The world is a wondrous place. There is intricate beauty everywhere, even in the mundane and the repetitive, even in the things you see every day, but never really notice. Recently, I watched an extract from a BBC Wales documentary where a young boy with autism, Jaco, takes delight in repeatedly visiting a market as… Read More
Recently, a friend of mine sought my advice. Her children attend nursery with a young girl with autism and sometimes her behaviour scares them. She makes loud noises, likes to touch things a lot and sometimes gets too close. How, she asked me, can I explain in a sensitive way? I have also experienced this… Read More
If you ask me ‘why does he do that?’, you cannot offend me. When you question, ‘if autism is not a disease, then what is it?’, I am not insulted. If you say, ‘My children are scared. How can I explain this to them?’ I will talk for as long as you will let me,… Read More
My parenting may seem unusual to you. You might think I am indulgent. Maybe you think I display favouritism, that I am soft, that I have made a rod for my own back. You probably won’t understand my odd reactions to what seems like misbehaviour from my son. Every parent knows what it is like… Read More
Hello and welcome to Spectrum and SEND Sunday 45. This week, I am linking one new post ‘Autism is not a line – when labels become a barrier‘ and one post from the archives, ‘No Apologies’. I have had an extremely busy week and have not had time to write much else. As well as… Read More
My son said his first word at just over one. It was car. Others followed – by age two he spoke in sentences and followed instructions easily. He was behind physically. He rolled and crawled and walked late, but not enough to warrant concern. It was only later, only when the physical delays became more… Read More
My son is not a problem. He is not a health and safety risk, a difficulty to manage or an obstacle to overcome. He is not a disability. He is not a neurodevelopmental condition. He is a little boy who fears and loves, who laughs and cries. His behaviour is not challenging. To label it… Read More
Both the Guardian and the TES have recently published articles that included the statistic that 57% of teachers believe that SEN in schools is being misdiagnosed. Even worse, the articles then went on to reveal that “nearly two-thirds (64%) thought that some parents who have a child with a learning issue that could be addressed… Read More
This week, the finalists for the upcoming Bloody Awesome Parents Awards, or BAPs were announced. This is the first set of awards to specifically recognise SEND parent bloggers and allow them to be recognised for their talents, their stories and their families – from the everyday to the exceptional. The BAPs celebrate SEND bloggers, recognise… Read More
What I am asking for may be impossible. For my son, many things are – at least for now. He struggles to run, jump and play like other little boys. Communication is difficult and must be learned, painstakingly; it is not instinctual. He faces many challenges, mini-mountains to overcome, every day. Some days, he struggles… Read More
Twenty years have passed – a brief eternity. At school, I turned my tie around and used the skinny side, because you did. I begged my mother for Kickers, because you wore them. The passions and pulses of our teenage hearts were similar then, though I would not have believed it; I thought you were… Read More
We have to face facts. We may never be able to enjoy a typical family holiday – at least, not one abroad. I sometimes dream of sandy beaches, of 5 star resorts and fancy hotel rooms, of all-inclusive stays and eating out every evening. I dream of Disneyland. But changes in routine are extremely difficult… Read More