Dean Beadle Motivational Speaker: Diagnoses are important but...
	Insurance for professional nannies
	Henry isn't talking - when should I worry?
	Leonard Cheshire/ Creature Discomforts Campaign
	Down's Syndrome Educational Trust Christmas Cards
	Ofsted Childcare Register
	SNAP New On-line Directory
	Christmas & Autistic Spectrum Disorders
	Times - Young Carers Christmas Appeal
	Yoga for the Special Child
	Special Needs Fringe Exhibition

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Health & Happiness for the New Year!

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this newsletter. A special thanks again goes to Dean Beadle who writes a regular column for us. Dean is an autistic sixth-former who is currently giving motivational speeches across the UK on the subject.

Thanks also to Valerie Savage for her article on speech and language, and to Judy for her eagle-eyes!

If you would like to send an article relating to special needs for the next issue, just send an e-mail or call 020 7729 2200 - there's no charge for charities, organisations, parents or nannies.

SNAP Childcare 91-93 Great Eastern St. London EC2A 3HZ Tel: 020 7729 2200 Fax: 020 7729 0022 E-mail: info@snapchildcare.co.uk

Diagnosis. For many people, this is the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the pinnacle that parents and care-workers can spend months, if not years, climbing towards. I appreciate that. I can see that gaining this elusive diagnosis can change a person's life. Suddenly questions are answered and things fall into place. Suddenly the child's condition has a name; a name that justifies their state of mind and behaviour. For some, a diagnosis can serve as a gateway to gaining much-needed help and support. I would never underestimate the importance of gaining a diagnosis.

However, it makes me wince when I hear stories of how schools and parents wait until a diagnosis is made before they begin any strategies with a child. I know, from personal experience, that this process can take years in some cases. Can we really afford to wait? What happens to the child in the meantime? I think we should always look at the child before we look at the child's condition. We need to assess what the child's needs are first.

We need to observe them, pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses and work from there to develop individual strategies to benefit them. We can do all of this without knowing the name of the condition. This way we can make the changes and improvements to the child's life before the diagnosis comes.

Those youthful years are precious in a special needs child's development and we need to make the most of them; we can't afford to waste them waiting for a diagnosis. Diagnosis is essential, but that doesn't mean we can't make progress with the child in the meantime. Because, as I'm sure you will all know, this early progress can be hugely successful in the child's development.

Dean Beadle March 2007
(Photo by Luke Carter)

Nannytax, the specialist payroll company, now offer specialist public liability policies, especially for professional nannies through Nannyinsure.

The Policy
Nannies can choose between two policies:
£3,000,000 limit of indemnity for an annual fee of £70 or £5,000,000 limit of indemnity for an annual fee of £90.

Both policies offer the same great benefits:

Nanny duties are covered within the EU*

Nanny duties are covered outside the EU for 90 days in any one period of insurance*

Administration of Drugs & Medicines*

Cover while child is left with another approved adult for temporary periods*

Contingent Motor Insurance*

* Conditions apply, please contact Nannyinsure for further information.

The Ofsted Register
This service will also be of interest to nannies registering under the new Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR), who will be required to have public liability insurance. (See also article below).

Applications can be done entirely on-line. See www.nannyinsure.co.uk or call 0845 226 7329 for further information.

It is almost impossible to describe the joy of a child's first word. That magic cry of "mummy" that will turn every woman's head in the supermarket. That first wave "bye-bye" and inevitably that growly little face accompanied by a determined "no".

But for some parents it is a very long wait. Particularly for a child with special needs it is often difficult for parents to disentangle his language skills from the rest of his development. For indeed "special needs" covers a whole range of problems, sometimes related, but not necessarily.

In assessing a child's language development it is more useful to look at the pattern of his learning than to try to assess him against "norms". The early research on psycholinguistics was done by Naom Chomsky - amazingly he discovered that the pattern of language learning is universal. In other words a child learning "language" in French will follow the same patterns as a Chinese, Swahili or Arabic child. The child with special needs will follow the same patterns but probably at a slower rate.

