Easy Read here.
Disabled mothers, including lesbian mums, have been part of WinVisible since we started. And in 2017, we took part in Support Not Separation's first picket of the Central London family court (watch video here).
We launched the Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign in 2022 because more disabled mothers were coming to Support Not Separation or seeking support from WinVisible who were under "child protection" proceedings, instead of getting the support we're entitled to. We're bringing out the discrimination and hostility faced by disabled mothers, and other single, working class and mothers of colour who face an uphill battle to stop social workers and the family courts taking our children from us.
And we worked with Channel 4 News on a feature where disabled mums spoke out about the discrimination we face when we're pregnant, and the poor treatment we get from the NHS when we're giving birth. Watch it here.
Find out more about the campaign and what you can do.
Click on the topics below:
The Disabled Mothers' Rights Campaign, co-ordinated by WinVisible, brings disabled mothers together to:
- Defend our right to have a family and keep our children. Against discrimination when we are pregnant, and for better maternity care for disabled mums.
- Stop cruelty and discrimination from council social services and the family courts taking our children away. Disabled mums are labelled as “unfit mothers” and accused of harm or neglect when we ask the Council for support.
- Press councils to provide support to keep families together, instead of massive spending on privatised children's home placements. This separation of mothers and children causes lifelong trauma, while bankrupting councils and deepening cuts to adult social care.
The Care Act says we should get support with caring for our children. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says we have the right to establish a family and be supported, and that "In no case shall a child be separated from parents on the basis of a disability of either the child or one or both of the parents." (Article 23, Respect for home and the family).
Our campaign is for non-mothers too. Despite wanting to have a family, many disabled women do not go ahead with pregnancy for fear of having our babies taken us.
WinVisible is part of the Support Not Separation coalition co-ordinated
by Legal Action for Women.
Our campaign worked with Channel 5 News on a feature broadcast in January 2023.
For national TV news to focus on discrimination against disabled mothers is a big breakthrough for women’s disability rights and for all mothers up against social services and the family courts, especially those of us who are single, of colour, working class.
January 2023 Tye aged 19 with their mum Jean -- they both suffered forced adoption. Watch Channel 5 News video (captions available)
Our February 2023 Newsletter announced that since the Channel 5 News coverage, the president of the family court made a speech mentioning support for disabled parents. There seems to be some improvement in the decisions made by the court in cases of disabled mothers.
In July 2023, we launched the Disabled Mothers' Rights Charter with six demands -- click here
In November 2023 -- we had our second Channel 5 News feature. DMRC co-ordinator Tracey Norton was one of three disabled mothers featured on Channel 5 News about the injustices and suffering of having your children taken away if you are wrongly accused of inventing your child's disabilities (Fabricated Induced Illness -- FII), health conditions which in fact are often genetic. An autistic mother who we invited to be interviewed anonymously, had her autistic son taken and placed in a children's home for four years. Watch the video here (captions available)
5 March 2025 -- we were glad to work with Channel 4 News for a report where disabled mums Rameeza Mehmud (from WinVisible), Rupy Kaur Roberts, Carly Tait and Marie Tidball MP, spoke out about discrimination in pregnancy and poor treatment in childbirth. Watch the video here (captions).
Marie Tidball MP, who describes upsetting treatment before her daughter was born, has launched a campaign for disabled women’s maternity care.
We've gathered some stories from disabled mums about our struggles and victories. We'd love to know about your situation, please get in touch.
Read our experiences of discrimination as mums in different situations, with visible and invisible disabilities, Deaf, blind. . . the prejudices we encounter. What some mothers have won, despite all the hardships.
A daughter says: “My mum is disabled and some people think negatively because of her wheelchair -- that makes me sad. But I feel good because people around here look up to my mum, I'm really proud of her because she makes lots of things happen".
A mum says: “I am a disabled person, wheelchair user and mother of two children. My disability never stops me from being a great mother . . . I’ve been able to bring up my two beautiful children, I even pushed my children’s pram with one hand. The experts are us!"
Read more here: Why are we campaigning?
Email us: mumsrights@winvisible.org
WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities),
Crossroads Women's Centre, 25 Wolsey Mews, London NW5 2DX (map)
Tel: 020 7482 2496
Follow us on Twitter @WinVisibleWomen and @NotSeparation
What you can do
Help us gather information about the discrimination we face as
disabled mums, from social services, the family courts and the NHS.
We're campaigning against disabled mothers' and children's poverty. Single disabled mothers and our children are hard hit by cuts to benefits in Universal Credit, the 2-child limit, the total benefit cap and other policies.
If you are part of a group, get in touch and we can visit you on Zoom
about the campaign, discuss what you can do in your borough and
area.
Sign up to our Campaign: we welcome endorsements from
organisations and professionals.
Professionals are welcome to contribute your experience and
suggestions as well!
Take part with us at the monthly picket of the Central Family Court,
held by Support Not Separation.
When: First Wednesday of every month
Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm
Where: outside Central Family Court, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP (map)
Online: Twitter storm @WinVisibleWomen @NotSeparation at the same time.
Next date: Wed 2 April 2025
January 2025 -- 'Less than 1%' of refuge spaces for women fleeing abuse suitable for wheelchair users, data shows'. The report by Sky News also highlights that councils may rehouse disabled mothers far from our children's school and other facilities, making life even harder.
