s go-to organisation for information, spokespeople and case studies on disabled children’s issues. As a coalition, its membership during this time has more than doubled and today it is home to over 130 organisations who have joined forces to advocate for improved education, health and social care services for disabled children, young people and their families.
Still on the subject of helping young people, we were absolutely overjoyed to learn that our favourite Jamie’s Farm therapy dog, Bella, was crowned winner at last month’s BBC’s Make A Difference Awards for her work in helping improve the confidence, self esteem and mental health of more than 3,000 school pupils.
Bella at the Make a Difference Awards ceremony with her trophy
Whilst Bella looked slightly perplexed at having to ‘walkies’ down a red carpet, she was hailed by judge and legendary British animator, Peter Lord CBE of Aardman Animations for the “comfort, reassurance and natural human virtues” that she represents, stating that children find her presence and warmth “inspiring and encouraging”.
We couldn’t agree more. What’s next, Bella…a cameo in Wallace and Gromit?