Guest blog post Listening to Harry Thompson on his Facebook live today asking for contributions to the essence of PDA has inspired me to offer my personal musings on what PDA is. It’s definitely not pathological demand avoidance. No demands are avoided when the world is on its axis but the problem is that the world has a tendency to keep tipping off! If anything, PDA would be better explained ..read more

I wrote this blog a couple of years ago https://www.smarttalkersblog.com/2019/02/doesnt-listen-is-rude-homophobic-racist.html In many ways this could be Charlie about whom I’m talking. It wasn’t, I hadn’t met him, but I meet hundreds of Charlies a year, and I have done since 1986. Charlie is autistic and a part of him being autistic is that our neurotypical world does not suit him. He appears ..read more

I absolutely love my job, the autistic children I get the privilege to meet and get to know are incredible. I’ve said it before but it needs saying regularly; they are brave, resilient, and beautifully natured. This makes it all the more frustrating, overwhelming and upsetting when it comes to doing the hardest part of my job….. Fighting for their rights, fighting for what they need and more ..read more

Hello, I am Tara and I will be working with Small Talk speech and language therapy as a speech and language therapist based in Rugeley. I am excited to share my journey as a speech and language therapist with Small Talk as their commitment to “helping children achieve their true potential” is very important to me. I will mostly be working across Staffordshire and the surrounding areas ..read more

Some years back I attended some training on using Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP)  in supporting children who have experienced developmental trauma, during which I was introduced to the concept of PACE. The PACE approach focuses on P- playfulness, A- acceptance, C- curiosity and E- empathy. (I would recommend the Dan Hughes link below for more information regarding PACE). Two ..read more

I’ve just seen a lovely post about a bride surprised on her wedding day by 2 students with down's syndrome bringing the rings down the aisle https://www.facebook.com/theapparentlypage/videos/vb.102972927835054/2328978547411853/?type=2&theater It brought back memories of a wedding I went to with my then husband, M.  I was working as speech and language therapist in a ..read more

For my darling girl, when I find the time and the courage to write again:  Dear SENCO, I did notice, I did tell you, repeatedly. I shared all the information. I had about my child with you. But your hands were tied, funding, policies etc. You "didn't see anything" in school. Although my girl couldn't cope with school dining room, sat on a wobble cushion in class, wore her ear ..read more

Guest blog by Jodie Smitten As a Post Grad student I have recently submitted a 5000 word assignment on this subject, so I will be attempting to avoid going in quite so deep and stick to the main points…not an easy task when I feel so passionately about this topic! I know there will be many parents that will read this and learn nothing new. For many children and their families this is ..read more

A special guest post: I wrote this earlier this year as part of our parental views for the EHCP applications and wanted to share it with you in the hope it helps you feel understood...none of us are alone in this even though it can sometimes feel that way ❤️ Parenting children who have special needs requires an almost super human love, where our expectations as parents are set aside ..read more

A guest blog post by Joe James 'Autism – a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people and how they experience the world around them' (The National autistic society) Where do I begin? Well for a start I completely and utterly disagree with this statement. In fact I disagree with it so strongly that I wrote a letter of ..read more