This weeks blog is dedicated to all the parents, carers, fundraisers and educators that support kids throughout their individual journeys through childhood.
This week I have been touched by the amount of kindness, love and support there is in our world. I know that the news can often fill us with dread but for me, I have been uplifted and humbled by people’s generosity and understanding for those born a little differently.
My week started with a message from the founder of the Dorset Children’s Foundation , the lovely Pasty Hallmey. She explained that she had been able to offer me ANOTHER £1000 which meant that I could buy yet more SEN equipment for the schools and families that we proudly support.
This has meant that this week, Awesome Archie have donated SEN goodies to Parkfield School, Mudeford Junior School, William Gilpin School, Christchurch Junior School, the Dare to Believe program with Dorset School Games, Poppets Pre-school along with a couple of families that asked for our help.
We would like to publicly thank the Dorset Children’s Foundation for all the work they do, not only for the children with physical disabilities but for guiding little non-profits (like me!) to reach those with neurological differences as well. Archie and I NEVER take your support for granted! THANK YOU!!
Awesome Archie had a fantastic experience this week. He and I were interviewed by Helen Head, an inclusion journalist for the BBC. Archie has been interviewed a few times now, but this one was different. Helen came into our home and spent a long time chatting with us about the challenges and celebrations of living with ASD. I cant give any more details away at this time but we will keep you posted as to when the interview will air. We would like to thank Helen and the team at BBC Radio Solent for giving us so much of your time, it means a great deal.
Author and illustrator William Grill encourages kids with dyslexia to just write for love and never give up.
Firstly I need to admit that this was a party to which I totally gate crashed 🤣Oak Class at William Gilpin school had worked so hard to get a day taught by William Grill himself and they very graciously let me check in. What a fantastic and inspirational teacher he is to us all. As a successful dyslexic author, he was a real inspiration for the kids, especially those that find writing tough. I have attached his website deets here and would love you to check him out 🙂
Lastly, today I had a really incredible experience. For years I have been using little bits of makaton to help Archie communicate in public. Although he is incredibly verbal at home (and where he is comfortable), he is predominantly non-verbal when out in public.
I was privileged today to go to the beautiful Portfield School and be trained in ‘Signalong’ by an Autism Unlimited educator called Jenny. This all-day course was unbelievably helpful for me, not just as a parent, but also for my work in supporting children with autism in main-stream.
We started the day with a coffee and a chat and continued to, not only learn about the importance of signing for non-verbal children, but also the positive impact it has on the families and friends of those supporting. I was fortunate enough to sit amongst some parents of kids at Portfield School and it was amazing to be able to engage with people who just fully understood how tough parent caring can be however, it was even more lovely for us to be able to share all the positives and laugh about our parenting disasters.
I have attached a link to the incredible Autism Unlimited here and would urge you, as either a parent, carer or educator, to take a look at what they offer. I will now be practicing daily and signing wherever I go in the hope that it will encourage others to be brave enough to use other forms of communication.
Thank you Jenny and the Autism Unlimited team.
