There are 37 miracles of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels, and two-thirds of these involved him healing someone. John’s Gospel tells us that what is written only represents a fraction of what Jesus did during his three-year ministry, so in reality there are likely to have been many, many more miraculous healings than this. Sometimes … Continue reading What The Woman Healed Of Bleeding Teaches Us About Jesus
I don’t know about you, but I passionately believe in free speech. I strongly feel that it is one of our most important rights, and it is one that I would willingly go to the barricades to defend, but when does discussion, debate, and even downright argument spill over into something much more sinister? And … Continue reading Are You Being Silenced As A Special Needs Parent?
What defines us? Where is our identity to be found? Big questions, and for each person the answer is likely to be different. What about our children, what defines them and is the key identifier in their life? As parents we might have different ideas about this too, especially if our children have additional needs … Continue reading Is My Child’s Identity Defined By His Disability?
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
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!
Christmas has come and gone, with all of its celebration, joys, and maybe some trials and tribulations thrown in for good measure… Racing up next we say goodbye to the old year and cheer in the new; but how that makes you feel might well depend on the kind of year you’ve had, and any expectations you may have for the year ahead.
There are many ways that those involved in children’s and youth work can make a big difference for children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families. I often get asked what one change can make the most difference, can have the greatest impact, can enable lasting transformation. The answer I always give is this…
There are many occasions where Jesus’ encounters with children were miraculous, including when he met children with additional/special needs or disabilities, but what about today? Do miracles involving children with additional/special needs or disabilities still occur? What do they look like? As parents or children’s workers are we right to hope, to pray, for miracles?
For many people church as it currently exists in many, many places just doesn’t work, can’t work, won’t work. And it’s not just people on the margins of society that this is true for, it’s true for the majority of the communities in which these churches are located. It’s just even worse if you don’t happen to conform to the ‘typical’, ‘expected’ profile of church attendee; and that includes many, even most, families who have a child with additional/special needs or disabilities. Church needs a reboot before everyone can truly belong.
Have you ever tried body surfing? Think surfing, but without a surfboard or body board, just using your own body to ride the waves. What has this got to do with additional needs parenting? Well, it all depends on the size of the waves!
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 