Where can you go for free, impartial information and advice about all things related to special educational needs and disability (SEND) in East Sussex?

Amaze is a local charity that works with children and young people with SEND and their parent carers. Many of the staff and volunteers at Amaze have experience of caring for a disabled child ourselves. Our aim is to make things a bit easier for families by making sure you get the information and help you need. In East Sussex we run SENDIASS, the local SEND information, advice and support service.

Who can use Amaze?

• Parents of 0–25-year-olds with any sort of additional needs including learning difficulties, physical and sensory disabilities, mental health needs and neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD.
• Older children and young adults with SEND, up to age 25.

You don’t need a formal diagnosis to use our information and advice service.

What topics do we cover?

Anything to do with SEND, but most of our enquiries are about:

• Education e.g. support in school, Education Health and Care Plans, exclusions
• Health e.g. assessments, access to services
• Social care e.g. short breaks, direct payments
• Disability benefits e.g. Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments
• Transition to adulthood e.g. moving to adult services, independent living, employment

How to use us?

Start with our website www.amazesussex.org.uk to find lots of information and resources that may answer your question quickly and suggest what to do next. You could also register with us online https://amazesussex.org.uk/pc-registration/ to stay in touch

Come to a workshop. We run a regular programme on key topics like “Getting the right support in school” and “How to claim DLA” https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/ and they are a great way to get information and ask questions.

Contact our advice line by email sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk or voicemail on 01273 772289. We will get back to you with some tailored information by email or if it is something more complex, we will arrange to call you. The advice line is very well used so expect to wait a week or two for a full response. If it is something time-sensitive, tell us in your message.

What else does Amaze do?

In East Sussex we also:

• Help parents connect with others through online and in-person groups https://amazesussex.org.uk/parent- carers/services-and-support/face-2-face- befriending/
• Run peer support activities for young people https://amazesussex.org.uk/young- people/groups/peer-support-groups/
• Help with DLA and PIP claims https://amazesussex.org.uk/parent- carers/services-and-support/help-with-dla- claims/
• Offer navigation and training for parents of children on the neurodevelopmental pathway (autism, ADHD etc) https://amazesussex.org.uk/parent- carers/services-and-support/ndp-family-training- and-navigation/