Danise is the founding member of Panda UK, and their mission is to create a community and support network for Black Families and their friends, who are expecting, raising, or helping to raise a child/children with a Down's syndrome diagnosis. Danise talks about her four-year-old daughter, who is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and is non-verbal, her experiences as a member of the Black DS community, prescreening, DS as the invisible community, assumptions and stereotypes and so on.
Afua discussed planning ahead for families with children living with special educational needs. She talks about the importance of a will and other things to consider.
Ms M delves into selective mutism. We discuss therapy and early intervention that may help alleviate anxiety and other associated disorders when transitioning into high school, adulthood, etc.
Titilayomi is back again and discusses the uniqueness of the autistic brain in very simple terms. Also, she emphasises being solution-oriented rather than problem-focused and that raising a child with special educational needs is not a sprint but a marathon.
Ms T is back, sharing tips and discussing how self-care as a primary carer is very important.
Dare is 15 and the author of LOAD - Living Out an Autism Diagnosis. He wrote about his living experience with his sibling diagnosed with level three autism. Dare's book is precise and simplistic in describing how autism impacts the brain. His book also talks very well about a diagnosis not being a one-size-fits-all. LOAD is free and downloadable from the App Store. He is currently working on a game App centred around the same characters. Mrs O's book - SuperPowers, is a picture book that takes you on a journey to learn and gives other children a clear and explanation understanding of disabilities. It is available to order from Amazon.
Sola discusses and shares her perspective on ways to support family and friends with a diagnosis or going through a difficult time, especially when we are not in the same proximity or vicinity. She touches on open communication and boundaries, offering practical support from afar, being a lifeline, not necessarily having the answers, and even letting them be sometimes. Sola is a pharmacist, a wife and a mother to two children.
Adenike is a lawyer by day and a playwright by night. In Hiding is her debut, and it has been described as powerful, relatable, touching and hilarious. Tickets for "In Hiding" at the Tower Theatre were sold out on the opening night. Directed by the award-winning theatre maker - Kanayo Omo. In Hiding is about how maternal love battles with the Nigerian high society tradition. Adenike takes us behind the scenes and how the story is the reality of most of the actors featured in - In Hiding.
Marsha Martin is a former Behavioural Therapist and the Founder and CEO of Black SEN Mamas. Black SEN Mamas is a national support group and information hub which aids Black mothers of special educational needs and disabled (SEND) children in sourcing adequate mental health support for themselves and SEND resources and provision for their children. We are currently over 1,000 mums strong and growing fast! We do regular support group sessions, informative discussions and panelled talks; on all things - Black Mental Health, Black Motherhood and Black Neurodivergence, Psychotherapist Led Workshops, Nutrition and Gut Healing; for better mental health courses, one to one psychotherapy & counsellings programs, regular mummy meet-ups, mummy nights out, Black SEN Mama Brunches and wellness retreats, as well as various manner of SEND activities/events and advocacy for SEND children, on behalf of their mothers/carers. Instagram - blacksenmamas_uk Email - bsm_uk@protonmail.com
Niyi and I attended the same high school and waiting to be assessed for ADHD and Autism. He initially moved to the UK for postgraduate study and then returned to the University of Greenwich to study Psychology and Counselling. During this course of study, he understood some of his traits when taking a particular module. While studying for this degree, he had the opportunity to volunteer at a Saturday club for children living with autism. And it became apparent that he is probably on the spectrum. It also dawned on him that - "autism should not be treated as one size fits all". There is a long waitlist on the NHS for ADHD and Autism, and people are turning to private clinics to be assessed. https://youtu.be/BEklX-n1ibw
Ms M graduated two years ago, and she had never wanted to grow up to become anything else but a teacher. Her teachers recognised she learnt differently despite her being a high achiever academically when she was in school. Years later, she has made it her purpose to make her students feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment. Ms M believes a happy class equates a happy teacher and implements strategies for her students with their input in creative ways.
