Amaze takes part in international research project on support around SEND

Amaze will feature as a case study in the research project, which will be formally launched in Brighton this week (7 March 2024).

Amaze has been selected as one of six organisations worldwide in ‘Balancing Act’, a new research project conducted by researchers from Queens University Canada.

Balancing Act will look at the balance between ‘formal’ (such as support from local and national government and paid support) and ‘natural’ (such as family or peer support networks) support for people with disabilities and their families, in six different locations around the world.

This project will launch it’s Sussex case study at an event being held on 7 March in Brighton, with researchers from Queens University attending to find out more about the support families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Sussex receive.

The work of Amaze and the support systems in Sussex for families with disabled children and young people will be compared to support for families with disabled children in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Mozambique, and the United States.

Sally Polanski, CEO of Amaze said:

We are delighted to have been selected as a partner in this exciting international research collaboration, which aims to review the needs of families with disabled children and young people and the support provided in different countries’ contexts.

As well as learning from others, we hope to be able to showcase how vital it is that families with SEND children are supported and the gaps in support currently provided, even in higher-income countries like the UK.  We also hope to bring into the spotlight the huge value of support provided by families themselves, volunteers and support groups in the local area.