‘Me Time’ short breaks are for children and young people with disabilities and their families. A ‘Me Time’ short break can be anything from a couple of hours to overnight stays. They are designed to give children and young people with disabilities enjoyable experiences that contribute to their personal and social development, as well as enabling parents and families to have a break from their caring responsibilities.
The definition of disability for Aiming High for Disabled Children in Essex is ‘a child or young person who has substantial difficulty, either permanent or temporary, in achieving his or her full potential in areas of personal or social development, emotional or physical health, family life, schooling, further education/ training or employment’.
This may be due to:
- deafness
- a visual impairment
- communication difficulties
- a physical disability
- a chronic short-term or life-limiting illness
- a psychological impairment
Aiming High for Disabled Children in Essex has funded a wide range of ‘Me Time’ short break opportunities across the county including:
- Developing after-school, evening, weekend and school holiday clubs.
- Having a carer come into your own home to look after your child while you have a break for a few hours.
- Encouraging young people to participate in ordinary social activities through peer support and friendship groups.
- Supporting children to participate in their chosen recreational, leisure, sport and hobby activities.
- Enabling children and young people to have holiday overnight stays.
Please note that some of these services may require a referral from the Children with Disabilities Social Care teams, while others may require a specialist health assessment.
Please call the our Schools, Children and Families helpline on 0845 603 7627 if you feel your child's needs require the following 'Me Time' Short Break opportunities:
- Family-based day and overnight Shared Care
- Social care residential overnight stays
- Family weekends away and the child with disability is looked after at home
- Buddies@Home
- Direct payments
- Frequent and regular carer support at home or to take your child out in the local area
Children with complex healthcare needs
If your child has complex and significant healthcare needs you may require a healthcare nursing assessment for some healthcare provisions such as:
- Home-based care specifically arranged for children with significant and complex healthcare needs.
- Residential overnight stays specifically for children with significant and complex healthcare needs.
Please discuss these with someone who supports your child, such as your community nurse.
You can also discuss the possibilities of what sort of 'Me Time' short breaks may make a difference for your child with someone who is involved with your family, such as your key worker, therapist, community nurse, support group, social worker, health visitor or GP. If you have a team around the child, someone in your team should be able to help you.
Is there a cost?
Families are expected to pay the same as anyone else for general leisure activities, sports clubs, hobby-based activities, out-of-school activities, art and drama clubs, and
uniformed groups such as the Scouts. Families will not have to pay for any additional support their child receives to help them participate in their chosen activity.
However, families may be asked to make a financial contribution towards some of the clubs and holiday activities that are just for children and young people with disabilities. Some organisations charge an hourly fee or request a voluntary contribution. Please contact the clubs or activity providers directly for further information.
If you have any further ideas as to what you think would meet your child's needs, but are not sure who to ask or where to go, please call our Schools, Children and Families team on 0845 603 7627.