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Around 20% of children and young people have long-term additional needs or disabilities of some kind. That’s about 2.5 million in the UK alone. Many of them, and their families, feel excluded from a wide range of social activities, so how can we reach out to, and meet, the needs of these children and their … Continue reading Accessible? Inclusive? Belonging For All? What About You?
To the mother of our special needs child, my wife… It’s not your fault… It’s not your fault that our child is Autistic. It’s not your fault that he has Learning Difficulties and struggles to communicate effectively. It’s not your fault that James has Epilepsy. None of these things are your fault, or mine; they … Continue reading “It’s Not Your Fault…” A Letter To The Mother Of Our Special Needs Child
Hidden: (adjective) kept out of sight; concealed. (verb) past of ‘hide’ We frequently encounter the term ‘hidden disabilities’; it is in widespread use across the media, throughout society, within many of the various disability communities. In general, most people have a view on what they think it means; they will refer to it as relating to disabilities … Continue reading Seeking The Truth About ‘Hidden’ Disabilities
Parents of children with special needs experience many highs and lows along their parenting journey, but what are the secrets? What never gets mentioned, what never gets talked about, what always gets hidden; what are the confessions of a special needs parent? Well, it’s time for that to change, time shine a light on the … Continue reading Confessions Of A Special Needs Parent
What do you see when you first meet a child with additional needs or a disability? That may, of course, depend on whether their additional needs or disabilities are visible; they may be ‘hidden’ as so many conditions are. But even then, we would be missing the point; what we should see first is a child, … Continue reading A Child First, A Disabled Child Second
I meet a lot of parents of children with special/additional needs in my work and connect with many more through websites and online forums. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the parents I meet are almost always Mum’s, not Dad’s. There are exceptions, of course, but it’s fair to say that the … Continue reading Where Are All The Dad’s Of Children With Special Needs?
We have two children; James, 18, Autistic, with Learning Difficulties and Epilepsy, and Phoebe, 20, neurotypical and a young carer. This post is all about Phoebe's unfortunate start on James' arrival, but then all that we have learned from her since. The arrival of a second child into a family is almost always disruptive. The … Continue reading How Our Wonderful ‘Young Carer’ Daughter Has Inspired And Taught Us
As we start getting back to ‘normal’ (whatever that is), after the holidays, it’s a time for pondering and contemplation… Over the 12 days of Christmas I offered 12 thoughts for families with children with special or additional needs, and they each serve as a useful reminder of some of what makes us all different, … Continue reading 12 Things That Make Special Needs Families Different
Some wonderful thoughts and lived life experience from my friend and fellow blogger, Miriam Gwynne. I thoroughly agree with all she writes and encourage you to read her blog https://faithmummy.wordpress.com
Before I had children of my own I genuinely thought parents pretty much stuck together. I mean after all aren’t we all in the same situation struggling with lack of sleep, worrying for our children’s future and tidying up toys every day?
Then I had a disabled child and I discovered that somehow that changes things.
Other parents no longer talk to me about standing on Lego because they assume I won’t relate since my child can’t play with Lego.
Other parents don’t mention all the activities their child does after school and how they feel like a glorified taxi driver taking their kids to dance, swimming and karate. They know my child isn’t able to do these things so they don’t bother to share about them with me.
Other parents don’t message me for advice even if my child is older than theirs because they assume I won’t know…
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Happy New Year! Now there is a phrase filled with all sorts of questions, opportunities and possibilities! Will it be happy? How can we tell? Do we say “Happy New Year!” with confidence that it will contain happiness, or out of hope that it might, or in defiance from a place where we feel happiness … Continue reading A Positive Year Ahead? Never Give Up Trying!
Delightful Handmade Dog Products and Gifts
An additional needs Dad and Son baking adventure...
Special Education Teaching Resources, Sensory Stories and SEND Information
The Additional Needs Blogfather 