Hayley Newman (Goleniowska)
Famous for wearing her heart on her sleeve, Hayley writes award-winning blog Downs Side Up about life with her daughter Natty who has Down’s syndrome.
She has campaigned tirelessly for inclusion, equitable education and healthcare over the years, and trains medics and teachers to this aim.
Hayley, along with daughter, Mia, has published a book for children called I Love You Natty as well as contributing to many other books and publications, such as The Huffington Post, Special Needs Jungle, The Telegraph and Nursing Times.
She delivered a TedX Talk dispelling the myths around the condition and appeared in Sally Phillips’ BBC documentary A World Without Downs.
Hayley is often called upon to give comment in the media and she and her model daughter Natty have popped up on The Lorraine Show, Channel Four News, Loose Women and more, but her stories always remain extraordinarily ordinary.
@downssideup on socials
Read Hayley's posts on SNJ
2016/17201520142013
- Campaigning for inclusive education for children with Down’s syndromewith Chris Barnes, Down's Syndrome International Diversity and inclusion. Two words we champion daily, the holy grail for those in…Continue reading »
- Heidi’s Down’s syndrome abortion case: It’s complicatedwith input from Colette Lloyd Why have we called this article, "it's complicated'? Because it is completely understandable that a…Continue reading »
- 21 Resources for Trisomy 21 on World Down Syndrome DayEach year families, educators and charities come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March. The date was…Continue reading »
- Hayley’s EHCP Save-Our-Sanity SOS planIt seems that at every milestone and crossroads in your child’s life, your pride, relief and excitement at their achievements…Continue reading »
- A World Without Down’s Syndrome? Where do we go from here?Just over two weeks ago I witnessed an online surge, the likes of which I have rarely seen before. Started…Continue reading »
- Sense Work Towards Equal Access to Healthcare for the DeafblindI was recently asked to write a SEND travel article for the Telegraph. After I had picked myself up from the…Continue reading »
- Six sleep tips for your child with special needsBelieve me I know about a lack of sleep! Neither of our children slept well for years. Anxious parenting, light…Continue reading »
- Dear Mr Harford: Consultation on Inspection for SEND ProvisionNancy Gedge is a teacher who thinks outside the box. She is also Mum to a young man with Down's…Continue reading »
- A very special Learning Disability Nurse asks: Who Do You See?Helen Laverty is one of those women you thank your lucky stars to have in your life. She is a…Continue reading »
- Revolutionary New Resource for Parents: Talking About Down’s SyndromeI am enormously proud to announce the launch of a very exciting project I have been working on for some months…Continue reading »
- Ten Benefits of Pets for Children with SENDI have very fond memories of spending hours in our small sunny back garden as a child. Often the games…Continue reading »
- Sensory Occupational Therapy for Sensory Processing DisorderEmily Alexander has a magical secret... she works for Santa at The International Elf Service. She is also a Registered Osteopath…Continue reading »
- Stress-free Holiday Tips: Planning travel with special needs childrenIt's that time of year when Christmas seems a distant expensive memory and the days are temptingly beginning to draw…Continue reading »
- Bringing Up a Child with Special Needs in GreeceThe Experiences of One Mum Raising a Child with Special Needs in Greece Millie Slavidou is a writer of children's…Continue reading »
- Seven Ways to Winter Wellness for your special needs childIt's that time of year when parents and carers of children with long-term health conditions begin to feel nervous. How do…Continue reading »
- The magical effect of music and song for your Special Needs ChildChristina Lydon is one of those gems that you stumble across on social media, someone doing something interesting, worthwhile and…Continue reading »
- One mum’s tough decision – Mainstream or Special School for her daughter with Down’sAs a mum of a daughter with Down's Syndrome, I understand at first hand how hard it is to make…Continue reading »
- Back to school with your special needs child: Some top tips for a smooth rideThe Summer is almost over and as parents we are either reluctantly or desperately looking to the start of the…Continue reading »
- 6 Tips for Special Needs Summer SurvivalWell, here we all are, knee-deep in the long summer school break. [caption id="attachment_8686" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sensory Summer Fun[/caption] It can…Continue reading »
- Are We Hypocrites for our Baby Gammy shock?You can't have missed it. The story of little baby Gammy, supposedly left by his parents in Thailand with his…Continue reading »
- Special Brothers and Sisters: A book reviewSpecial Brothers and Sisters: Stories and Tips for Siblings of Children with a Disability or Serious Illness A Review of this…Continue reading »
- Mencap celebrate firsts for Learning Disability WeekEach year, the charity Mencap ask us all to join together for Learning Disability Week; a time to share information, campaign…Continue reading »
- Not warriors, but hopemongersWarrior Mum ♦Parent Activist ♦ Campaigner These are phrases frequently applied to SEN parents, you might even label yourself this way. I've had…Continue reading »
- Mia takes after Mum helping siblings of kids with Down’s syndromeAs our newborn, youngest daughter, just diagnosed with Down's syndrome, remained in the neonatal intensive care unit, I recall returning…Continue reading »
- Seclusion Rooms: What Every Parent and Professional Should KnowSharon Paley is based in the UK at the British Institute of Learning Disability (BILD). She is currently undertaking a…Continue reading »
- How to build self-esteem in your special needs child[Tania's note: We are welcoming Hayley from today as an SNJ co-writer as well as a columnist and we hope…Continue reading »
- World Down Syndrome Day 2014: Do we really need awareness days?‘There’s an awareness day for everything nowadays’ the rather jaded GP muttered in my direction recently, in a tone that…Continue reading »
- The child inside: Do we need to label disability?As this Valentine’s Day approached, I began thinking about how much we all love all our children equally. How we…Continue reading »
- The Disability Abortion Lie – when choice seems like no choiceIt’s easy to assume that the moral dilemma of whether to abort your unborn baby that you've learned has a…Continue reading »
- Lessons in Love at ChristmasMany of us find Christmas an emotional season for all sorts of reasons. Gathering with distant family, catching up with…Continue reading »
- The Uniqueness of the SEN ParentColumnist Hayley Goleniowska writes: Last month, in my first column for Special Needs Jungle we explored the preconceptions that strangers…Continue reading »
- Exposing quotes that reinforce Down’s syndrome myths: The TruthAnd now for a bit of mutual admiration as we introduce our third new columnist. We love the DownsSideUp blog…Continue reading »
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