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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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IndigoBell support thread

254 replies

betterwhenthesunshines · 18/09/2012 15:02

I see from another member that Indigo Bell has been banned from MN. I would just like to say that it was her advice that led me to look into help for my DD. Without that I truly believe she would not have made the advances she has.

Indigo's views mat not have been proven scientifically, but she certainly helped open many people's eyes to alternative ways of helping their children. People could choose to listen or ignore as they wished. She always took time to help people who were stuck and frustrated. I miss her and MN is a poorer place without her.

AT the top of this page Our SN area is not a substitute for expert advice. While many Mumsnetters have a specialist knowledge of special needs, if they post here they are posting as members, not experts.
So I propose that MN reconsiders. Please.

OP posts:
Catsdontcare · 18/09/2012 16:09

What I don't understand is that IndigoBell has regularly referred to a cure for dyslexia within threads on the SN board but has not been banned for those comments. Is it MNHQ's position that it's fine to discuss it within the bubble of the sn boards but we are not allowed to voie opinions on the the rest of the forum. I was under the impression that the SN section was an opt in section for the benefit of SN parents not as a means to keep our experiences out of the mainstream.

Catsdontcare · 18/09/2012 16:09

x post

Ineedalife · 18/09/2012 16:09

Good idea. cats I clicked on contact us but it said it was offline.

Then again we dont want this thread deleted do weHmm

Badvoc · 18/09/2012 16:11

I'm with you star!
(gets coat)
See you next week everyone x

Badvoc · 18/09/2012 16:14

I have seen the e mail you sent her MNHQ
You asked her to stop saying she had cured her Dds dyslexia.
Why should, she?
She has.
She, rightly, was offended by this and told you she wouldnt stop so you would have to ban her.
Which you did.
and yet......if she had said that someone with dyslexia was retarded you would have defended it on the grounds that you want non sn areas of MN to " be educated"
You suck.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 18/09/2012 16:23

Hi badvoc,

That's really not what we said.

This is the mail IndigoBell was sent (in response to which she asked us to ban her):

'Hi IndigoBell,

We have mailed you previously about your website and we notice that you are still giving advice to MNetters about dyslexia. We can see that you have adopted the position of 'expert' on this - and this is something that rather runs counter to the MN philosophy.

MN is a peer-to-peer discussion board and, because no one's qualifications are checked, we don't accord anyone expert status. Of course, people with expert knowledge are free to post with their views and opinions but should never expect others to give their posts more weight than anybody else's.

We're also a little concerned by some of your statements about dyslexia - the ones that imply that it's curable if only parents make the effort to find and pay for the right treatments.

While of course it's fine for you to express that opinion, the tone in which you're expressing it does rather infer that parents who don't - or aren't able to - do this are responsible for their child's continuing dyslexia. Which, we hope you'd agree, is neither supportive nor helpful.

Could we please ask that you refrain from such pronouncements in the future.'

-

'if she had said that someone with dyslexia was retarded you would have defended it on the grounds that you want non sn areas of MN to " be educated"'

That may have been so in the past but, as we've repeatedly posted over past months, that is no longer our policy and we do delete disablist posts when they're reported to us.

GoldPedanticPanda · 18/09/2012 16:27

That's really sweet ineedalife, HONK HONK indigo.

If Indigo believes that she cured her DD's dyslexia then she should be able to say that, she's expressing her point of view based on her experience.

I agree that if she used the R word it wouldn't be that much of a problem, but she expressed her own ideas in order to help others and is told to keep quiet.

Indigo obviously should have kept to the quiet corner of mumsnet with the other parents of children with SN's, hidden away with her head down so as not to upset mainstream mumsnet! Hmm

Badvoc · 18/09/2012 16:31

Ok, really am of in a minute...
But
Firstly. A lot of what indigo recommends means buying a £4 book from amazon and some supplements.
It's not about spending £££££.
I know for a fact she has personally written eye tracking software and offered it to MNers FOR FREE (me included) instead of paying us £150 ish.
Secondly, the very fact that MN used to tolerate disablist views and your answer "but it's ok we dont now" Is glib and offensive to me.
ok?

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 18/09/2012 16:31

@GoldPedanticPanda

If Indigo believes that she cured her DD's dyslexia then she should be able to say that, she's expressing her point of view based on her experience.

Indigo was absolutely free to express her opinion that she cured her dd's dyslexia. We had no problem with that.

Badvoc · 18/09/2012 16:33

I wonder if MN has any idea how many people indigo has helped, not just posters, but lurkers who we never get to hear their stories...?
Very sad.

coff33pot · 18/09/2012 16:37

you can't be serious .......

