Dear mn hq is there any chance we could have a sn teens topic

[2shoes]

at the moment I don't fit anywhere and I am sure I am not alone.

agree with givemesleep's post, think it's a v sensible suggestion

I would find it fantastic if there were a SN 4 TEENS.

My ds1 is 15- and i am about to have to re-apply for his DLA...as an adult- not child...

also...he will be doing gcse's next year...

and the 'inappropriate' stuff is getting worse....and more obvious due to his 'mature appearance'

so...2shoes...i hope we do get a TeenPlace.

OHI just knew I wasn't the only mum to a teen on the sn board

...and 2shoes...ds2 is 13 in october... and ds3 10 next week...so to be honest i will soon have 2 teens and a 'tween' (child/teen combo)...so i will be drowning in hormones

I have 2 dd is 14 and ds(nt) 17

I think a SN teens board is a good idea,as long as you don't venture far from the Sn board and leave us with little'uns,as usually those with more "experience" with a disability are the most knowledgeable about it.
I've got a lot of help from those of you who have older DC with disabilities and would hate to lose that.
I don't, however, think that splitting the SN board into smaller subsections would work, it would be too confusing as to where to post. Also, it would restrict a lot of the posts, as often what starts off as a post about (for eg) toileting, can also end up being a discussion on that same dc's sleeping pattern.

I think a thread in the sn topic will do

Hi all,
We agree that a special needs area with sub-topics is a good idea. We'll make all of it opt-in for active conversations.

We could put disabled parents in there, and include teens. What other sub-topics would be good? Perhaps not too many to start with at least - let's get it up and running first...

We could also trial a tea room, perhaps with some kind of disclaimer about posting sensitively and try to address some of Amber's concerns too?

We are working on a special needs content area too - actually MorningPaper is working on it and will no doubt be posting for advice v soon - so we'll be able to link to and from that also.

Let us know your thoughts.

Best,
MNHQ

Justine...."so we'll be able to link to and from that also."

....could that be like i sugested that when you go to related areas of the board...it shows a link suggesting 'other palces you may like'.

It's a fab idea MUM23ASD - you mean a bit like Amazons suggestions - other customers who bought this? Other mumsnetters who visit here, go here?
If so, sounds like we need to have a conversations with tech team about it though because it could be complicated - we were thinking of pretty low tech editorial links tbh.

Thanks v much for the thought.

Well the SLD thread is proving popular and I think may run and run so I would put a suggestion in for an SLD area. Especially as so many of us have problems finding RL support groups- we could have our virtual SLD area.

A financial/money section would be good too. It could cover things like DLA, Carers Allowance, Direct Payments, Motability, Family Fund etc.

Yay. I'd like a teens area, especially, but agree the board's busy enough to split up now.

I think the idea of sub-topics is fine...as long as it's easy enough for everyone to see what's available and use.
I like the idea of a sn teen area too (i'm nearly there 2shoes ...ds is 12)
Agree that it is important that people with younger children do not miss out on the valuable experience of people who have been there and have done it already.
I really like mum23asd's idea of 'other places you may like'

Coppertop's draft list is good. I would like SN Teens too as DS is 13. Believe it or not, I often hold back when I suspect that someone is talking about a (much) younger child although I may well be thinking "hmmm you wait" but I would never post that, honest! And some of the things we need to talk about, like periods, residential schools etc will freak out people with younger kids. But if we had an overall SN section with sub sections that would be great as I'd look at the other sections but maybe post more in SN Teens iyswim. So you wouldn't risk losing the gems of wisdom from the likes of me

I think subtopics is great, i think one should simply be titled support and one of those be the SLD thread perhaps? I know with ds3 he's not quite SLD but it's advice from people there I would need as much as anyone else because of how he is (varying in different areas) and whilst I would feel as if I am intruduing on the SLD area (part becuase I have mainly needed support for ds1 I do feel labeled as an HFA aprent and find it hard to be associayted with ds3) I would hate to think those people simply vanished and we never saw them again anywhere else!

I'd have it as teens, disabled parents, education, finance, support, SEN and carers but of course opinions will vary.

Witin the support section perhpas we need to make a ASD info section as we are swallowing up the Sn board which is probably right in terms of how many asd kids there are but not fair on anyone else. besides I am not going to click on 37 threads all titled asd but would happily skim and try and help on one.

Not a section, just a thread within a section. So peolpe whose kids have CP, DS etc etc etc don't feel so drowned out

I think the teens, SLD and finance would be good as areas, but wouldn't like to have too many sub-topics or lose the general area because sometimes people are having a general nightmare with everything and need general advice from any parent of any SN child about everything!

This place was a lifeline to me when J was going through dx and after too and the advice I got from everyone, parent of ASD child, young child or old child was great

yes, its true that ASD has become very dominant. I have to confess too, I don't open many threads that don't have a clear title . If I've got time on my hands then I might open an "argh" or "help" but not usually.

peachy done't feel drowned out here
sounds good.

I do worry about the "links" idea
does that mean you would gt automatic links to other topics, and if so what ones.

Def area for adults/parents with SN/Autsim..etc.

Sometimes it'd be nice to talk to people with similar issues that are your own age instead of NT parents of SN children...etc

Parenting when you have SN's of your own can be one heck of a minefield!