What do you see when you first meet a child with additional needs or a disability? That may, of course, depend on whether their additional needs or disabilities are visible; they may be ‘hidden’ as so many conditions are. But even then, we would be missing the point; what we should see first is a child, … Continue reading A Child First, A Disabled Child Second
I meet a lot of parents of children with special/additional needs in my work and connect with many more through websites and online forums. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the parents I meet are almost always Mum’s, not Dad’s. There are exceptions, of course, but it’s fair to say that the … Continue reading Where Are All The Dad’s Of Children With Special Needs?
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.
Christmas can be a very difficult time… especially for parents of children with additional needs. Everyone seems to be enjoying a perfect time of celebration, with invitations to meals, parties and festive fun flooding in, while for many of us the holiday period is a lonely time...
It’s Christmas!! Those two words seem to divide the nation even more than Brexit has, with people falling into one of two ‘camps’… Either you started wearing your Christmas jumper in October, had your decorations up in November and have already watched ‘Elf’ 12 times this season, or you feel like King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings movie 'The Two Towers' right before the major battle at Helms Deep when he grimly says, “So, it begins…”.
So, which are we? Are we the purse lipped, critical, selfish, glaring meerkat’s? Or are we part of the lion pride, standing up for those in our ‘family’ who need our help? Roaring in defence of those who are being picked on, bullied by members of our congregations that should know better...
But for many of us, our child with additional needs or disability is not our only child. We may have another child, or several others, all of whom need love, nurturing, care and support. This is an open letter to Phoebe, and to all the brothers or sisters of children with additional needs or disabilities…
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…
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 