Physical disability and early communication

Deaf Friendly Nurseries and Pre-schools Early Support Play Talks - helping children with cerebral palsy communicate RNIB National Library Service Scope and HemiHelp inclusion materials Speech and Language Activities for Pre-School Children with Down Syndrome - a DVD resource Toys2Talk - ACE centre

• Deaf Friendly Nurseries and Pre-schools is a free handbook published by the National Deaf Children's Society. It is a practical guidebook for those working with very young deaf children on how to include deaf children and understand their particular needs, including the impact of the physical environment on a deaf child's ability to concentrate and learn. Around 840 children are born deaf each year, with others become deaf due to illnesses such as meningitis.
  Call 0808 800 8880, email helpline@ndcs.org.uk or download the guide from www.ndcs.org.uk
  
  
• The Early Support Programme is the central government mechanism for achieving better co-ordinated, family-focused services for young disabled children and their families across England. It is aimed at children specifically under the age three. The website provides information and materials. For more information visit www.earlysupport.org.uk
  
  
• The early years unit at Scope has produced Play Talks - a user-friendly pack designed for parents, carers and early years professionals to help preschool children with cerebral palsy communicate. The pack, which focuses on improving communication skills through play, includes tips on how to adapt toys to make them more accessible. Play Talks comes as colour-coded fact sheets that can be used together or separately alongside a CD-Rom. It costs £18 and is available from Scope's early years unit on 029 2066 2402.
  
  
• RNIB National Library Service - a library service for blind and partially sighted people that stocks a comprehensive range of books and information for children as well as adults. Resources include Talking books, Braille and Moon books, large print and a music library. Books can be delivered to your door. For more information contact the Customer Services Team on 0845 762 6843 or email: cservices@rnib.org.uk
  
  
• Scope and HemiHelp have produced a set of inclusion materials for professionals who work with disabled children at an early years level. The pack consists of best practice factsheets and practical tips about including children with cerebral palsy. They can be downloaded from www.scope.org.uk/earlyyears
  
  
• Speech and Language Activities for Pre-School Children with Down Syndrome is a DVD resource produced by The Down Syndrome Educational Trust. For more information visit www.downsed.org/practice/preschool-speech/
  
  
• Toys2Talk is an initiative run by the ACE centre which provides support for children with physical and communication difficulties. Toys2Talk offers children with severe physical difficulties boxes of specially adapted toys and resources on loan to provide opportunities for communication through play in the early years. For more information visit ace-centre.hostinguk.com
  
  The ACE Centre North (sister centre working in the north of England) also runs Let's all play - a two year project which aims to produce resources that will provide play opportunities for young children with physical and communication difficulties. Visit www.ace-north.org.uk
  
  
  
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