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Reblogged from violetsdiary: I have talked in previous posts about the journey to diagnosis with B. We had the meeting with the assessment team in the week of his 7th birthday. My Mum came with me to hear the outcome. I was really glad she did. I explained in a previous post we had waited [...]
BritMums Brilliance in Blogging 2012 FINALIST
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All posts by Special Needs Mum
High Functioning Autism vs Aspergers: The emotions of labels.
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 29, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/29/1348/
Getting troubled kids riding high with the brilliant Wave Project
While I was doing some research for DysNet, I came across a fantastic project that uses the beautiful Cornish coast to help young people in difficulty. The Wave Project is such a brilliant idea and is a volunteer-led organisation that uses surfing and the sea to improve the emotional health of young people. It is a [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 28, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/28/getting-troubled-kids-riding-high-with-the-brilliant-wave-project/
Research, articles & opinion – special needs news from this week
An incredibly busy week, so I missed my Wednesday post as I was in Brussels to speak at a EURORDIS workshop on social media for rare disease organisations. I was describing how we set up the social media for DysNet, the new Limb Difference Network for which I am PR & Community Manager. It was [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 25, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/25/research-articles-opinion-special-needs-news-from-this-week/
Launching DysNet – and how the right education helped one man make a difference, despite disability
For the past two months, in addition to my special needs work, I’ve been working on an exciting project to launch an online community network for people living with limb differences. DysNet is the brainchild of a dear friend of mine, Geoff Adams-Spink, about whom I’ve written on this blog before. It’s aimed at bringing [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 21, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/21/launching-dysnet-and-how-the-right-education-helped-one-man-make-a-difference-despite-disability/
SEN Green Paper response round up and other special needs stories
It’s been something of an eventful week for both Special Needs and Special Needs Jungle. Last week, I was called up by a reporter from the Daily Telegraph to ask my views on whether I thought one in five schoolchildren really had special needs. We had a good chat and the article appeared on Saturday. [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 18, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/18/sen-green-paper-response-round-up-and-other-special-needs-stories/
SEN – The Next Steps – My views & Meridian Tonight feature
So, there’s been much furore today about the headlines for proposals that 450,000 children be ‘struck off’ the SEN register. This is a bit of a stupid headline, to say the least. I was interviewed by Meridian Tonight (clip at end of post) about it for my views as a parent of SEN children. The [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 15, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/15/sen-the-next-steps-my-views-meridian-tonight-feature/
The benefits of ‘Floortime’ for autism – and win tickets to a Floortime workshop!
An US company that offers a unique therapy to help parents and professionals communicate better with children with autism/special needs, is offering London-based workshops in the the technique. Floortime is a specific therapeutic technique based on the Developmental Individual Difference Relationship Model (DIR) developed in the 1980s by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. The premise of Floortime [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 15, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/15/the-benefits-of-floortime-for-autism-and-win-tickets-to-a-floortime-workshop/
Special Needs Jungle in the Daily Telegraph. What I really think
There’s a story about SEN in the Daily Telegraph today “Can 20 per cent of schoolchildren really have special needs?” by Peter Stanford. It’s already attracted lots of comments, some informed, others somewhat less so, shall we say. The story is a follow on to other, recent reports blaming rising SEN figures on either bad [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 12, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/12/special-needs-jungle-in-the-daily-telegraph-what-i-really-think/
Great special needs stories, blogs and a cute dog too
For the first time this week, I’m alone in the house, apart from Leo the Labradoodle, currently sulking because he had to have a bath after rolling in something revolting. I haven’t told him yet it’s his anti-flea treatment day too, which he’s also not keen on. Everyone but me has had the flu (man [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 11, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/11/great-special-needs-stories-blogs-and-a-cute-dog-too/
SEN Green Paper: Ministerial “Detailed response” expected next week
So, next week government ministers will set out their detailed response and reform timetable as their next steps in the SEN Green Paper. They’ve been saying it’s ‘imminent’ since February, so we’ll see what they’ve come up with. Ministers say they’ve committed to making all the necessary legal changes to put in place reforms proposed in [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 10, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/10/sen-green-paper-ministerial-detailed-response-expected-next-week/
Home educating a child with special needs
Many parents who have children with special needs seriously consider home educating their child. It throws us lots of issues – especially if they are statemented. Today. home education expert, Fiona Nicholson, who has given evidence to government committees on the subject of elective home education, talks to Special Needs Jungle about these issues and how to go about [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 9, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/09/home-educating-a-child-with-special-needs/
Special Needs Jungle – a FINALIST in the BritMums Blogging Awards!
