As we remember the nativity story it might be hard to imagine how this familiar scene can bring good news to children with additional needs and their families. Here’s eight reasons why we should think differently though…
Author: The Additional Needs Blogfather
Mark Arnold (The Additional Needs Blogfather) is the Additional Needs Ministry Director for Urban Saints, co-founder of the ‘Additional Needs Alliance’, a ‘Churches for All’ partner, a member of the ‘Council for Disabled Children’, the ‘European Disability Network’ and the ‘Living Fully Network’, serves on the executive for ‘Children Matter!’ and writes a monthly additional needs column for Premier Youth and Children’s Work (YCW) magazine as well as being a writer for Firefly Community, DAD.info and Key Ministry among others. Mark is dad to James, a 20-year-old Autistic young man who journey's with Epilepsy, Learning Difficulties and Anxiety, and to Phoebe, an 22-year-old history student recently graduated from Winchester University.
Being An Additional Needs ‘Grizzly Bear’ Parent
Most of the time, as parents of a child with additional needs, things work as they should. That doesn’t happen by accident, it takes a huge amount of planning and energy to ensure that everything goes smoothly, but to an unknowing onlooker everything looks under control, relatively calm, generally successful, like watching a grizzly bear … Continue reading Being An Additional Needs ‘Grizzly Bear’ Parent
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Just Keep Swimming… Supporting Children And Young People With Additional Needs
Can you swim? When did you learn? Were you inspired by watching one of the Olympic greats winning a clutch of medals at an Olympic Games, maybe smashing a World Record or two on the way? Rebecca Adlington and Adam Peaty When you started to swim, taking those first, tentative steps into the water, could … Continue reading Just Keep Swimming… Supporting Children And Young People With Additional Needs
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Alternative Halloween For Children With Additional Needs
Halloween literally means the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saint’s Day, a day festival celebrated on the 1st November each year. The name Halloween is a shortened version of All Hallows’ Evening which is celebrated on 31st October. The origin and meaning of the festival of Halloween is derived from ancient Celtic harvest … Continue reading Alternative Halloween For Children With Additional Needs
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Why The Economic Crisis Is Terrible News For Disabled Children, And How To Help
The media is in meltdown reporting on the economic crisis that has hit the United Kingdom following the Governments mini-budget on Friday 23rd September. Economic experts are queueing up to explain why this is a disaster, and the financial markets are reacting with big drops in the London stock market and the value of the … Continue reading Why The Economic Crisis Is Terrible News For Disabled Children, And How To Help
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The Neurodiverse Coke Can
As he walks through the front door, his parent asks him “Did you have a good day at school today, Jack?” and in doing so metaphorically pulls the ‘ring pull’ on the coke can that has been shaken all day… Boom! Jack erupts, and his parent wonders why this always happens at home and not at school…
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10 Tops Tips For Back To School
As the return to the new school year gets closer for many of us, or has already started for some, it can be a time of great anxiety and stress for all children and young people, especially children and young people with additional needs. It can be a challenging and difficult time for parents and … Continue reading 10 Tops Tips For Back To School
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Five Ways To Support Additional Needs Siblings, An Often Overlooked Group
This blog post is written by Mark Arnold’s daughter, Phoebe, who shares her experience of growing up as an additional needs sibling to her brother, James, as well as offering learnings for us all…Growing up I didn't often see a family unit similar to my own; from a young age I was a carer for … Continue reading Five Ways To Support Additional Needs Siblings, An Often Overlooked Group
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This Could Be Any Of Our Children. This Could Be James.
I watched the BBC News last night, and it broke me. I’m not the same since and I don’t think I ever will be. There was a report about children, young people, and adults, with additional needs and disabilities in Ukraine and how they are kept in horrendous conditions in institutions that have no place … Continue reading This Could Be Any Of Our Children. This Could Be James.
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Additional Needs Summer Holiday Reading
It’s holiday season! That time when we either pack up our stuff and head somewhere for a week or two, or maybe have a ‘staycation’ and relax a bit locally. Either way, a popular item in our collection of things for the holidays is our reading list; some great books that will entertain, delight, scare … Continue reading Additional Needs Summer Holiday Reading
The Additional Needs Blogfather 