DISABLED CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS

That this House notes that every disabled person, regardless of their impairment or level of need, is an individual with full and equal human rights; further notes that families with disabled children often do not receive the vital funding, equipment and support that they need to ensure that they and their disabled child can lead fulfilling, dignified lives; believes that medical intervention, as in the case of the American nine year old girl Ashley X, who has been prevented from growing into an adult, is symptomatic of society's lack of support for disabled people and their families; further believes that such actions are a fundamental abuse of a disabled child's human rights that have no place in society; is gravely concerned that such approaches seek to alter disabled people to suit society rather than alter society to suit disabled people; and calls on the Government to defend disabled children's human rights and support the calls of Scope and other organisations including those involved in the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign to provide appropriate and adequate support to families with disabled children.