One in five children and young people have an additional need or disability of some kind, and for many their additional needs or disabilities are lifelong and so continue into their adult life. It is easy for children’s, youth and families workers, as well as church leaders, to be uncertain about how to appropriately support … Continue reading Accessible Jesus: Modelling Inclusion
James, my 15-year old autistic son, gets cold feet… Sometimes this is because he often prefers to go barefoot, sometimes this is because his blood circulation isn’t as good as it might be, or maybe it’s a combination of the two. He likes to have his feet rubbed, to warm them up, but recently he … Continue reading Washing My Autistic Son’s Feet
As Ben Elton used to say… “Ooh, a little bit of politics there!” so buckle up for theadditionalneedsblogfather’s take on disability and Brexit… On the 23rd June 2016, the population of the United Kingdom voted in the EU referendum to answer the following question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union … Continue reading Disability And Brexit
The word ‘Battle’ has been at the forefront of my mind this week; it has been a key part of my week in several ways, through experiences and as a place. The three reasons that this word has been key for me this week are linked, personal, ministry and place, and so come together into … Continue reading The Additional Needs Battle
Since John Lennon wrote this iconic Beatles song 50 years ago, there has been a fair amount of speculation about what it means, what he was trying to tell us… “There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say, but you can learn … Continue reading All You Need Is Love – Reprise
That blog title caught your attention, didn’t it? A controversial topic to grapple with in this blog post, but one that is so important for us all to understand and to communicate effectively… Some 2000 years ago, Jesus was asked that very question, as recorded here from John 9:1-3 “As he went along, he saw … Continue reading Are Parents To Blame For Their Child’s Disability?
In a few weeks time for many, a new academic year will start; in some parts of the country, it starts this week. The start of the new academic year is often the time that church children’s and youth clubs start up again, although of course some have continued during the summer, or have run … Continue reading The State Of The Nation – Additional Needs & Disability In The UK
“There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…” Dorothy’s famous line from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as she clicked her heels to be magically transported back to Kansas is iconic, but it has become meaningful for a different, and for us rather challenging, reason over the past couple of weeks… Those of you … Continue reading There’s No Place Like Home
Prayer is an essential element in inclusive children’s and youth work… seems an obvious thing to say doesn’t it? Yet it still surprises me how many times we overlook including God in what we are doing… Take the ‘phone call I received once as an example of this… In the role that I have, I … Continue reading Prayer – Essential In Inclusive Children’s & Youth Work
Those of you who regularly follow my blog will know that the past week has been a challenge… In ‘Prayer – We Don’t Always Get The Answer We Asked For’ last week, I wrote about how that day James had refused to go in to school, with all the disruption that had caused… Things have … Continue reading Additional Needs Parenting: Unpredictable, Impactful, Inspirational
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 