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Children with a disability

Help and support for children with disabilities and their families

If your child has a disability or long‑term illness and you are looking for support or an assessment, we are here to help. Our aim is to make sure every child in South Lanarkshire gets the support they need to thrive.

First steps and community support

Most children’s needs can be met through support from

  • family
  • local community resources
  • universal services such as health and education

Some children will need additional support to achieve good outcomes and this might come from targeted support, such as support for learning or specialist health services but some children may require support from social services.

If your child needs a bit more help, you can explore a range of local organisations and resources that offer practical and emotional support, including:

These services can help you understand what support is available and how to access it.

Getting extra help

If you have tried community and universal supports and still feel your child needs more help, speak to any professional already involved in their life. This might be someone at their school or nursery, a health visitor, or another support worker.

They can help by:

  • arranging a Team Around the Child or multi‑agency meeting
  • making referrals for extra support
  • completing applications for services or funding

When social work support may help

If your child’s disability has a significant impact on their daily life and community support is not enough, you or a professional can request help from social work.

You can ask your support person to submit a Request for Assistance.

Once a request is made, you can expect:

  • Advice, information and signposting
  • Initial support from our Family Support Hubs
  • Help to explore any assessments your child or you (as a carer) may need
  • Planning and support through self‑directed support, if this is recommended