Tania writes...
MumsNet have today launched a new "myth-busting and awareness-raising" campaign called #ThisIsMyChild.
It's been launched in response to requests from MumsNetters and supported by input from some of the leading charities in the field.
Its aim is to support parents of children with additional needs, inform everyone else, and open up a conversation about how we can all act to make life easier for everyone caring for children with additional needs.
I am delighted and very excited to have been asked to support the campaign and will be picking my favourite posts from a Linky being launched on Tuesday - so standby for that.
Debs and I will also mention some of the posts here on SNJ as the campaign progresses.
For this campaign to be a success MumsNet need it to reach far and wide, so please share as widely as possible - via Twitter (@MumsnetTowers), on Facebook , Google+ and anywhere else. You can use the HashTag #ThisIsMyChild on Twitter, Facebook & G+ too.
Already up is a Gallery, Mythbuster, Strategies and Facts and Figures.
The Mythbusters have been collated with help from campaign partners, Every Disabled Child Matters, Contact A Family and Mencap, and with help from the National Autistic Society.
The strategies is worth reading: I recall once, after the committal of my mother's ashes, far from home, we went for a pub lunch and ASD Youngest was upset, refusing to eat or drink and had his head down. A woman across from us stared and tutted disapprovingly the entire time until I had finally had enough, got up and challenged her. She replied that she was actually staring at me (which she wasn't)! Rude and a liar! She soon left. It still makes me cross to think about it, six years later.
Anyway, the campaign is definitely worth joining in with, adding your special needs blog posts to the link when it's launched,
In case you didn't know, MumsNet has a whole section on Special Needs with lots of information.
Of course, bloggers who write about their children with disabilities are every week trying to raise awareness, so it's great that MumsNet is giving all those blogs a boost and helping the cause in such a high-profile way.
If you haven't been to the MumsNet site in a while, you should pop over as it's not just for mums of babies, but has an enormous amount of information on parenting, skills & careers (MumsNet Academy) too.
While we're on the subject, I'm thrilled to say I will be on one of the panels at MumsNet BlogFest joining lots of high profile speakers at the event such as Prof. Tanya Byron, one of my favourite writers, Lionel Shriver, and Louise Mensch. (I'm sitting here going 'Lots of high profile speakers....and me.)
It takes place on Saturday November 9th. I'll be easy to spot, probably in the wheelchair with long-suffering Debs pushing. Please say hello if you're going - I'll be more scared than you!
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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