February 2024 -- The government's insulting Disability Action Plan 2024. WinVisible and the Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign (DMRC) took part in the consultation last year, here's our response.
January 2023 -- What is the family court "crisis"? Anne Neale from Support Not Separation and Tracey Norton from the Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign (DMRC)/WinVisible spoke about “What is the family court “crisis”? Watch here on YouTube (captions).
December 2023 -- our open letter to Brent Council for their consultation highlights the impact of increased homecare charges on disabled mothers and disabled women at risk of domestic violence.
11 December -- Claire from WinVisible/Disabled Mothers' Rights Campaign spoke at the End torture of disabled people in residential 'care' settings meeting in Portcullis House, Parliament. Disability News Service reported: "WinVisible said mothers who were part of the Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign had had their children taken away and placed in abusive institutions. . . . "Today, more children are in care than ever. Councils take children from low-income single mothers, disabled mothers, from care leavers, and women who report domestic violence. Children of colour and/or disabled children are disproportionately targetted."
November 2023 -- Justice for Jodey. We have supported Joy Dove in her campaign for justice for her daughter Jodey Whiting, a disabled mother who tragically committed suicide after being cut off disability benefit for "failure to attend" a reassessment interview. Joy won her legal challenge for a second inquest, now begun in Teeside, to investigate the responsibility of the DWP in Jodey's suicide. Our Disabled Mothers' Rights Charter demands: "Mothers, overwhelmingly the primary carers, must never be cut off benefits."
November 2023 -- Channel 5 News feature. DMRC co-ordinator Tracey Norton was one of three disabled mothers featured on Channel 5 News about the injustices and suffering of having your children taken away after you are wrongly accused of inventing your children's disabilities (Fabricated Induced Illness -- FII), which in fact are often genetic. Watch the video here (captions available).
- Social services in the spotlight over disabled mothers -- The Canary 13 July 2023
- New campaign calls out discrimination against disabled mothers – Nadja 13 July 2023
- Social services in the spotlight at a disabled mothers event (thecanary.co) The Canary 7 July 2023
- Adoption: despicable tactics, the quest for profit, and £100k per kid (thecanary.co) The Canary 4 March 2023
- Adoption in the UK is driven by racism, ableism, and classism (thecanary.co) The Canary 2 March 2023
- Adoption targets marginalised women to snatch kids for £100k each (thecanary.co) The Canary 1 March 2023
- Investigation reveals ‘discrimination and hostility’ faced by disabled
parents -- Disability News Service, January 2023
Testimonies, lobbying and evidence to policy-makers -- more info
Can I get help from the council as a disabled mum?
Mothers with a disability are legally entitled to extra support. This is through the Care Act (adult social care) and through the Children Act section 17 (children's services).
Support for disabled children is also under the Children Act, see Support Not Separation's self-help guide here.
You have a right to support from Adult Social Care under the Care Act 2014 if you need help to look after your child/ren because you have a physical or learning disability or long-term illness. Section 12 of the Care Act says the council has to assess the needs of the family, not just the disabled adult.
You can ask Adult Social Care to assess your needs. However, during an assessment, they may decide that you’re too disabled to care for your children and start a child protection investigation under Section 47. We know a number of disabled mums who faced having their children removed after approaching social services for help. So think carefully before you ask for an assessment and always be prepared to record it and have a reliable witness with you when talking to any social worker. You are allowed to record an appointment that is about YOU. That is the only protection you have if false allegations are made against you, such as that you are neglecting your child or relying on them as a child carer.
For those assessed with a ‘borderline’ learning disability, there is a further catch: social workers may say the disability is not ‘bad enough’ to qualify for support, but is bad enough to claim that the mother/parents won’t or can’t look after their children properly. Social services don’t prioritise putting resources into enabling mothers with learning or other disabilities to keep their children – they would rather take children away and put them up for adoption as early as possible. This amounts to blatant disability discrimination and can be challenged successfully but you must be on guard and protect yourself throughout this process.
Help with your case? Let us know and we can help you find support.
Child protection proceedings? Visit the Self-help guide by Support Not Separation and advice on what to do if your case is urgent. The guide includes advice applicable to all mums, and some information specifically for disabled mums.
Legal Action for Women holds regular self-help meetings for mothers
and other primary carers facing children's social services and family
court problems. For more info, email sns@legalactionforwomen.net
Disabled mums' benefits
ESA and Child Tax Credits Disabled mums are getting a letter from the DWP that ESA and Child Tax Credits are ending, and we need to claim Universal Credit instead. Read our self-help info and useful tips here.
WinVisible has a Benefits info page with info on many benefits and help with energy and water bills.
We are also defending our benefit rights -- contact us for more info on how you can get involved.
Resources
We work with other groups that offer support and resources for
disabled mums. These include:
Blind Parents UK group for blind parents and carers to support each
other and share information. For example, how to pull a buggy.
- Ehlers-Danlos Support UK; they have a section on child protection and EDS, too.
- Elfrida Society Parental Advocacy Service (support for parents with learning disabilities)
- Sign Health support service for deaf women suffering domestic abuse
Thank you to our funder