The skill of helping the special needs child to communicate is based on an accurate assessment of his existing skills and a programme designed to follow the normal patterns of developing language - using his strengths to support his weakness.

Such a programme might focus on listening skills, comprehension skills or maybe speech motor skills. It might include some augmentative communication. Some children will have specific language learning problems and for others it will be part of a bigger picture.

No matter how small or how severe a speech and language difficulty is, the problem should be addressed. Communication is a life-skill, which should not be denied to any child.

Few people would disagree with this but frequently do not know how to access help. Hard-worked G.P.'s can refer to a Community Paediatrician who should be able to provide a developmental profile highlighting a child's strengths and weaknesses.

It is the role of speech and language therapist to analyse a child's speech and language and identify the best ways to help him. Unfortunately resources are often scarce and waiting lists long. Parents try to find independent help, but often do not know where to turn. Moreover some of the language issues can be complex and require an experienced practitioner. A useful resource is the Association of Speech and Language therapists an Independent Practice who keeps a register of therapists who work independently. They are fully qualified and registered.

They can be reached on:
01494-488-306
E-mail: asltip@awdry.demon.co.uk
www.helpwithtalking.com

Valerie Savage
Speech and Language Consultant
Pineo House, 115A Harley Street
London W1G 6AR
020-7486-0503 or e-mail:
valerie.savage@pimeohouse.com

Available for both diagnostic assessments and ongoing management for children with speech and language difficulties.

The Aardman Animation team have created some fantastic new characters - Creature Discomforts - to promote the Leonard Cheshire Disability's campaign to change the way people see disability. They hope that the simple messages help people to think and act differently when they interact with people with disabilities.

The characters use the genuine voices and comments from a range of people with disabilities, who comment on the general perception some people have about people with disabilities.

The advertisements are currently being shown in poster form in bus stops, newspapers, magazines and on-line now, and will be aired on TV in January.

The Creature Discomfort website is definitely worth a look at. Sections include:

Watch the Ads - all the adverts can be viewed on-line. Subtitles and sign language are available on each.

Behind the Characters - The people behind each of the characters they lend their voice to, tell us a little about themselves.

Change Your Attitude - Answer 6 questions and see how much you know about disabled people living in the UK. Answer at least four questions correctly and you can download animated screensavers featuring your favourite Creature Discomforts characters.

Sign Up. - Sign up to the Leonard Cheshire Campaign Network.

Send An E-Card - Save on postage and paper! Select your favourite character, write in your message and send.

Fantastic!

Click for the websites:
Creature Discomforts
Leonard Cheshire

We received the following e-mail from Richard whose eldest son, Max, has Down's Syndrome.

"As Christmas comes upon us once again, we're sending this e-mail in the hope that some of you won't have bought your Christmas cards as yet, and might just like to make one easy phone call to sort that problem out!

The Down's Syndrome Educational Trust is a small charity, based in Portsmouth, which focuses on the educational development of people with Down's Syndrome i.e. how do kids with Down's Syndrome learn, and what does this mean in terms of making schooling more appropriate / beneficial. The guys in Portsmouth aren't just the best in Britain on this front, they're also the world leader in this field. If you're interested in reading more, please just click through to www.downsed.org

To produce their Christmas cards, the Down's Syndrome Educational Trust employ 7 adults with Down's Syndrome to work in their workshop. When you consider that many adults with Down's Syndrome are capable of working these days and desperately want to work but that 90% can't find work, you'll understand how important this sort of employment opportunity is.

So, if you've not yet purchased your Christmas cards for this year as yet, please consider buying your cards from the Down's Syndrome Education Trust. Orders can be made by ringing 023 9285 5330. They'll then deliver your order direct to your door - easy!

