To want to know the Something Special disabilities?

[EmmaCate]

I am interested from a science POV about what makes some children on the show the way they are, but it feels a bit voyeuristic sometimes. Especially because it's often the very disabled children that make me wonder what condition they have and why it manifests that way.

I also wonder whether the shows could help people who have just found out their DC has one of the conditions featured. Without knowing what disabilities are featured in each episode though, it wouldn't be much of a reference point.

Would be interested in views of parents with children that have a disability. I heard on Radio 5 a Mum say she liked people asking about her kids because then they understood them better, but this is always a sensitive area to have any opinion on and I don't know therefore if IABU.

I am sure you can ask for a referal to genetic counselling as well and they will do further tests

I have thought about it agincourt
In fact I think about it quite often.

He has just been referred back to CFCS (like CAMHS) for his food complusions so that might be a route.
He doesnt see anyone else regularly and is doing really well at his special school so they are not concerned.

Thing is - he is very striking looking his birth mum/aunt/uncles have the same striking features. They all have varying degrees of learning difficulties/disabilities. They ALL have quite severe behavioural problems too.

I have a real gut feeling that there is a genetic thing going on.

But I also realise that we might never know why even if they do lots of tests.

He has had an MRI and that was ok.

If they did do the relevant tests MrsDeVere, would it be likely to affect any treatment or support he could be given? If it could, it is probably worth pushing for the tests. But if the tests would be traumatic for all of you without making any difference on getting the results, it might be better to leave it.

Genetic investigations aren't always appropriate or possible sadly.

I bloody love the inclusive aspect of "Something Special" and I think it really helped that my older DD was having to watch it because her brother did. When he received his autism diagnosis her attitudes towards diversity were already very positive.

He adored it and it was the catalyst for him starting to talk as he is very visual. Once he could link what he could see with communication, he got the "point" of signing and moved swiftly onto speech.

I agree that a brief child-friendly explanation of various conditions on the website might be useful.

Yanbu to wonder. It is human nature to want to know what caused someones disabilities or illnesses.. nosy it is, but we are all the same. If someone is disabled or injured or scared or upset or angry I always wonder whats happened to cause it but it would be none of my business, just as the children on Something Specials' disabilities are none of yours.

My DD has a chromosome microdeletion and to be honest the DX has not made ANY difference and I can't actually even remember the actual number of the chromosome now...

sort of explains her issues..maybe...but it is not some holy grail.

It can help with understanding and supporting the child.
Working otu what is hardwired, what is not.
Getting a DX of ASD was very helpful. It didnt change him but when he said and did certain things I was better able to understand them. I didnt look at him with my mouth open thinking 'WTF did you do that for?'

We still support him to learn and try and teach him the 'rules' but knowing what is going on can help lessen the stress.

I dont think its a holy grail.

That's understandable MrsDeVere

When my ds got his ASD diagnosis it seemed to help, even though we were already certain of what it was and the same support was already in place.

i know you don't..I suppose I sort of expected it to be though, and it wasn't

her ASD DX was much more helpful

*manic..well what should they be doing on the show? "SN" type things?

No. What would 'SN' things even be anyway??

I just didn't get the purpose of sitting children down to watch other child go to the park or make a cake or whatever - how boring!

But somebody else explained that other shows (teletubbies etc) do this too. I haven't seen any of those shows either.

All sounds equally pointless to me but, if it's regularly down on lots of shows, I guess I can see the purpose of a special show that includes disabled children more than I could before.

To someone who hasn't seen it the initial description of the show just sounded a bit 'ooh look at the dear little children who can make christmas cards just like you' ish.

Still sounds dull to me but then I'd find it dull whichever children were doing it. I'd expect kids to find it dull too tbh.

Sorry Fanjo didnt mean to sound snippy. I was posting and holding down small dog at the same time. He is determined to show the Gas man who owns the house

I suppose I sometimes want to know because there are so many things going on with DS but nothing specific.

His early neglect and truama, family history of LDs +, exposure to drugs etc.

Its tempting to want to pick out what is what. Attachment, ASD, LDs, behaviour, personality etc etc.

But then sometimes I just think 'is there a point?'

Most kids love something special manic. They love the kids going to the farm and feeding the lambs, seeing the ducks on the river etc. It may seem dull to you but it isn't to kids. Those bit are only on for short bursts through the programme anyway.

its Ok MrsDV, I am the queen of snippy today, DD is a poorly petal, I was just worried I'd offended you :)

No you didnt and sorry DD is poorly

I will admit to finding it a bit when Drs gave me the 'just treat him like a child first spiel when I try and find out what was going on with DS.

Bloody cheek.

I am very wary of being perceived as a neurotic mother who is looking for problems. Possibly due to years of 'theres nothing wrong with him!' from family etc.

My sister really upset me when I was getting anxious about DS's MRI. 'so why do it then?' as if I was just doing it out of curiousity and for a day out.

Anything medical freaks me, particularly tests and hospitals. DD's illness has left me with PTSD. The idea that I would put one of my DCs through uneccessary procedures for attention is crazy.

Hope DD is better soon

SN issues aside there are very many children who have a television who don't do normal boring things such as go to the park, make cakes or cards, visit farms, paddle in the sea, go swimming, feed the ducks and so on.

My sister's DC for example.

manic most children like watching other children do the things they do or would like to do , I dont think its dull childrens tv hasnt really changed an awful lot since mine were watching cbeebies or citv its like reality tv for children , and they like watching it , I would rather a toddler watched somebody going down the farm etc that cartoons ,

yes, it is natural to look for answers MrsDV and I'd hope noone would judge you as neurotic for wanting them..I just found the genetic one unexpectedly unsatisfying i suppose. Probably because there is noone else on record with the same thing so we can't get any answers.

Thanks for good wishes for DD :)

Children like watching other children better than most anything else IME

yes, my DD doesn't show much interest in anything on TV (or IRL to be honest) but when she sees other children she flaps her hands and looks excited

You make a depressing point, mrsjay. My sister is bored by CBeebies so when children's television is on, her DC watch the Cartoon Network mostly

Something special is a brilliant programme. DC4 was salivating today watching the little girl choose caked for grandma and grandad And you can't beat a bit of Mr Tumble!

Manic you really need to see the show before passing comment on it.