On Sunday it is Fathers Day. A day which will be celebrated by some, mourned by others, a day of mixed emotions for more. As the Additional Needs Blogfather, Dads of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities have always been close to my heart, whether they are in the family home, apart … Continue reading Fathers Day: The Dads Collection
Parents of children with additional/special needs need stamina. We know that sometimes things can take a long time before we can see any positive change. We need to be resilient, in this for the long haul, for life! But sometimes we see a breakthrough with our child that energizes us again, that renews and refreshes … Continue reading Never, Never, Never Give In…
Some wonderful thoughts about acts of kindness in a pandemic (and a familiar face for regular readers of The Additional Needs Blogfather!) in this excellent blog from my friend Miriam, who writes as ‘faithmummy’ (do read more of her blog posts, they are awesome!)
I stood in the playground of my daughter’s school in mid March as parents and grandparents gathered. There was only one thing being talked about: Coronavirus and panic buying! While many were stressing about shortages of toilet rolls and hand soap I was getting more and more stressed about the availability of baby wipes with two disabled children who both needed them. Since I wasn’t about to disclose to otherwise strangers about my children’s intimate care needs I kept quiet and walked my daughter home wondering how I would meet her and her brothers needs silently.
No-one could have predicted that by the end of that week my daughter’s school would close, along with every other school in the country, for an indefinite period due to a worldwide pandemic.
Coronavirus was no longer about which shops had toilet rolls but now about life and death and living in lockdown.
It’s…
View original post 916 more words
Dads of children with special needs; I’ve met loads of them in the work that I do, nowhere near as many as the Mums that I’ve met, but whenever I’ve met special needs Dads, whether in a group or on their own, if I talk with them for long enough at least one of these … Continue reading Three Things Special Needs Dads Need To Know
The headlines are full of the news that schools, particularly primary schools in England, are being prepared to open for children in years Reception, 1 and 6 (ages 4-5, 5-6 and 10-11) from Monday 1st June, if possible. That’s two weeks away. Pupils in secondary education who are taking exams next year, current years 10 … Continue reading Why It’s Not Time To Go Back To School
There are a range of things that have suddenly appeared and taken over our lives in the past few months, 'Coronavirus', 'COVID-19', 'Social-Distancing', 'Lockdown', 'PPE' and more, and there is so much uncertainty as to if, when and how it's all going to end. But in these strange times that we live in, especially as … Continue reading It’s Time To Start Planning For A Return To Children’s, Youth & Families Work
As one of the most important times in the Christian calendar, Easter is a key teaching time for parents, as well as children's and youth workers. A time to remember, be thankful, and to celebrate what Jesus has done for us all. But the big story of Easter can be difficult for some children and … Continue reading Sensory Easter Story
This might seem like a very odd question to ask in the middle of the worst pandemic to engulf the human population for 100 years, but just like the Spanish Flu pandemic and all other pandemics, plagues and pestilences since the dawn of time, eventually there will be a post COVID-19 world to live in. … Continue reading Post Coronavirus: What Could The ‘New Normal’ Look Like?
Not a day goes by without my heart breaking again as I see two communities at war with each other, two communities tearing each other down instead of building each other up, two communities that could offer each other so much yet seem so often to miss the opportunity to do so. Who are these … Continue reading Autism War: What Is It Good For? Absolutely, Nothing.
Jesus is widely considered to have performed at least 37* miracles during his three-year ministry, from turning water into wine at the beginning to the second miraculous catch of fish towards the end. He also healed people, lots of people, with approximately two-thirds of his recorded miracles involving healing, and that doesn’t include casting out … Continue reading Jesus Healed People But What Was He Really Teaching Us? – Part 1
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 