Neurodiversity and Ableism – a young person’s perspective
With Kyle Thapar Kyle Thapar is a young teen who attends a mainstream provision. As he is neurodivergent, Kyle recently chose the topic of neurodiversity and ableism for a presentation …
Category: POST16
Will the SEND and AP Improvement Plan improve the lives of 16-25 year olds with SEND?
So, at last we have a SEND and AP Improvement Plan. The big question now is: was it worth the wait? If you’re a 16 to 25-year-old with special educational …
Nowhere to go: The lack of provision for young people with complex needs
with Sarah London, mother to a 17-year-old, severely autistic young man We are all painfully aware of the lack of special school places and the impact that this has on …
Making Supported Internships work so young people with learning disabilities and autism can thrive
with Julie Pointer, Programme Lead for Children and Young People, NDTi Earlier this year, the Government announced plans, as part of a multi-million-pound funding initiative, to improve supported internships. Supported …
Government plans for Level 2 courses leave teenage learners with SEND out in the cold
A high proportion of 16–19-year-olds on courses at Level 2 and below have a special need or disability (SEND). So you might expect improving programmes for learners with SEND to …
The stark inequalities of social mobility of disabled young adults in England
Childhood disability has been conspicuously absent from longstanding social mobility and intergenerational inequality debates. This is partly due to the persistence of medical interpretations of disability, which disregard the negative …
Post 16: What’s in the #SENDReview Green paper for 16-25-year-old disabled young people?
About SNJ’s SEND review coverage: SNJ is bringing you lots of information and analysis about the SEND Green Paper. We are also interested to hear the responses of other organisations …
Growing up disabled: Puberty, privacy & positivity with Siena Castellon and George Fielding
Around one in five people in Britain live with a disability. That’s really quite a lot of people, all who have the same jumble of flaws, strengths, fears, desires and …
Supported Internships help disabled young people feel valued and socially included
With Jill Hanson, Debs Robinson and Geri Codina One of the biggest concerns for parents as their young people approach adulthood is if and where they will find a job. …
It is time employers realised the benefits of employing young people with learning disabilities
Educating businesses on the benefits of employing Neurodivergent people and those with Learning Disabilities is key to making the changes needed for them to see the invaluable contributions people can make to society.
Why Person-Centred Planning is vital for better lives for children and adults with disabilities
with Linda Jordan of NDTi We have probably all heard of person-centred planning and that it’s a jolly good idea when organising and commissioning services for disabled people, especially when …
Poor advice for Post-16: Why Katie & Harvey Price’s long hunt for a suitable college is far from unique
with Ruth Perry, Senior Policy Manager at Natspec We’re approaching the 31st March deadline for updated Education, Health and Care Plans for young people heading towards post-16 SEND provision. Last …
Why is He Still Here? Book giveaway
Today we’re offering a free copy of a new book written by the youngest author that we have featured so far on Special Needs Jungle. Max Toper is an eighteen-year-old …
How do you develop a meaningful pathway to employment for young people with SEND?
With Roseanna Gooder – Lead for 16-19 Pathway, Work Related and Vocational Learning at Swiss Cottage School, Development and Research Centre When specialist leader in education, Roseanna Gooder, approached us …
Young people with SEND left in limbo with no place for September
with Ruth Perry, Senior Policy Manager at Natspec, the membership body for specialist FE colleges. One of the things we’ve been hearing, that’s been borne out by our coronavirus and …
Dear Prime Minister, not all education in lockdown is equal
A letter to the PM from Lilia, a year 10 pupil who believes that not all education in lockdown is equal and it is time the government recognised the possible consequences for pupils taking important exams next year.
Celebrating neurodiversity: Now, more than ever, we must support one another, whatever our differences
As we enter into a dark time full of danger and uncertainty, it seems almost perverse to write an article about Neurodiversity Celebration Week. As I sit down to write, …
RDI and me: How this amazing autism programme has helped me thrive
Having had a couple of SNJ articles out now, I recognised I was running into a theme of throwing up frequent bad news and depressing stories without counterbalancing it with …
It’s NOT your fault: An autistic teen’s comprehensive guide to surviving being bullied
I’m still just 17 and I’ve been bullied at school for most of my life. If you’re autistic or have a learning difference it’s very likely that you’ve been bullied too. …
Jenna’s 10, has missed two years of school, and is campaigning for SEND inclusion
I’d like to introduce you today to 10-year-old Jenna, who has anxiety and ADHD and has missed two years of school. She is still waiting for her council to find …