A 16 year quest to diagnose our rare bendy daughter
It’s often difficult to cope and find support when your child has an uncommon or rare condition. Often, there is little understanding by the GP and no more than that …
Category: Guest Posts
The SEN reforms in Wales: What parents need to know
For the last year, I’ve been monitoring the start of consultations and legislation for the Welsh government’s reforms to their special educational needs system, or Additional Learning Needs (ALN). Now, …
Using Minecraft to engage children with science learning
Minecraft is beloved of thousands of teens and pre-teens across the country, but it seems to have a particular fascination for young people who have Asperger’s and similar conditions. The …
Improving autism training in schools: A good practice example.
Tania’s note: One of the things we need to see more of is easily accessible good practice in SEND teaching. Today, Head Teacher of Freemantles Special School, Justin Price, is …
Tips for keeping up your child’s literacy over the holidays
It’s always a tricky one, especially if your son or daughter has made good progress with literacy during the preceding term: how can you make sure they don’t just forget …
Adelle’s dyslexia helped her find her strengths as a GB athlete
Life for any child with dyslexia can be challenging, especially at school. If they are lucky, they end up in the right school or they have dedicated parents determined to …
Talking about alcohol with your special needs teen
My boys are both at the age where they are discovering many aspects of adult life, including alcohol. They now go to parties on occasion and want to be like their …
Parent pens The Children’s Guide to Autism
Note: The book giveaway is now finished (Nov 2016) It’s a while since we brought you a giveaway, so today here’s your chance to win a copy of a new book about …
Amplify your experience of rare disease with Rare Barometer Voices
When there are few specialists and no medical pathways to help your child’s condition, you can feel like a pinprick in the priority of health care services. But your loved-one’s health is just as important …
What’s WRONG with her? A rare special needs parent’s dilemma
Many of us know what it’s like to be questioned intrusively by complete strangers because of our child’s disability – whether it’s their behaviour or an obvious physical difference that’s “wrong”. …
Our magical mystery tour helped our autistic son deal with anxiety
How many of us have stayed home rather than face the potential ordeal of your autistic child having a melt-down at an unfamiliar place or event? How do you get …
Join the world’s first fully-inclusive, fantastically fun, Super Sensory race!
Tania’s note: Jo Grace is back to tell us about something you may like to get involved with! Parallel London is the world’s first fully inclusive fun push/run event being …
Using an online EHCP: A parent’s story
Earlier this year, we hosted a post about ‘One page profiles and EHC plans the Wiki way’. It’s been very popular and I know that some local authorities have been following …
The parent “battle” for SEND Provision
The BS Tweets story did rather set the SEND world alight with many posts from blogs and articles in the mainstream media (where SNJ was quoted or I was interviewed a …
Edward Timpson and Jane Ellison: “Our reforms are boosting the life chances of children with SEND”
As parent carers we often measure our successes in the little victories we achieve on a day to day basis. They may not seem significant to some, but to us …
The joyful sensory world: Our differences and how we are all the same
Tania writes: A few years ago, I ran a guest post from Jo Grace who was crowdfunding to raise funds to launch a Sensory Stories project. I was happy to …
EHCP Journeys and SEND reviews
The Department for Education recently published some “user experience” research into the SEND reforms to help local areas with gathering family feedback. Ask Research produced a report, Mapping user experiences …
My SWAN journey from denial to motivation with my undiagnosed son
Today is Undiagnosed Children’s Day, a nationwide event aimed at increasing awareness of SWAN or Syndromes Without A Name (also known as an undiagnosed genetic condition). Around 6,000 disabled children are born every …
Work and the parent carer: a choice or a right?
Today I am delighted to introduce Sarah Down who has agreed to write a guest post for us. Sarah is mother to a lively four and a half year old …
Dear son, happy 16th. Here are my invisible shoes
We started the week with a heart-felt letter from a mum about her disabled child. Just as I was thinking I wouldn’t bother with a post for today, I checked SNJ’s …