Just a quick one – to say THANK YOU to everyone who voted for Special Needs Jungle in the UK BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards 2012. It’s just been announced that the blog is a FINALIST in the Change category – the only one I entered. The awards are announced at a BritMums Live! on [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 8, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/08/special-needs-jungle-a-finalist-in-the-britmums-blogging-awards/
Helping your special needs child – a mother’s story
A mum called Tanya contacted me the other day and asked to share her story about her journey to support her disabled son with everyone, which I am only too delighted to do. Here it is below and Tanya has some extremely useful suggestions so I urge you to read it. Please leave your comments [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 7, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/07/helping-your-special-needs-child-a-mothers-story/
Eye-catching special needs news & autism articles from this week
Another week of rain and economic gloom. Note to self, stop listening to the Radio 4 Today programme, it’s starting your day off ALL wrong. Still there is some good news for me, anyway: I’ve been asked to take part in a Dragon’s Den/Apprentice type thingy for young people. Apparently, I’m an inspirational business expert. [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 4, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/04/eye-catching-special-needs-news-autism-articles-from-this-week/
If ‘child centred’ help is a no-brainer, why isn’t it happening?
One thing that’s become very familiar in the last few years, both personally and from reading your comments and emails, is how outragously hard it is to get the right medical and psychological support for ASD children and their families. Our family has been waiting for a CAMHS appointment since the beginning of the year. [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on May 2, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/05/02/if-child-centred-help-is-a-no-brainer-why-isnt-it-happening/
Advocates For Children – a FREE SEN legal advocacy charity.
The world of special needs is, I have discovered, populated with extraordinary people - both those who care and do their best for their children and professionals who go the extra mile to provide whatever help they can. One such lady is Gloria Vessel, a barrister who has for many years carried out pro bono [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 30, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/30/advocates-for-children-a-free-sen-legal-advocacy-charity/
My pick of the posts about special needs this week
I’ve come across lots of interesting stories this week so here’s my list of the cream of the crop of news, blogs and, of course the week’s stories from Special Needs Jungle. Have a great weekend – let’s hope the rain holds off. Medical News Today: The Top 10 Toxic Chemicals Suspected Of Causing Autism And Learning Disabilities [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 27, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/27/my-pick-of-the-posts-about-special-needs-this-week/
Act now for a chance to learn more about SEN – for just £36 including lunch!
