As this, the European Year for Disabled People, slips by unnoticed and uncelebrated by the so-called "inclusive" city of Brighton and Hove, I am writing to highlight some of the hardships faced by parents of disabled children this summer.

Many parents rely on playschemes for their children during the summer holidays to allow them to work or just so they can get a break.

There are 30 or so playschemes in Brighton and Hove, some of which can be accessed every full working day of every week throughout the summer holidays.

They are staffed by paid workers and many are offered at a low cost to parents.

Compare this to holiday provision for disabled children and bear in mind that for some of these children, a simple trip to the park, for instance, can be extremely difficult because of the nature and severity of their disabilities.

Also, the informal "respite" most parents get, such as leaving their child with granny or a friend for a few hours, is just not possible for a child with a high level of dependency.

Only one playscheme caters specifically for disabled children.

This is Cherish, staffed almost exclusively by volunteers and usually offering only eight short days over the whole summer holiday.

This year, however, Cherish has had its funding cut. With no notice to parents, the summer scheme for the under l2s now offers a maximum of only four days.

Yes, that's four days, in six weeks, and in one venue instead of the usual three.

Many children can be expected to be turned down due to lack of space and will have no playscheme at all. The Easter playscheme was cancelled.

Although many of the other playschemes claim to cater for "special needs", they do not, in fact, include severely disabled children and many have no wheelchair access.

Brighton and Hove City Council has chosen to run its own two playschemes from venues with no disabled access.

Those who plan the summer playschemes need to stop relying on the vagaries of charity funding and the goodwill of unpaid workers to cater for disabled children.

I hope they also wake up to the fact that disabled children need and deserve equal access to play (including after-school provision) and that we, their parents - more than any other group of parents I can think of - need a break.

-J Bunker, address supplied