We don’t often congratulate ourselves, which makes this post all the more difficult to write. I was a bit worried people might not like it, but the other half of SNJ, Sharon and Gill, said we must, so here we are. Being self-congratulatory is hard, as, mostly, like many other SEND parents, we are so focused on our young people, asking what we could do better for them, and then wondering where to get the energy from to do it. And then you look at the rest of the world and wonder if you make any impact at all.
But anyway, please allow us today to share some good news, which is something of a novelty at the moment.
Renata and I have been nominated for the “Women of the Year” Awards Luncheon, an annual event that recognises 400 “unsung heroes”. Now in its 70th year, the awards luncheon was originally founded by Tony (Antonella) Lothian, an extraordinary woman, whom you can read more about here
“As the original women’s networking event, Women of the Year has brought together a powerful community of remarkable women for 70 years. Striving to inspire and empower women, while championing those making a difference to others. Our annual Awards celebrate and shine a spotlight on extraordinary women from all walks of life. A non-profit organisation, Women of the Year is run by a dedicated committee of volunteers, whose aim is to continue the legacy of founder Tony Lothian by recognising, celebrating, and advancing the achievements of women throughout the United Kingdom and around the world.”
With speeches from the awards host, Mel Giedroyc and its president, Baroness (Tanni) Grey-Thompson, it really is an honour to be nominated. Needless to say, given that last year’s winners included Yulia Navalnaya, Dame Tracey Emin DBE RA, and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, we are not expecting to win any actual awards. But we do hope that it may shine more of a light on SEND for those gathered, and show those in government that what we do is valued (because let’s face it, the government itself doesn’t tend to give honours to people who make them uncomfortable with home truths and activism.)
“Celebrating Extraordinary Women”
“Tony did not want to use the lunch to elevate the already famous; she preferred to find special women who had not been noticed. Many of her unknowns went on to become well known.
“In 2001 it was decided to give special awards to a small number of outstanding women. Their stories, shared through videos of their work and achievements, and then in-person giving of the specially-designed Frink award, have become a highlight of the lunch.”
I founded SNJ back in 2008 to help other parents navigate the SEN system and to highlight useful resources after getting a statement of SEN for my own children. Today, helping other parents in our SEND community is something many feel driven to do. But back then, there was very little information online, and no Facebook SEND groups, which today are such a lifeline to so many. Most families accepted what they were told by their schools and councils about getting support, which wasn’t much. Where I lived had only just got its own parent carer forum, of which I later became co-chair.
I became very unwell from symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and PoTS in 2012, ending up often needing a wheelchair. I had to reduce the amount of paid work I could manage, focusing instead on a small consultancy helping others get themselves started with social media, from my bed. It also meant more time for SNJ, just in time for the SEN reforms.
A bit of history
Renata and I met in 2013 during the development of the reforms, at a SEND bloggers meeting with former minister Ed Timpson. Renata’s work to improve the lives of children with undiagnosed conditions was already impressive, so I was delighted she agreed to write for SNJ. A while later (after persistent nagging from me), she became a director alongside me; without her, I doubt I would have continued for so long. Last year, we were joined by Gill and Sharon as directors, further boosting the breadth of our expertise and knowledge.
Over 17 years, SNJ has charted the progress (or not) of the 2014 changes and shared many resources. We’ve created research, participated in advisory groups, talked to countless families, advocated at a national level, and written millions of words about SEND resources, politics, good practice and lots more besides. Above all, we became firm friends, through ups and downs with family, health issues, bereavements, two new grandchildren (me) and one amazing wedding (Renata).
Renata has achieved many things, mostly, like me, as a volunteer. While I could wax lyrically about her all day, you can read her bio here and mine here.
A couple of quotes…
“It really is an honour to be nominated for the Women of the Year Awards Luncheon. When I started SNJ, it was only to record what I had done to navigate the system to help others who were being poorly treated and dismissed. I kept writing as an outlet, having had to abandon my career as a broadcast journalist and newsreader to care for my autistic children, right after I’d landed a top agent.
Tania Tirraoro, SNJ founder and Co-director
“As a journalist, I didn’t want to focus on myself and my own children, but on issues that mattered to others. I am still driven by the injustice of disabled children being failed, while their parents are blamed for government failures and politicians use families as political footballs.
“By highlighting great resources and focusing on the politics of SEND, we have helped probably millions of families, practitioners, and others to better understand the system and its legal rights. And, of course, to try to hold those in power accountable, thanks to our talented, incredible team* of volunteer parent writers. Without their efforts, there would be no SNJ. We have also been able to advocate strategically for families at a national level, speaking up clearly, independently and fearlessly. ”
*principally our long-term team members, Matt Keer, Catriona Moore, Rachel Filmer and everyone else who has written for us or helped us.
