75,000 severely disabled children

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• The Family Fund provides financial assistance to families in the UK raising severely disabled children.
• A comprehensive computerised record of applications exists, detailing 75,000 children.
• Understanding the characteristics of this population is crucial for public health and policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the epidemiological potential of the Family Fund computerised record.
• To analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this data source for research.
• To examine variations in child and family characteristics by principal handicapping conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the computerised record of applications to the Family Fund.
• Conducted a descriptive analysis of the demographic and disability-related data.
• Examined variations in characteristics stratified by principal handicapping conditions.

Main Results:

• The Family Fund record is a rich resource for epidemiological research on childhood disability.
• Identified specific variations in family and child characteristics across different disability types.
• Highlighted the strengths (e.g., sample size, detail) and limitations (e.g., potential biases) of the record.

Conclusions:

• The Family Fund computerised record has significant epidemiological potential for studying severe childhood disability in the UK.
• Further research can leverage this dataset to inform targeted interventions and support services.
• Awareness of the record's characteristics is essential for accurate interpretation of findings.