Intergenerational, all-age, all-together, call it what you like this can mean different things to different people depending on our context, our setting, even our age! But what does this mean in the context of additional needs inclusion? Well, again it can mean something different to everyone you ask, but here are a few different ways … Continue reading All-Age Intergenerational Inclusion
It’s festival season, a time of year when across the country people are heading to events themed around everything from music to food, cars, sports or lifestyles. There are, of course, lots of Christian festivals and summer camps held at this time of year too, but how can these festivals be inclusive for children and … Continue reading Inclusive Festivals And Summer Camps
Last week on 6th June 2019 a Tweet struck me deeply; it affected me like very few Tweet’s have before, and as you can imagine for someone working in the disability field that’s saying something. It was a Tweet from Rachel Lucas of Sky News (@RachelSkyNews), who had been doing a piece about NHS inpatient care … Continue reading The Institutionalised Torture Of Our Children
Spiritual parenting can be a journey that is difficult and confusing for any parent; it can be full of setbacks and challenging questions, fraught with the danger of us saying one thing and doing another; full of unexpected surprises, as well as being a total joy and blessing for us and our child. But throw into that … Continue reading Three Spiritual Parenting Truths For Children With Additional Needs
Additional Needs parenting can be a bit like a circus sometimes, maybe more than we would like to admit! Here’s a (hopefully) light-hearted look at how at times we can play many of the familiar roles of circus performers… Circus (noun): a travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and other entertainers which gives performances, typically in a … Continue reading Why Additional/Special Needs Parenting Is Like A Circus
This question lurks in the heart of every special needs parent; it is kept down, out of sight, but every now and then when we are tired beyond our ability to cope, knocked down by another bit of bad news, yet again clearing up something we hoped we would never have to see again, or … Continue reading Is Being A Special Needs Parent Worth It?
Sex and relationships is a hot topic in youth work at the moment, and rightly so when we see the mixed messages, confusing feelings and myriad questions that young people are dealing with every day. But for young people with additional needs this topic is often one that is considered to be irrelevant for them, … Continue reading Sex and Relationships: Young People with Special/Additional Needs
It’s been quite a year! As we sat around the meeting table yesterday for yet another ‘Child In Need’ review meeting, it was almost impossible to believe the progress that James has made in the past 12 months. Stories flowed from social worker’s, school staff, CAMHS team members… all thrilled at how things had changed… … Continue reading Who Would Have Believed This? What A Difference A Year Makes!
For parents of children with special/additional needs there is often so much negativity, so much that is hard, so much that makes us want to curl up in a ball and cry. Two years ago, James had his first recorded epileptic event, adding a new chapter to his journey that already included chapters called ‘Autism’ … Continue reading Our Awesome, Amazing, Actually Autistic Boy!
This question was recently asked by an eight-year-old autistic boy to his parents; it's a hard question to answer and the response that follows may not fit well with everyone, but then we are a diverse people so that is to be expected; so, here we go! Made in God’s image? Maybe a good starting … Continue reading A Child Asks, “Did God Make Me With Autism?”
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 