Listening to parents' stories

Amaze wants the valuable experience of individual parents to help change things for the better. One of the most important ways we influence new policies and local services that affect disabled children and children with SEN, is by finding out what parents think.

Drawing out the messages about:

• what parents value
• what makes life easier and lifts your spirits
• what doesn't work
• what makes life a grind and leaves you feeling frustrated,
• and acting on these messages, is the surest way of designing services and support that can make a positive difference.

Getting to others to listen

Encouraging others to take note of these messages is crucial. We are convinced that services for children and families will be better when parents are at the heart of planning and developing them. That's why we:

• Push others to invite parents to participate
• Use different and varied ways to involve parents and gather their views
• Draw on the collective experience of parents to strengthen the message
• Offer parents a choice about how much or how little they get involved
• Work to break down the barriers between parents and service providers and level the playing field
• Look for clear actions as a result of parents' involvement
• Involve parents at every level of our organisation.