Special Needs Round-up: New beginnings

Welcome to my first round-up of 2013. Remember to leave a comment or join in the linky at the bottom if you’d like one of your posts included in next month’s round-up.

For all of us, whatever our faith, background or ideals, a new year is a time to think about new beginnings. It is a time to draw a line on the things that did not go to plan and put box up negative feelings and experiences. It is a chance to pull the best threads of the past year together. This month, I have chosen a set of blogs that do just this. Some of the bloggers are grateful to have had wonderful years and are keen to see that continue in 2013. Others have taken on new roles or challenges to inspire others and develop themselves and their families in the coming months. A few have had the most challenging years of their lives, but their ability to bravely search for the silver linings, even if they haven’t quite found them yet, has particularly struck me.

So grab a cuppa, plonk your bottom down in a comfy chair, and have a read through my favourite blog posts of January 2013 thus far.

The first group of bloggers are facing challenges, unexpected hardships they didn’t sign up for. In these situations you only have one choice: to hit the ground running, learn as you go, do the very best you possibly can and come out the other side a wiser, better person.

Challenges

I’ve featured this beautiful family before. Harry was born with Down’s syndrome and has recently had surgery for Hirschprung’s Disease. Unfortunately he has subsequently had a diagnosis of acquired brain injury as a result. His Mum Olivia of Harrysmum2212 has written a brave and cathartic post about how they are coming to terms with this and striving for the best possible therapies and care for their utterly gorgeous superman, in Harry – Our Journey.

Another incredible woman who I have come to know well over the last months is Jade Plum. Jade is 23. She and I made contact when she found out that her unborn baby had Down’s Syndrome. She wanted nothing more than to learn about everything she and her husband could do to make life amazing for her baby. She also had a vision of changing the world for our children, and agreed to share her thoughts on their journey. She too began a blog. Daisy brought her family together, taught them lessons in life they never knew existed, and all of this before her short life ended, before she was born. Jade and I are going to meet next week, but for now I want to share her latest post describing how she and her husband feel at the stillbirth and loss of their much adored daughter: The Darkest Days.

Northern Mum is dealing in her  usual well-considered way with the news that her daughter has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. She explains the emotional side behind the story, one that I had never considered as an outsider, including her 6 year old’s touching take on the condition. Read My Diabetic Daughter here.

A New View of Life

The next cluster of posts I’d like to share with you are from bloggers who are seeing life from a new angle, or forcing us as readers to do just that. Paul writes Orange Juice Flavour Sky about his experiences as a parent of Emily who has Down’s Syndrome. Emily will be 21 this year and has broken many barriers during her life. I particularly like this blog because it offers me the inspiration I so hope I give to others whose children are younger than Natty. Emily is a long way down the path that stretches ahead of us, and she is doing brilliantly! Her Dad looks forward to this exciting year in The Best is Yet To Come.

I stumbled upon a new inspirational blogger this week. In his post Louis Smith and Other Friends B’s Dad from Life with an Autistic Son explains a breakthrough moment in how he views his son’s autism. From the comments received I can see he is helping other parents greatly.

Our eldest daughter Mia, 8, has just started her own blog Over8s, focussing on jokes (toilet humour mostly), recipes, book reviews, owning a puppy and, occasionally, having a sister with a learning disability. Read her candid post My Sister Natty in which she talks about her sibling’s most lovable and most annoying traits. It’s great to see the world through a child’s eyes sometimes.

Another inspiring post, written from a young man who has Down’s Syndrome is Letter to Teenagers with Down Syndrome by Paul Sawka who is the awareness leader at the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. He writes to encourage others to grab life with both hands as he has done. Paul has a job, a full social life and a girlfriend he plans to marry.

New Skills

The final 3 blogs are about people developing new skills and taking on new roles. Firstly congratulations to a blogger I would include every month if it was fair, Tania Tirraoro who writes Special Needs Jungle your one stop site for practical information. She has just been appointed as the new SEN site expert on NetBuddy and will be on hand to answer parents’ questions on statementing and SEN reform. Congratulations Tania, there is no-one better for this role.

New skills must be celebrated in whatever form they take. Tom Bachofner from The Futures Rosie chose to celebrate his daughter’s recent development at being able to breakdance polish floors bottom shuffle with a delightful 30 second video which he includes in his post New Toys New Achievements which I must have watched at least 3 times a day this week. It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

And the exciting new skill in our house is Natty‘s ability to swim unaided. OK, so she does it all under water, but we can work on breathing later, right? Read about her experience and our Top 10 Tips for teaching a child with a learning disability to swim here in Swim Natty, Swim over at Downs Side Up.

Happy, joyous, healthy, peaceful, loving, accepting, inclusive New Year to you all.

Hayley x

About Hayley Goleniowska

A former language teacher and voice-over artist, Hayley is now the Mum of two gorgeous girls, the youngest of whom, Natty, has Down’s Syndrome. She blogs, speaks and writes articles on the subject for all who will read or listen. Through Downs Side Up she aims to both offer support and encouragement to new families with a diagnosis, and gently change perceptions of Down’s Syndrome from within hearts through beautiful words and photos. Her daughter Natty is a clothing model and an amazing ambassador for children with disabilities everywhere. She has appeared in The Sun, Mail Online, Bella Magazine and on ITV Daybreak. You can find Hayley on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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