Rare Disease Day: Hear our voice to help meet our needs
Monday 29th February 2016 is quite aptly named Rare Disease Day – as a leap year it’s the rarest day of the year. Around the world, people will be coming …
Category: Columnists
Top tips for navigating an EHCP process – for both parents and SEN departments!
Tania writes: Ask anyone who’s been through England’s new special educational needs statutory assessment as part of the EHCP process, and you’re more likely than not to hear a sorry …
How a grandma got a clothing giant to “adapt” and help families with disabled children
As all parents and carers of children with additional needs know, it’s the little things that keep us awake at night. You know the kinds of things I mean. Those …
Do Academies turn away children with Special Needs?
In an article on 3rd January, The Independent reported comments from Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of The National Children’s Bureau, regarding, “…anecdotal evidence that academies are more reluctant to accept children …
The Rare Reality: An insight into the patient and family experience of living with a rare disease
Specialised help and services for children and adults with rare or undiagnosed conditions has always been hard to find – or non-existent – and often, parent carers and patients themselves …
Why high-tech medical innovations just don’t match the harsh reality of health & disability funding
As soon as they became our neighbours, our mother sent us round to play with the kids next door. Vivacious twin girls, of no interest to me, and the boy. …
Why there’s a bright future using ‘Guiding’ for children with autism
Tania: Today we start a new series of articles from Zoe Thompson, who has been a regular contributor to our SNJ LinkedIn group Zoe is the Head of Development at …
Are things looking up for children’s Social, Emotional and Mental Health services?
Every child in England designated as having a special educational need (SEN) will have a primary need falling under one of four main types: Cognition and learning, Communication and Interaction, …
Three new book reviews: Autism and meltdowns, eating and puberty
SNJ note: We’ve been looking at a few more books for families with SEND – or should I say our reviewer, Nicky Goode has. This time she’s looking at: Autism …
Transferring from Statements to EHCPs: What works for me
Tania’s note: Today I’d like to welcome a new columnist, Marguerite Haye. Marguerite works with local authorities as the lead for transferring Statements into EHCPs at a local authority. She …
The mum whose photography project is focusing on children with rare disease
When your child has a very rare condition it’s hard not only to find specialists and the right treatment but also to find others who understand your experience. Ceridwen Hughes’s …
SEND charities and funding: Is there more trouble ahead?
You’re probably reading this because you are involved as the parent, carer, advocate or educator of a young person with SEND. It’s likely you’ve had some contact or information from …
Speech and Language problems? It could be glue ear.
One of the questions you are likely to be asked if your child is assessed by a speech and language therapist is, “has their hearing been tested?” The link between …
So close but so far away: @AspieDeLaZouch on why disability requires a compassionate community
We are separated in so many ways: time and distance, age and language, how you see ‘you’ and how I see ‘me’. On Sunday I was helping at a Mass …
Help your child relax with a ‘positive touch’ reflexology routine
We’re really pleased to have another post from reflexologist, Lorraine Senior who you can find today and tomorrow at the TES SEN show in London. **** Some time ago, I …
Shining a light on outstanding work in speech and language
Tania’s note: Malcolm has escaped from the usual Friday columnist slot to reflect on a wonderful awards ceremony that he and I attended last week and at which he was …
Where’s the care? More action needed on accessible childcare for disabled children
The end of the school holidays will have brought mixed feelings to many parents of children with additional needs. For some, the start of a new term will mean an …
Our new Rare Disease columnist asks you to help get MPs interested in genetic conditions
Tania’s note: We’re delighted to introduce Genetic Alliance UK as our new columnist for rare disease, genetic and undiagnosed conditions. Genetic Alliance UK is the national charity working to improve …
The not-so-magic roundabout of school exclusion
In Swindon there is a traffic system known as “the Magic Roundabout.” It’s really a system of five small roundabouts surrounding a larger one. It’s a bit counter-intuitive: you go …
Direction of SEND travel: @AspieDeLaZouch wonders if we’re en route to more special schools
As a young boy, on my way to a hospital appointment at The Brompton or Great Ormond Street (I can’t remember which, I visited both quite a lot), I became …