Living with dystonia affects children and young people differently. This will depend on the treatments used to manage the condition and the form or type of dystonia they have.  It can impact their eduction but with the right support, children affected by dystonia should reach their full potential at all stages of their education.

We believe that children living with dystonia should have access to education, with the right support to meet their individual needs. 

Getting support for your child

If you think your child may have special education needs (SEN), you need to contact the SEN co-ordinator / SENCO in your child's school or nursery. You can contact your local council if your child is not in a school or nursery.

Your child may be eligible for:

SEN support	Support given in school like speech therapy.
EHCP (Education, Health & Care plan)	A plan of care for children and young people aged up to 25 who have more complex needs. It is easier to get an EHCP if the school agrees, although if they do not parents can still request an assessment.
IHP (Individual Health Care plan)	Normally offered to children and young people 5 and above in school who have significant health needs but do not appear to have cognitive difficulties or mental health needs.

Supporting a child or young person in education

We've designed a short guide for parents, schools, teachers and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) with information about how to support a child living wtih dystonia through education.