One of the most enduring aspects of having a child with autism, especially a child who is non-verbal, is the meltdowns. For those parents of neurotypical children, a meltdown is not a tantrum. A tantrum is an attempt to secure dominance, in the most embarrassing situations. You can almost reason with the brat, er um, … Continue reading Tips for dealing with Meltdowns
Author: Oran Blackwood
3 Simple steps to securing the right SEND support for your child.
Last week the DfE released a document to help young people with SEND complain about their support services. Although I’m not a fan of the pre-school design of the document, I commend the DfE for publishing this. Young people are too reliant on their local authorities, schools, colleges and universities to do the right thing. … Continue reading 3 Simple steps to securing the right SEND support for your child.
Don’t Panic – Tips for Parenting a Child with Special Needs
I am not ashamed to admit this, as I'm sure there are parents out there that feel the same way and may feel that it is shameful to say this, but there are times I wished my son didn't have autism. Phew. There, I said it and I welcome the condemnation I deserve... I could … Continue reading Don’t Panic – Tips for Parenting a Child with Special Needs
The Autism Uprising – The Revolution is at Hand…
I have become one of those parents who are trying to change the world to a more understanding place because of my son. For those parents of children with autism around the world, I have also taken up arms and I'm willing to lead the fight against the insensitivity of the neurotypical homo sapiens (now … Continue reading The Autism Uprising – The Revolution is at Hand…
Psycho-Social Education – Forget Numbers
I teach. That's what I am trained to do. But is that all there is? Is that all teachers do, impart knowledge? Well, no it isn't. We do so much more, but we are simply paid to teach. I'm not going to wax lyrical about the horrors of the profession. Others have done so … Continue reading Psycho-Social Education – Forget Numbers
The Institutionalisation of SEN Learners.
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to be invited to a council meeting to discuss using wellbeing models to lower exclusion rates in Hackney schools. As a staunch supporter of structured wellbeing models, I was particularly interested in the council's plans on implementation and understanding what their proposed model would look like. … Continue reading The Institutionalisation of SEN Learners.
Rise of The Quarter…
Stereotypes have their roots in the survival instincts of our ancestors. If you saw a big cat with massive fangs it was a safe bet if it invited you to dinner you'd be its main course. Stereotypes helped our fledgling ancestors stay alive and when we began to make war on each other, they let … Continue reading Rise of The Quarter…
That Sinking Feeling
I feel the signs coming on. My smiles are becoming more fake. I don’t seem to take joy in the things that kept me happy. I am not sleeping. I have lost my appetite. I find human interaction cumbersome and annoying. I find myself staring blankly at nothing at all. Things I could forgive are … Continue reading That Sinking Feeling
A Friend in Deed…
Friendship is a tricky thing. Webster defines a friend as 'a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person', which is a fair description. However, how many of you take the time to really reflect on what a friendship is? There are elements missing from Webster's definition (individuals should add … Continue reading A Friend in Deed…
Busy Lives
It's been a long time since I've put fingertip to keyboard for the whole blog thing. (WordPress just told me it's been 126 days.. Yikes. Ed.) I keep meaning to, but I've been way too busy. Well not really. When I coach people who tell me they are way too busy to make a positive … Continue reading Busy Lives
The Inside Me 