I've mentioned this before, but pretty please can we have this SN topic?

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

I have mentioned this before elsewhere on MN and I have also recently discussed this with another poster who also thought it was a good idea so thought now would be a good time as any to ask.

I would like a topic for posters with SN. I know we've got the SN chat topic but sometimes I would like a topic where posters with SN can post.

I know the obvious place to post in would be SN chat but every time I venture over there I'm very conscious of the fact that 99% of the discussion taking place there is about people's children with SN and I think I would feel odd and out of place talking about myself. Speaking of which, if I did start a thread there about myself would I be made to feel out of place?

I know there's also the parents with disabilities topic but I'm not a parent and a lot of the discussion there is, as the name would suggest, about parenting.

I have been told that there is a support thread running for posters with ASD but I never actually found it. It's probably some place really obvious though and I've just missed it.

[AGnu]

Support thread

I've posted at least a couple of times in the SN chat topic, about myself, BIL & DS. They're a very friendly bunch with lots of experience both personally & through their DC.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

Thanks, AGnu.

Sometimes I have things that I want to talk about but am never really sure where to post iyswim.

[IonaMumsnet]

Hi all. Just a note to say we are reading and taking notes, so please do let us know your opinions on this subject and we'll give everyone's ideas some thought.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

I was kind of thinking along the same lines as Polter.

Knowing I won't be chased away from SN chat (thanks AGnu ) is reassuring if I want to post there. However I know that threads in SN chat disappear after 90 days but sometimes I might want to post somewhere where threads don't disappear iyswim. Only then I won't really know where to post...

[emwithme]

I really like what PolterGoose suggested.

I have disabilities. I don't (yet) have children (but it is very much planned, hopefully within the next 12 months, medication and health permitting) and I'd love to know where to post to find people who have had similar experiences...particularly as DH is Aspie I'm not particularly neurotypical either, as it goes and my "main" disabling condition (EDS) is generally genetically linked so I'm likely to end up with ND "bendy" kids.

[EauRouge]

Any chance of these changes, MNHQ? The current support thread is almost full and we'd love a new home. There's no obvious place to put the thread- parenting with disabilities doesn't seem right because most of the time we're not talking about parenting (and also as Toads said, there are some non-parents on the thread). Polter's suggestions are really good.

[CrohnicallyInflexible]

While we're at it, some of the clickies at the top of the SN recommendations pages don't go to the right place (where it says SN recommendations is not a substitute for expert advice... Go to special needs chat...)

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

I've noticed that this has also been brought up on the support thread .

Another reason why I think having a separate topic might be good is that I'm finding that support thread can fill up fast and I have a hard time keeping up with it and lose track of the conversation. If we had a separate topic we could just have different threads to talk about all the different things.

[RedandYellow24]

I'm disabled too and had looked on SN boards but was about dealing with kids with SN not about coping as an adult especially regarding organising own care/direct payments legal side of hiring carers etc. I find there lots of support online for parents of disabled kids , or if you become a carer to your parents but practically zero if as an independent adult you are the disabled one.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

Dixie I noticed that new sex topic and the first thing that came to mind was that if MNHQ can add a sex topic because posters asked for it then surely we can have this.

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

Also want to agree with this, especially after having a post that shockingly to me went a bit recently in main chat. An area to discuss my foibles with people who understand, before i even broach the topic with people who claim i'm pulling the disability card (disclaimer, those exact words were not used)

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

Can i also make the point that when the sn area is mainly parents of children with sn, it is not nice to read of how some behaviour is taking a parent to breaking point.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

OT here but Beyond I hope you didn't think I was one of them people (because I would be a bloody hypocrite if I was!) because I'm kind of realising some of my posts especially my earlier ones may have come across as harsh. I did try to explain to everyone else that having ASD means you aren't always aware of what is appropriate and what isn't.

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

So MNHQ, what do you say?

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

Nooo, its fine toads, i had (and have) no problem being told i was wrong. I just wish with hindsight that with so many people saying "well i just dont see why you dont understand xyz" that i'd run it by people a little more understanding first :) no grudges held for telling me i was wrong, really :)

[NotCitrus]

I agree with everyone!

Not often I get to say that.

[EauRouge]

Yes, it would be a safer place than chat (or AIBU ) to ask about the baffling behaviour of human beings. Instead of AIBU we could have ATBNT (are they being neurotypical)

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

love that.

I would suggest that if there was a new topic though, it include the words neurodiverse and disabled. Sort of a "disabled and neurodiverse adults" which i hope you can see is a separate (although with crossovers obviously) demographic to "parenting with disabilities".

[RedandYellow24]

I second not having to read about carers also. I know they do a hard job and need support in their own right but if you have no choice to rely on carers paid or otherwise and 95%+ of what you hear about carers is how hard work, depressing, soul destroying work it is it is really really depressing! This is how "we" make people feel! It's no picnic having to have help either but no place let off steam we must be the constant greatful/non complains

[EauRouge]

BTW, MNHQ, it is Autistic Pride Day next week (18th); our own forum would be a lovely present

[ToadsJustFellFromTheSky]

Instead of AIBU we could have ATBNT (are they being neurotypical)

Love it .

I think our own topic would be an amazing present.