Three things to think about for a SEN student going to University

 Uni can feel like a long way off, until it suddenly isn’t. One day we're desperately trying to help Anthony pass his Maths and English GCSE's so he can get onto a Level 3 course at college and the next we're thinking how to help him get the most out of his education while he is still in it. 

Usually I take most things as they come and try not to plan too far ahead but at 16 or 17 years old suddenly what you do now could have an impact on what you might be able to do next. 

Are my autistic kids always online? Are they safe?

The internet can be great for my kids.  Many people think that using the internet a lot is bad parenting, and I'm sure in some cases that might be true.  At our home, the support provided by internet for our autistic, ADHD and neurotypical kids is almost an essential.  

Using light to help us sleep better as the summers gets closer

With summer approaching and daylight hours increasing, many people struggle to get quality sleep. As a family of autistic and ADHD we've always struggled with sleep - getting to sleep, staying asleep and waking up at the right time are all challenging.  Now, the longer evenings can delay melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep, while early morning light may cause people, like us, to wake up too soon. 

Rare Disease Day - common challenges.. and some rare ones

According to the National Autistic Society, Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.   It's not at all rare to have this condition. 

Mental health struggles

New results from The Children's Society's latest poll reveal how stark the crisis in children’s mental health has become. Two in five parents (41%) who sought help for their child reported that they did not receive the help that they needed.

A New Year as a parent of autistic teens

Both my boys are now teenagers.  Despite David being really small for his age, which we've often suspected is due to his restricted diet, he's now as tall as me.  Anthony is much taller and with a current special interest in health and fitness, he's also a lot stronger.  He can do 100 pull-ups without much difficulty... I can't do one ha ha!

In fact, I often feel like I'm last person to be considered in anything. I couldn't think of anything I'd want as an actual physical gift for Christmas, I struggle to think about what hobby I'd like to do (like I have the time for that). But I think possibly I have to recognise there is more to me and that things move on.

Go on holiday without the iPad - are you crazy?

 

As a family with two autistic kids, we'd never go anywhere without an iPad. It's one of our absolute essentials for doing everything from going to the shops, out to dinner or away for a break. Half term has just finished here and once again out iPad came around with us.  But does it always work?

Fun activities for our neurotypical kids this half term

It's getting dark so much earlier now in the evenings.  This means the kids I have that need to burn off steam can not longer do it outside in the same way.  We need a little more ideas, but thankfully, even though it's dark out, we can still have some fun.   Here's some great weird, wild and wonderful things to do this October Half Term around the theme of butterflies - not something you might usually think about this time of year.

Why my autistic son hits only me

I'm stood at the kitchen counter, peanut buttering the nth bit of toast when David runs through from the living room at high speed.  I see him coming and try to put my hand out to lower his fist, but I'm too late. Sock, it smacks me in the back not that far from my kidneys.   I put my hand on my back, then bend my knees so I come down nearer to David's level, then say, "David, need help?"