Welcome

The aim of this blog is to be a source of information and ideas, sharing of experiences, solutions and thoughts and general support for families of children with additional support needs.    The content will I think seem a bit eclectic but is all based around the theme of making life easy.  I plan to share practical solutions to every day issues (both our own and others), our journey in inclusive education, ideas and contacts for activities and some general information to help support parents/carers.    Guest posts will be actively encouraged.

I myself have a daughter with cerebral palsy.  She cannot sit, stand or walk without support and uses an augmented communication device.  Throughout her life I’ve tried to keep to the principle of we are all born “in” and she’s now old enough and articulate enough to express the desire to be in her words “normal”.

Finding ways to achieve this has not always been easy but when solutions are found it’s always a delight to have them work.   Not being very practical, I often have to rely on others to help build solutions and wanted to help share the ideas that others have shared with me.  I also hope to get some input from adults with additional support needs with the hope that their present will help in creating a picture of our child’s future

My daughter has been in mainstream education since the start of formal education and we are now looking for a high school for her.  Even though I am a teacher myself, I have found this quite a daunting process and very emotional at times.  I am keen to share this journey partly to pay back the support I got from the Inclusive Learning Network when my daughter was starting nursery and partly to get the ideas and input of others.

The press has been full today of the pressures that carers are under and that this can lead to bouts  of depression.  Sometimes it doesn’t take much to ease a pressure point and I want to share some of the things that have worked for me from simple planning tools and apps, money saving to the “perks” of going to events with a wheelchair user.