DISABILITY campaigners are hailing a landmark victory after a mother won backdated payment for free school meals and compensation because her disabled son had to be educated by her at home.

The victory could help hundreds and even thousands of parents of children with disabilities who cannot attend school because of their disabilities.

But campaigners blamed government austerity for forcing the mother into fighting for 15 months to win the right to school meals and paid-for education at home.

Jennifer Dunstan, 43, who lives in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, is full-time carer for her 12-year-old son Rio.

Rio has a long-term disability involving attacks of frenzy which hospitalised him for two months.

For the last 15 months his mother has been teaching him at home. She had to buy books, printer, pens and other equipment herself.

After 15 months of campaigning she won £4,000 from Sheffield City Council for school meals and the money spent providing her son with education at home. A home tutor will also be provided.

Ms Dunstan said she “practically taught herself” disability, equality and children’s rights laws.

In the process she suffered so much stress that her hair began to fall out.

Sheffield City Council has apologised and is to write to all local schools telling them of their legal duties to families with disabled children.

“It made me so angry,” she said. “And it made me think of how many families like mine are in Sheffield and the UK where we cannot work because we are full-time carers for disabled children.”

Ellen Clifford of campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts said: “This is a fantastic outcome for Jennifer and Rio.

“However, the fact we are celebrating a disabled mum getting the support to which her disabled son is entitled and being able to pay off debt she has accrued through being denied that support is an indictment on the Tories’ super-austerity Britain.

“Jennifer and Rio should never have had to go through what they have. She will never get the hours back she had to spend fighting this.

“The trauma and distress they have experienced through this episode can’t be undone.

“This is why we need collective action to stop the continuing onslaught of attacks destroying the social safety net and breaking our communities.”