Introduction
Facilities exist within the Service to assist personnel, and their dependants, who have special needs including disabilities. However, there is often a lack of knowledge of both current policy and the range and type of assistance that is available. The aim of this section is to highlight the principles under which the RAF deals with special needs and explain the importance of making the Service aware of such situations. AP 3392 Volume 2 Leaflet 2411 gives full details of the help and facilities that are currently available to assist RAF personnel and their dependants in this category.

Definitions
The term 'special needs' is used within the Armed Forces to include all Service personnel and dependants who have special requirements in the educational, medical and or social support fields, or as defined in legislation.

General Policy
Whilst resident in the UK, all Service personnel and their dependants are entitled to the same provision of services by local authorities (LA) as any UK citizen. The MOD is not, therefore, in a position to justify the duplication of facilities in the UK, even for those with special needs, where they should be provided by the LA. MOD does, however, accept that where difficulties are caused for personnel as a result of their service in the Armed Forces there is need for sympathetic consideration of the problems incurred, and that assistance is given wherever possible. Overseas, the position is more difficult as the MOD is not able to replicate all facilities normally provided by the LA for individuals with special needs.

Therefore, Service personnel and their dependants who have special needs must accept that there may be problems that are beyond the power and responsibility of the MOD to solve; consequently, there will be certain decisions concerning career and location that they themselves may have to make. That said, there are several areas in which the MOD is able to help, provided that personnel with special needs, or having dependants with special needs, use the proforma at Annex B to AP 3392 Volume 2 Leaflet 2411 to notify Desk Officers/SNCOs at the RAF PMA as appropriate of their circumstances, and any changes thereto, in addition to informing the relevant housing, welfare and personnel staffs.