Can anyone think of a journalist who is a parent of a child with special needs?

[willow2]

Hi guys, hope you can help. Am posting on behalf of a friend who has a four year old with special needs. To cut a long story short, he has been offered a place at a speciailist school that would be perfect for him. However, school is on verge of being shut should various criteria not be met and there is a huge question mark over the validity of this decision. Don't have all the details, but the fight to keep it going has MP support - MP has apparently labelled it a sham. She is desperate to get in contact with an (ideally investigative) journalist who would help draw attention to what is going on. There is paperwork to support everything. Story is potentially quite high profile as school is linked to an NHS trust. Any suggestions? Cheers for your help xx

[fullmoonfiend]

er, India Knight @ the times?

[unicorn]

India Knight?
Charlotte Moore (?)

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

India Knight- Sunday Times, but she's not really investigative, but might know someone

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

Oh yes Charlotte Moore, although again more of a columnist- is her ex-h a journo?

[willow2]

Should add that thought it would help if journo was parent in similar situation as might have better understanding of the situation.

[JanH]

Does Rosa Monckton have journalistic connections?

[foxinsocks]

quentin letts

have you tried the local press? they are normally v good with stories like this (also good for getting names to help you)

[unicorn]

author Nick Hornby?

[JanH]

Yes! She is Mrs Dominic Lawson - thought so - how about them? (They have a daughter with Down's)

[willow2]

Local press have touched on topic but this needs big guns. Anyone on the Standard?

[PrincessPeaHead]

David Cameron is a vocal supporter of special schools (and his eldest attends one) - but she probably knows that.

[foxinsocks]

call the standard (prob their education correspondent - maybe still Dominic Hayes, just buy a copy and have a look). MPs also love a bit of publicity so the MP who is supporting it may have a press officer (or certainly the party will) who can help you

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

Charlotte Moores 2 autisitc sons attend special school.....

[heartinthecountry]

Dea Birkett has a daughter with Down's Syndrome I am pretty sure. She is freelance but writes for nationals.

[motherinferior]

Yep, Dea Birkett would be a good option. You could get her details off the parenting editors at the Guardian.

[heartinthecountry]

It is still Dominic Hayes at the Standard.

[motherinferior]

Sorry about double post: I think DB also quite a fan of specialist schools.

[plug]

India Knight has started a campaign (wrong word but can't think of the right one) for parents of children with special needs - she's going to be writing regular articles in the Sunday Times about it in addition to her usual column. There's a specific email address to use - I'll see if I can find it...

[plug]

\link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2189544.html\here's the article}

Email address is [email protected]

[lbgslug]

muriel gray/ grey?

[willow2]

Thank you, she's passed all your suggestions on to the campaign coordinator.