Autistic and Living the Dream

Tag: SEND

  • Making “good choices”

    Making “good choices”

    In schools and educational settings across the UK, Neurodivergent children, including those with mental health conditions, are praised for “good choices” and punished for “bad choices.” This may seem effective on the surface but this idea puts the onus of ‘appropriate’ behaviours, reactionary and otherwise, on the child in question. This is harmful for several…

  • Alexithymia: emotional processing ‘gone wrong’

    Alexithymia: emotional processing ‘gone wrong’

    An example of my experience with alexythima… This morning I woke up feeling a feeling. It felt like a big feeling but I couldn’t explain what is was let alone what it meant. I went on with my day with this weird feeling sitting somewhere in my stomach and chest. I fed little man, put…

  • The switching of the flags: Pride take 2

    The switching of the flags: Pride take 2

    Today,  we take down one pride flag and put up another – Disability Pride. This ceremonial changing of the flags is done by so many of us who are both LGBTQIA+ and Disabled. I wanted to look at Disability Pride flags, their colours and their meanings whilst also sharing the journey it has been on…

  • Schools Bill MP letter / email template

    Schools Bill MP letter / email template

    I have created this template for people to use in whatever way you think will be helpful, including sharing with your local MP. Don’t know your MP? Find them here. Dear _____ I have some major concerns over the proposed Schools Bill, as the bill shall: 1. Make it more difficult for home educators to…

  • The Schools Bill – making education harder for Disabled children

    The proposed Schools Bill (UK) has so many red flags! If it becomes law it will affect every parent / carers rights long term. Under the new bill, if you decide to home educate, you will need to obtain consent from the school your child is registered at. You may then get local authority staff…