Signposting - Support for families - Support for parents & carers - Contact a Family - Free guides for parents

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Section: Signposting

Subsection: Signposting - Support for families - Support for parents & carers

Contact - Free guides for parents



Contact logo.JPG

Free guides are available for parents who call the Contact helpline 0808 808 3555

We know from listening to parents that regardless of the type of disability, health condition or additional need their child has, parents want information, support and advice.

Contact's guide, When your child has additional needs, has been updated and covers these topics. All are free for parent carers:-

  • The early years and diagnosis
  • Support groups
  • Understanding your child's behaviour
  • Benefits and other financial help
  • Education
  • Looking after yourself and your family


Does your child have a learning disability and autism spectrum disorder? Did you know they might be eligible for the higher mobility rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)?

If you haven't already, check out Contact's guide to Help with fuel bills and keeping warm. Inside you'll find information and advice on how to keep your fuel bills down this winter and money-saving schemes you may be able to apply to.

All this information is available on the Contact [website] or [click here] to see the latest guides available.

Practical information guides for families

Contact (previously known as Contact a Family) have produced several guides that include practical information that may help parents with a range of issues, these include:-

Understanding your child's behaviour - suggestions about some of the ways your child can be helped: [Behaviour Guide]

Potty/Toilet training - practical tips and advice on how to approach this issue: [Toilet Training Guide]

Feeding and eating - some of the reasons behind difficulties disabled children may have with eating and where to go to get help: [Feeding and Eating Guide]

Sleep - A child that doesn't sleep well affects the whole family. Exhaustion kicks in, you can't think clearly and brothers and sisters are also affected. Many parents say they feel caught in a vicious cycle struggling to cope, and it's no surprise when you look at the research - 86 per cent of children with additional needs have issues with sleep. So if you're experiencing difficulties, you're not alone. There are many reasons disabled children have difficulties with sleep, and there are different strategies and approaches to helping children sleep you can try. Contact a Family’s guide Helping your child sleep has been written by experts in the field, together with parents. It has practical information and support for parents - you can check how much sleep a child needs at each age, learn about the sleep cycle and common causes of sleep disturbance. The free guide can be downloaded by clicking on this link: [Sleep Guide]

Do you need help with your child’s behaviour?

You are not alone. There are many reasons why children with SEND exhibit behaviour that challenges, and there are often complex reasons behind a child's behaviour - it is rarely anyone's 'fault'. Parents can feel under a lot of pressure to solve behaviour problems, and are naturally very worried about the best approach to take.

What is helpful to know is that all behaviours are a form of communication, and if you can work out what your child is trying to tell you through their behaviour, then you can look for ways to prevent them becoming distressed, as well as help them find other, more acceptable ways to communicate their needs.

Contact's newly updated guide for parents, Understanding your child's behaviour, looks at:-

  • Why children behave in different ways
  • How to set the scene for good behaviour, recognising triggers and finding strategies
  • Managing specific issues, like tantrums or biting


  • Looking after yourself - people and organisations who can support you and your family
  • Puberty and the teenage years, plus much more

Parents can call Contact's Freephone helpline on: 0808 808 3555, email helpline@family.org.uk and ask for a free copy of the latest edition. Or you can download [Understanding your child's behaviour] free on their website.

Helpful Guide for Families with Disabled Children

Contact have published 'The Helpful Guide for Families with Disabled Children', which is an all-in-one book with lots of information to help families enjoy life. Contact say: “We know that new parents of disabled children are frequently overwhelmed with reams of paperwork and piles of pamphlets. That's why we've put everything in one place, but split the guide into easy read sections so families can find advice when they're ready to”.

In the guide, families are talked through what can be a confusing system of support to help families find the best way to help their child and make sense of any jargon and job titles they might come across.

Please [click here] for more details. To get a copy of the guide, parents can complete the online application form by clicking [here].

Contact's helpline number is 08088 083555.