There are just four days left to secure the early bird price for this year’s Towards a Positive Future SEN conference in Newbury. The conference takes place on June 16th and I’m honoured to be one of the keynote speakers,. NAS president Jane Asher will be leading a Q & A session and other speakers [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 26, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/26/act-now-for-a-chance-to-learn-more-about-sen-for-just-36-including-lunch/
Common sense solutions to solving dyslexia issues
Last week, while reading my SEN news feeds, I came across an article about dyslexia on the Conservative Home website by education expert, John Bald. John is a former OFTSED inspector and contributor to The Guardian. He has almost forty years’ experience of teaching people of all ages to read and write, to learn foreign [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 23, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/23/common-sense-solutions-to-solving-dyslexia-issues/
Special needs news you can use from the last week
Aah, the boys finally returned to school mid-week. They’ve been off so long I’d almost forgotten the way there. I’m not sure which I prefer – the peace and quiet of working undisturbed by regular requests for food against the lack of need to do the stressful school run… There have been three SNJ posts [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 20, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/20/special-needs-news-you-can-use-from-the-last-week/
Sensory needs met with a Body Sox
Many children with special needs have sensory issues, including my two. Their school used Body Sox which Son2 absolutely loves. He asked me to source one for him and here he is modelling it. I think it’s him, anyway…
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 19, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/19/sensory-needs-met-with-a-body-sox/
Managing the relationship between children with autism and computers
Adele Devine is a teacher at Freemantles School for young people with autism in Surrey. She, along with her husband, have created a range of award-winning software for special needs, SEN Assist. She’s writing here on the Special Needs Jungle blog about how to make sure that children with autism are getting real benefits from [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 18, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/18/managing-the-relationship-between-children-with-autism-and-computers/
Autism Eye Magazine – helping you to help your child
In the six years since our sons were diagnosed with ASDs, I have come into contact with a whole new set of parents – those whose children are also affected by autism and other special needs. These people have very different parental experiences to those with ‘ordinary’ children. Most have experienced the disapproving looks from [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 16, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/16/autism-eye-magazine-helping-you-to-help-your-child/
TGIF: And a chance to see the week’s special needs news & views
This week we’ve had sunshine, showers, hail as big as marbles and thunder and lightning… it must be April. I’ve whipped up some special needs stories and blogs that might have slipped your notice as you get over all that Easter chocolate. As you read this over the weekend, I’ll be at a spa hotel [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 13, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/13/tgif-and-a-chance-to-see-the-weeks-special-needs-news-views/
Why I turned my back on my TV news career
Recently I appeared in Woman magazine – a small section in a feature entitled, “Meet the regret-me-nots” My piece was headlined, “I regretted becoming a full-time mum”, which isn’t strictly accurate – rather I found myself, like many mums who give up professional life for stay-at-home motherhood, feeling a certain wistfulness for opportunities forgone. I [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 12, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/12/why-i-turned-my-back-on-my-tv-news-career/
The lifetime legacy of special needs left by meningitis
I recently met the chief executive of The Meningitis Trust, Sue Davie, and heard her talk about the hidden after-effects that meningitis can leave on children who’ve apparently recovered. The special needs they have due to acquired brain injury are often missed, but in this guest post, she explains how the illness can leave a [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 10, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/10/the-lifetime-legacy-of-special-needs-left-by-meningitis/
Cracking special needs stories for the Easter weekend
Happy Easter! Why not spend a few minutes this long weekend to catch up on some of the past week’s special needs and disability stories? Here’s my pick: Special Needs Jungle: Real tips from real carers – a new tool from NetBuddy and NHS Carers Direct International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics: Pregnancy length shown [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 6, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/06/1096/
Real tips from real carers – a new tool from NetBuddy and NHS Carers Direct
Netbuddy has been working with NHS Carers Direct to pass on practical advice, tips and ideas from carers of people with learning disabilities to other carers. ‘Real tips from real carers is a new tool created by NHS Carers Direct and Netbuddy. It offers a selection of tips submitted by carers under four separate headings [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 5, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/05/real-tips-from-real-carers-a-new-tool-from-netbuddy-and-nhs-carers-direct/
Addressing the special needs post-19 provision problem
Provision for young people with special needs after they leave school is a big issue for many parents. Although technically adults, many young people with learning disabilities are far from ready to join the world at large. A project in Surrey has just been launched to try to fill that gap for some. Project Post 19 [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on April 3, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/04/03/addressing-the-special-needs-post-19-provision-problem/
World Autism Day April 2
This is from the United Nations about World Autism Day: The annual observance of World Autism Awareness Day should spur global action to combat the unacceptable discrimination, abuse and isolation that people with the disorder and their loved ones face, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Autism is not limited to a single region or a [...]
Posted by Special Needs Mum on March 31, 2012
http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/03/31/world-autism-day-april-2/
Ebook or paperback: Special Educational Needs – Getting Started With Statements by tania tirraoro
Headlines from my NotAsAdvertised Blog
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