Tag: Parents

Learning You – A Review And Questions

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Children's/Youth Workers, Film/Media, Parents/Carers

When I was asked to review the new First Capital Films release ‘Learning You’, the story of an Autistic young person (Elijah) and his Dad (Ty), I thought it would be easy. You see, I’m Dad to an Autistic son myself, so I though “Hey, this will be a breeze”... It turns out that I was wrong; ‘Learning You’ isn’t just a story about somebody else, it was a story that spoke to me about my own story, and my sons story too, and took us all on a road trip. As I watched this film, I saw so much of my son James in Elijah, and so much of myself in Ty, through the storm, through the tears, through it all. So, buckle up, have a look at the review I wrote, be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster, and if you can, watch ‘Learning You’ and learn from it through the tears... My review has got a few key questions for you to consider too...

Recognising And Respecting Choices: A Trip To The New Forest with James

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Children's/Youth Workers, Parents/Carers

James did really well, in part because we had listened to him and recognised and respected his wishes. He felt heard. He felt cared for and loved. And he was filled with joy.

Managing Caregiver Fatigue: A Self-Care Guide For Parents (Guest Post)

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Parents/Carers

Here Jenny Wise guest posts on The Additional Needs Blogfather, with some great wisdom about carer fatigue and self-care...

Five lessons from when Jesus heals a Canaanite woman’s daughter

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Theology/Bible Study

It is quite possible that this woman’s daughter also has Epilepsy, which without any treatment at the time would have been terrifying and for the child could lead to physical injury, mental disability, and possibly death.

How Road Trips Keep James Connected

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Parents/Carers

These road-trips are important to keep James connected with the outside world. He would lose touch with so much that we all take for granted without them. As we approach the summer holidays and there is more time available, we hope to support James to increase the number of road-trips we can go on during the week. As his confidence grows, we hope to hear him saying that he is “Appy!” more and more!

Was Isaac Disabled? Insights from the Old Testament

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Children's/Youth Workers, Theology/Bible Study

There are theories that suggest that the Biblical character Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, may have been disabled. That one of the most well-known characters of the Old Testament, through whom God delivered the great Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 15:4-5), and who was an ancestor of Jesus, might have had additional needs, is really significant.

Is There An Increase In Autistic Children And Young People?

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Children's/Youth Workers, Parents/Carers

This is a question that is a hot topic at the moment, I get asked about it all the time, but what is the answer? Are there many more Autistic children and young people now that a few years ago, or is there another explanation for the changing data?

The Unbreakable Boy – A Review And Questions

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Children's/Youth Workers, Film/Media, Parents/Carers

'The Unbreakable Boy' is a new film from Liongate, the people that brought us the film 'Wonder'. It follows the story of Austin (sometimes nicknamed Auz-man in the movie) and his family, as they journey and learn life together. This review asks some key questions along the way, for anyone journeying with a child with additional needs.

Create a Christmas Card Memory Book For A Child With Additional Needs

by The Additional Needs Blogfather, posted in All Blog Posts, Parents/Carers, Sensory/Senses

I don't know about in your house, but here Christmas is one of the favourite times of the year, especially for our son James who has multiple additional needs. A month on from Christmas and James was missing the Christmas spirit, so we got him to help make a reminder that he can look at all year round!