Thank you and happy Christmas.
Richard

At SNAP, parents often ask us about Nannies who are 'approved' to enable them to claim Working Tax Credit.

After viewing several official websites, the site which seemed most helpful and easy to understand is provided by Nannytax.

The new Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR), introduced in April 2007, has now replaced the Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS).

It is worth having a look at Nanntax's website, they also provide links to the ACCOR and Ofsted websites. Please click here.

We are currently putting together an on-line directory. We hope to include as many companies, organisations, useful websites etc as possible - so if you have some favourites please e-mail their details to us so the can be included. Thanks.

The National Autistic Society has a very useful article on their website regarding Christmas and autistic spectrum disorders.

The article gives advice to help prepare children (or adults) with autistic spectrum disorders for Christmas, as well as general tips for making it a happy Christmas for everyone - as we know Christmas can be stressful for everyone, but with the changes it brings in routines, this can be even more so for a child with autsim.

They also include some good gift ideas and useful links. Please click here or on the logo below:

Sunday Times Christmas Appeal

At this time of year there are always so many worthy causes that deserve help.

At SNAP, we choose one we would like to help, and this year it is the Sunday Times Christmas Appeal, for The Princess Royal Trust for Young Carers - children who, on a daily basis, help care for a parent or even parents.

There are numerous, heart-rending stories of children who sacrifice what other children take for granted - just to be children.

Click here to read Caroline Scott's excellent article and see how you can help.

See also:

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers www.carers.org - and Young Carers: www.youngcarers.net

Yoga for the Special Child®, LLC is a comprehensive program of Yoga techniques designed to enhance the natural development of children with special needs. This style of Yoga is gentle and therapeutic. It is safe for babies and children with Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Microcephaly, Autism and other developmental disabilities. These methods also provide an effective treatment for children diagnosed with ADHD and Learning Disabilities. The programme was created by Sonia Sumar who has written a book entitled" Yoga for the Special Child".

Yoga can help children to improve:
Communication
Cognitive skills
Muscle tone
Flexibility and correct postural alignment and develop co-ordination of the brain and body
Self -esteem
Fine motor co-ordination, hand to eye co-ordination
Auditory processing
Respiration and will complement the work of a Speech and Language Therapist.
The yoga routines can also help children with learning disabilities to develop greater concentration and attention span
Yoga sessions can incorporate physiotherapy exercises into a more relaxed and accepting body.

Jay Ehrlich has had almost 20 years of experience working with children with a variety of special needs both in hospitals as a play specialist, in the community as a Portage Teacher and now as a Freelance Yoga Therapist and lecturer. She is also the special needs trainer for Birthlight teachers and also runs many workshops around the county. She runs "Yogababies" www.yogababies.co.uk and is based in North London.

For more details or to arrange a session with your child please contact Jay either by e-mailing jay@yogababies.co.uk or calling 020 8883 3234.

The great BBC Website for children CBBC, has adapted some of their on-line games so they are suitable for switch users.


For more details please click here
For more details about setting up the games for use with switches, please look in the Grown Up section below:

The Special Needs Fringe exhibition focuses on computers and special needs, a field increasingly called "Assistive Technology".

Running next door to the gigantic BETT show, it offers a more intimate and specialist atmosphere, free refreshments and somewhere to sit and chat with colleagues. It also has a whole range of seminar sessions where you can find out more about using technology to support learners with special needs.

Special Needs Fringe seminars are also free to attend and there is no need to book. There are keynote sessions with Becta ICT in Practice (Inclusion) award winners as well as technology showcases and informative exhibitor seminars.

Click here for the full programme.

Dates: 10th - 12th January 2007
Venue: Olympia Hilton, Kensington London

Opening times: 9.30am - 5.00pm

Click on logo below for full details of the exhibition:

(The event is sponsored by Inclusive Technology. Their website is worth a look at, they have some great Educational computer games, swtiches etc - click on logo below).