About author Jane Raca

Jane Raca was a litigation partner in a national law firm before her life was turned upside down by the birth of her severely disabled son.

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James was born 15 weeks prematurely with brain damage and was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorder, severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and epilepsy.

 

Jane was so shocked by the struggles she had to get him the right provision, that she felt compelled to write her first book, Standing Up for James. The book was featured in The Guardian and The Daily Mail  and was referred to in Parliament during the passage of the Children and Families Act 2014.

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Jane appeared on BBC Breakfast, ITV Lorraine, and LBC Radio and has since written for The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Huffington Post. 

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She has continued to campaign on disability issues and played a significant role in obtaining the right for SEND Tribunals to make recommendations on the social care and health needs of disabled children, not just their educational ones.

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She has spoken at meetings in Parliament and at conferences and thought leadership events. She has worked with several national disability charities and was a Family Ambassador for Mencap for 8 years.

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Jane was awarded an MBE for services to disabled people and their families in the Queen's birthday honours 2018. She is now a Trustee and Chair Elect of Hollybank Trust in Yorkshire, which provides residential care, education and therapy for children and adults from across the UK. 

 

You can contact Jane via Twitter, LinkedIn, or the form below.