“I’ve spent around 15 years working to improve the world for the families who come after mine. If I had realised at the start just how frustrating, confronting, remarkable, and life-altering this journey would be, I’m not sure I would have found the courage to take those first steps. For every door that has stayed firmly shut, there have been just as many opportunities that made all the challenges instantly worthwhile.
Renata Watts, SNJ Co-director
“Seeing the world’s first nurse for children with undiagnosed genetic conditions grow from an idea scribbled in my notebook to a permanent post at Great Ormond Street Hospital (with its own exhibition at the Science Museum), supporting the implementation of care co-ordinators in Hertfordshire for children with complex needs, and more recently helping to build a support system for foster carers of disabled children are just a few of the highlights.
“Above all, I am most grateful for the incredible people I have met, worked with, and am now lucky enough to call my friends. There are so many remarkable parents out there, working tirelessly to make the world better for other families. They are seldom thanked, always exhausted, and yet remain eternally optimistic that this time those with power will listen. Tania and I are proud to attend these awards on behalf of all those parents who continue to fight the good fight—often in the small hours of the night, once the children are finally asleep. We see you, we’re grateful for you, we are you”
About Women of the Year
“In this, our 70th year, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women has never been more important. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, tension and divide, we welcome the women who, in spite of adversity, embody courage, determination and ingenuity; continuing to shape our world and communities for the better. Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE DL, President and Vix Brenninkmeijer, Chair, will be welcoming and celebrating the remarkable achievements of 400 extraordinary women”
The luncheon is on Monday, 13th October. I can confidently predict Renata will look as effortlessly cool and elegant as ever, while I will be trundling alongside her in my new second-hand electric wheelchair, trying my best not to run over her toes. Again.
If you want to support SNJ’s work, please consider a small donation. And if you are a young SEND parent advocate or campaigner who wants to connect with us, learn from our advocacy experience, or join our #SaveOurChildrensRights campaign, please get in touch. We need you more than ever.
Key Content
Disabled Children’s Rights are Under Attack.
We’re fighting, but we can’t do it alone: we need your help more than ever.
We’re volunteer-run, but costs are rising. To help us keep going, please consider a one-off or, if it’s possible, a regular donation.
Read more about being a regular donor here.
We use Zeffy to fundraise, which doesn’t charge us a fee, so 100% of your donation reaches us.
Also read:
- What makes an autism assessment report genuinely useful to a school?
- Big ideas belong to everyone: Education, rights and lifelong learning for people with learning disabilities
- As The Guardian prints our joint campaign’s open letter, it’s clear people with lived experience don’t want to lose SEND rights
- How do you ensure pathways to education, health, and social care support, meet both diagnosis and needs?
- Researching flexi-schooling: How beneficial is it for children with SEND?
- Oops, we did it again… The Government must now listen to more than 100,000 people who do not want to lose SEND rights
- Experts at Hand: When is an occupational therapist also a SEND expert?
- Could using AI to filter Government consultation responses lead to “algorithmic silencing” of neurodivergent voices?
- A council’s “improvement journey”? How determined SEND parents catalogued the trail of their LA’s unlawful behaviour
- Research: Social networks in special schools. Friendships, bullying and play
- CrowdJustice SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe”
- DfE must give its SEND reform Child Rights Impact Assessment a do-over; this time, without marking its own homework
- CrowdJustice SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe”
- Why my daughter’s SEND experience means we’ll take this consultation judicial review fight wherever it needs to go
- Legal challenge launched against government SEND proposals that “significantly weaken the legal rights of children and young people”
- The law on SEND HAS NOT changed! But restricting EHCPs would be legally-sanctioned gatekeeping and a decimation of rights
- Why the Human Rights Act matters when advocating for your child with SEND
- Supporting secondary pupils with additional needs: Top Tips learned as a SENCO and a SEND parent.
Don’t miss a thing!
Don’t miss any posts from SNJ – simply add your email address below. You must click the link in the confirmation email you’ll receive to activate your free subscription.
You can also keep up with us by following our
Want more? Be an SNJ regular donor!
SNJ is a non-profit and everyone who writes here does so voluntarily. We need your support to help us with costs by donating once or as a regular patron. Find out more here
- What makes an autism assessment report genuinely useful to a school? - October 14, 2026
- Big ideas belong to everyone: Education, rights and lifelong learning for people with learning disabilities - October 12, 2026
- As The Guardian prints our joint campaign’s open letter, it’s clear people with lived experience don’t want to lose SEND rights - October 9, 2026
Please share this article!
Discover more from Special Needs Jungle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
