Family Focus: Caring for a disabled child

Families with disabled children in Northern Ireland have the same hopes and dreams as other families but often face bureaucracy and prejudice.

That's the finding of a report by the charity, Contact a Family, which works with people who have a disabled child.

This week's Family Focus takes a closer look at the exclusion and isolation often felt by such families.

Sarah Travers talks to a Belfast mother who has a severely disabled four-year-old son.

Nathan Doyle was born with the rare muscle disorder, X-linked myotubular myopathy, and needs 24 hour care at home.

His mother, Una Kennedy, 27, told BBC Newsline that caring for her son is "difficult at times".

But she believes Nathan has been "sent for a reason and we have to make his life as fun as possible".

BBC Newsline also reveals how a new service is helping Una and other parents have a much needed break.

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