Navigating adult mental health services as an autistic young person
I go by the name of Philip Milburn but you are welcome to call me Phil, I’ve spent some of my time interacting with the adult mental health service and …
Category: POST16
Mum’s brilliant home education helped me thrive as an autistic student
You may have noticed we’ve been featuring more young people recently. It’s a deliberate move to broaden the the conversation from what it’s like for parents or practitioners, to hear …
We’re the country’s future. We demand our right to a properly funded education!
Imagine living in a country where the government and politicians are robbing their youth of their futures? Where budget cuts have decimated the education system? Where students attempt to learn …
Does spending time with peers help autistic people to improve their social ‘skills’?
I’m sharing this post with my 19-year-old autistic son, Philip, who is looking for the experiences of other autistics who’ve been told they need to spend time with peers because …
Social skills: How to understand and support autistic students
by Georgia Harper The complex social hierarchy within the school gates – a hierarchy which often punishes anyone who stands out as different – is daunting even for some neurotypical …
Shane’s story of being autistic in school: ‘I was the odd one in the class’:
Tania’s note: My ASD youngest often complains to me about hearing only the parent voice and not the young person (I’m still waiting for their own contribution 😉 ). However, …
School can demoralise autistic students, help me celebrate our neurodivsersity!
Tania’s note: We recently featured a post from autistic teenager, Siena Castellon, about her fabulous anti-bullying work. Siena is now pulling in schools and organisations across the country to support …
“I’ve been bullied at school for most of my life” How Siena’s helping other autistic young people like her
Tania’s note: I really value being able to feature the voice of young people with SEND on SNJ, as we recently did with Lucy, from Ambitious About Autism. Today we’re …
Ambitious about an education: A young autistic woman’s experience
Recently, I took part in an Ambitious About Autism panel debate about the difficulties faced by young autistic people to get the right educational support to reach their potential. It …
The legal loophole that’s stopping young disabled people from getting to school
For local authorities, school transport is one of the most expensive part of providing support for children with disabilities. Often the most appropriate schools is up to an hour away …
Going to Uni: The Disabled Students Allowance assessment
It’s all change for us this September at home, as Youngest heads off to start a three year BSc at university. He’s worked really hard and come out of his …
A young autistic campaigner asks, What’s ‘normal’ anyway?
I’ve always found normal to be rather dull. But I have children with autism and a diagnosis myself, so maybe I would say that. But what is normal, anyway? And …
Post 19: Education, health, care and training support for disabled young people
A quick post today to let you know about guidance the Department for Education has published for 19-25 year olds with SEND. Too many young adults are not getting the …
What if my SEND teenager doesn’t get the grades they need for their chosen course?
I wrote recently about how Son1 made a silver lining out of the clouds created by the grades in his disappointing AS results a year ago. With this, and upcoming exam …
How my ASD son turned exam result dark clouds into bright silver linings
At the end of summer last year, the AS results day to be precise, we were in a bit of a pickle in our house. ASD/ADHD Son1, who had left …
Government promises more apprenticeships for young people with SEND
Not so long ago, I wrote a post about apprenticeships for young people with learning disabilities and how Education, Health and Care plans, which are still statutory for apprenticeships are …
Take part in DfE focus groups on Preparing for Adulthood
A quick post today with an opportunity for parents interested in the Preparing for Adulthood agenda for young people with special needs and disabilities. The Department for Education has asked …
How do Apprenticeships support young people with SEN?
Only 6% of people with learning difficulties are currently in employment. No, I didn’t make that shocking figure up, it was mentioned in the announcement of a new government ‘Taskforce’ to help …
Teenage years and special needs: from angel to devil and back again
Puberty with any teenager can be a tricky business and a time of immense change for everyone in the family. If your child has special needs on top of that, …
Don’t let over 16s fall through the EHCP information cracks
Today is Son1’s (Luca) 18th birthday! When I first started this blog he was just 11 and a very bright but often-difficult to parent, explosive and impulsive child with ADHD …