Mrs T has been a teacher for about 18 years and teaches in a UK secondary school. She founded AfroCari Naturals Ltd, a Herbalist and Health Coach. She shares her experience of being creative with various diagnoses yet maintaining boundaries. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-23/autism-spectrum-disorder-fitness-diet-foodbank/102209662?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
Bee is a woman of faith, wife and mom to two lovely boys. She works part-time and is a full-time carer for her younger son, who was diagnosed with level three autism. Listen to Bee's Journey and how after her son's diagnosis of autism, she moved from a state of shock to a state of joy. As a family, they support one another quite gracefully and purposefully. Her support system means a lot to her and her family. Recently, Australia's first national guidelines have been released to outline how to best provide clinical support to children and their families diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-17/australian-autism-guidelines-children-asd-early-support/101986270?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
Afua's son has walked on his tippy toes for as long as she can remember, and he is comfortable, but It's painful to watch. Afua discusses what the world perceives as normal and acceptable and how important it is to involve siblings when raising a child with a diagnosis because our children would likely outlive us. Afua is a wife and mother of two. One of her children has special needs with a diagnosis of autism, ADHD and an eating disorder. She is passionate about social work and advocating for vulnerable children and adults due to disabilities, neurological impairment, mental health conditions and socioeconomic disadvantages. Afua aims to highlight the life experiences of vulnerable people to break barriers and uphold the inherent humanity that is primary to humans, regardless of their vulnerabilities. She is almost at the end of her second master's degree in social work. She is also a co-founder of JADZ - SEND Connect - a support group for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Mrs O speaks to me about how we could learn to see the world through the eyes of people diagnosed with ADHD or autism. She also explores environmental tips on how to support them. Ivie Okwuegbuna is an experienced assistant headteacher in an outstanding English primary school with over 25 years of experience driving the development of quality teaching and learning. She is the Founder of Learninggeneration @learninggeneration and D’Mala coaching @dmalacoaching, where she provides coaching services to families on purposeful parenting and advocates for children with special needs. Ivie is the author of Superpowers (amazon)- a book showcasing the talents of children with needs. Ivie promotes collective responsibility. She believes that if each of us can take responsibility for ourselves and our families - our children will thrive, Ivie believes all hands must be on deck in raising children to be happy, independent, empowered, resilient, emotionally robust, successful and functional adults of society. Ivie is married to Clement, and they have two wonderful children.
Mrs O speaks to me about how we could learn to see the world through the eyes of people diagnosed with ADHD or autism. She also explores environmental tips on how to support them. Ivie Okwuegbuna is an experienced assistant headteacher in an outstanding English primary school with over 25 years of experience driving the development of quality teaching and learning. She is the Founder of Learninggeneration @learninggeneration and D’Mala coaching @dmalacoaching, where she provides coaching services to families on purposeful parenting and advocates for children with special needs. Ivie is the author of Superpowers (amazon)- a book showcasing the talents of children with needs. Ivie promotes collective responsibility. She believes that if each of us can take responsibility for ourselves and our families - our children will thrive, Ivie believes all hands must be on deck in raising children to be happy, independent, empowered, resilient, emotionally robust, successful and functional adults of society. Ivie is married to Clement, and they have two wonderful children.
Gee is a woman of faith, a medic, a wife and a mom to two lovely children. Her daughter recently turned ten and was diagnosed at two. Their journey has been one in which Gee had to learn the art of patience and how her faith waxed stronger as she continues to support her daughter to thrive. Gee's daughter loves animals and is thriving as her person, not someone with a label or another statistic. She had to move her daughter from her mainstream school to another school. This was not an idea she relished at first; however, it turns out that the school they settled for has a farm, and her daughter loves animals. So, may be a win-win in the end.
Titilayomi's journey and her son's diagnosis of autism. Listen to the second part of her story— the aftermath of her son's diagnosis. Despite Titilayomi's intuition that something was wrong with her son's development, she could not get answers in Nigeria. She travelled to the US for a diagnosis and was nowhere in the world after the diagnosis. Titilayomi is the Head, Special Educational Needs and Deputy Head, Elementary at Blooming Lights Montessori School. She holds an MSc, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs from Aberdeen Business School (Scotland, UK). Early in her career, she practised for over ten years in Communications, covering - Public Relations/Experiential Marketing and Client Service Management; then purposefully found a niche in Special Education. Titilayomi holds a license to practice as a qualified teacher in Nigeria. Her scope of practice matters in the field of Special Educational Needs (SEN). She obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Teachers, Nigeria, a SEND Diploma from a UK Academy and training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In pursuit of a new direction, Titilayomi became a classroom teacher and now spends her time designing academic interventions for young children living with autism. Undeniably, her passion lies in navigating intervention wheels to create achievable outcomes for special needs children. Titilayomi loves engaging families with solution-driven approaches that can potentially change their loved one’s life trajectory. When she is not working, Titilayomi is having fun raising her son. Titilayomi can be contacted via email - at thespectrumlens@gmail.com.
Titilayomi's journey and her son's diagnosis of autism. Listen to the first part of her story—a long road but worthwhile. Despite Titilayomi's intuition that something was wrong with her son's development, she could not get answers in Nigeria. She travelled to the US for a diagnosis and was nowhere in the world after the diagnosis. Titilayomi is the Head, Special Educational Needs and Deputy Head, Elementary at Blooming Lights Montessori School. She holds an MSc, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs from Aberdeen Business School (Scotland, UK). Early in her career, she practised for over ten years in Communications, covering - Public Relations/Experiential Marketing and Client Service Management; then purposefully found a niche in Special Education. Titilayomi holds a license to practice as a qualified teacher in Nigeria. Her scope of practice matters in the field of Special Educational Needs (SEN). She obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Teachers, Nigeria, a SEND Diploma from a UK Academy and training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In pursuit of a new direction, Titilayomi became a classroom teacher and now spends her time designing academic interventions for young children living with autism. Undeniably, her passion lies in navigating intervention wheels to create achievable outcomes for special needs children. Titilayomi loves engaging families with solution-driven approaches that can potentially change their loved one’s life trajectory. When she is not working, Titilayomi is having fun raising her son. Titilayomi can be contacted via email - at thespectrumlens@gmail.com.