Dearest little one, I have just finished making a phone call, something for your brother. I was chasing an appointment, some support for him – I forget which – one of dozens of phone calls I make every month. My mind is on him, as it often is. I emptied the bricks onto the floor… Read More
In the past I have written about how difficult it is for some disabled people to find truly accessible toilets. If you are able-bodied, it is easy to forget how devastating this can be. If you are able-bodied, it is easy to forget that thousands of people rely on bathrooms and toilets with disabled access.… Read More
Christmas is stressful for everyone, but for autistic children the anxieties can be profound. Many will find Christmas difficult, even if they are excited about the event itself. Changes in routine, sensory overload, new places and faces – these are all things that they will find difficult – and they all happen at Christmas. When… Read More
Biggest has been a little obsessed with Minions for some time. I have watched Despicable Me approximately 234 times. So when we were asked to do a Minions toys review, I knew we had to take part. We received a huge box of Minions goodies and I have seldom seen Biggest so excited by toys.… Read More
Are you shopping for someone small this Christmas? When looking for gifts for babies, especially if this is their first Christmas, it can be really hard to know what will actually be useful and practical for parents. The Mamas and Papas Baby Gift finder takes all the stress out of finding something perfect for any child… Read More
In the words of Bilbo Baggins, it’s a dangerous business, going out your door. If you have a child with autism, leaving the house can take on the epic highs and lows of a trip to Mordor. When we began to appreciate Biggest’s difficulty with routine and rigidity, when we knew that it was something… Read More
*We were invited to stay at the Langstone for the night, free of charge, for the purposes of this review. All words and opinions are my own* The Langstone Cliff Hotel is set in nineteen acres of woodland in Dawlish Warren, on the beautiful south Devon coast, and claims to be ‘one of the most… Read More
Hello and welcome to Spectrum and SEND Sunday 39. Apologies for the lateness of this post – I have been absolutely swamped with work and Christmas preparations! This week, I am linking ‘Microphones, cups and viral autism: when awareness makes us less aware‘ and ‘An open letter to the man who reduced my son to… Read More
Over at the Plenty Facebook page they are running a great giveaway until the 12th of December called the #12daysofPlenty . Each day there is a riddle to solve, with all kinds of exciting things to win. Prizes so far have included a Lego lighthouse, vouchers, and a coffee maker. You should head over to… Read More
Dear Sir, You encountered me and my children in a clothing store in a quiet Gloucestershire town a week or two ago. I was with my four-year-old son and my nearly-two-year-old daughter. Shopping for clothes is something I very rarely do these days, but unusually for me, I had a Christmas party to go to… Read More
When you live with toddlers, everything below waist height is covered in grubby little hand prints. Juice, cream-cheese, jam, toothpaste, snot -if it can be spilled or smeared on some surface, Biggest and Littlest have got it covered. That’s why I knew we had to try the Vileda Windomatic when we were contacted in order… Read More
I always feel like a child at this time of year. The first flashes of fairy lights are appearing on our street. The shops are in full festive playlist mode. The Christmas tree is up and twinkling affably as I type. As the Christmas traditions come thick and fast, I am filled with a sense… Read More