MNSN is about peer support yea and it's great for that but in order to help and support you need honest open views so the person asking can choose their own path?

If ppl were not happy all they have to do was block her threads?

I don't agree with the curing dyslexia side of things but I do believe in that it can bee supported and improved. Of she wants to say it has been cured then who am I or anyone else to judge that opinion?

There are a few things that I don't agree with but just because it won't work for me doesn't mean it doesn't help someone else.

Furthermore I haven't seen any threads saying "for a FEE I can cure blah blah blah" now that would be very different.

It's daft bring her back please ......

coff33pot · 18/09/2012 16:40

Incidentally indigo has never told me I am doing it wrong and was one person who did give me support when I needed it so I guess I am honking and hissing too.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 18/09/2012 16:42

@Badvoc

he very fact that MN used to tolerate disablist views and your answer "but it's ok we dont now" Is glib and offensive to me. ok?

Were sorry that you think we're being glib and offensive. That's not at all our intention. We were trying to acknowledge that we did once take the view that 'education' was the way to go with ignorant opinions but, many months ago, we realised this was not an appropriate response to posts that used disablist terms - even in ignorance - so we changed our policy. We could understand that you may have been offended by our previous policy, Badvoc, but we're truly sad to hear that our acknowledgement and policy change offends you too.

moosemama · 18/09/2012 16:42

Another one here that Indigo has helped over and over again in lots of different ways and who will genuinely miss her if she doesn't come back. Sad

As for implying you have to spend £££s to 'cure' your dcs, Indigo gave me lots of advice specifically to help me avoid having to spend £££s.

I haven't always been in a position to follow her advice, for various reasons, but she has never implied that I am letting my children down by not doing so, instead she has suggested things I can do in the meantime and offered to help me as and when I am able/ready.

I really hope this can be sorted out and Indigo can be reinstated asap.

bialystockandbloom · 18/09/2012 16:44

What's happened! Can't believe she's been banned Shock

I'd she had made disablist comments or made personal attacks she would still be here. She simply stated that in her opinion dyslexia is curable (as evinced by her experiences with her dd)

People are always coming up for potential 'cures' for autism, that have some truth basis, or at least can cure some of the symtoms. It is interesting and helpful to hear about them.

So true.

My vote of support for her too.

Badvoc · 18/09/2012 16:46

Me too moose, she has saved me ££££££ and possibly my sanity.
Anyway.
Am off. See ya x

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 18/09/2012 16:46

@coff33pot

It's daft bring her back please ......

Just to be clear - IndigoBell asked us to ban her. If she wants to get in touch with us to discuss coming back, we'd absolutely welcome that. But at the moment all we've done is act on her wishes.

cansu · 18/09/2012 16:48

Whilst I have at times disagreed with some of Indigobells opinions I really don't see why she shouldn't express them. We are free to disregard advice on here that we think is flawed. I would never complain because the advice or opinion isn't to my taste. Clearly indigo is upset and annoyed by MN e mail and I can see why she might be. I haven't ever seen her claim to be an expert. whilst we might think we are experts on our own children, most people Indigo included I am sure recognise we are not SN experts in any way.

zzzzz · 18/09/2012 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 18/09/2012 16:51

If anyone, (Badvoc?) is still in contact with Indigo, please pass her the SN board's best wishes and honks and tell her she'll be missed. Sad I can't believe how upset this has made me.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 18/09/2012 16:52

@zzzzz

People felt she was effectively blaming them for failing to cure their children AND YOU BANNED HER.

We banned her because she asked us to.

Sorry to keep reiterating this, but it is an important point.

Catsdontcare · 18/09/2012 16:55

Thread in Primary Education called "Other than phonics"

Post by IndigoBell: Tues 11-Sept-12 @ 17:18:10

"I'm not a specialist - I'm just a mum who has been fighting dyslexia for the last 6 years - and made huge progress"

Ineedalife · 18/09/2012 16:56

This is in danger of obliterating our SN board, we rely on each other on here many of us have little support in RL.

I think Indigo probably said you should ban her because she was backed into a corner. We all value each others opinion on here unlike some of the other boards. We dont always act on opinions of others and we dont have to come on here.

We come here because it is our support network.

Honk honk indigo

coff33pot · 18/09/2012 16:56

but Rowan of mnhq has asked her to stop saying she has cured her dd? or in a nutshell she can't say that for fear of upsetting someone else? Or say what has helped her ds or give advice because she would then as far as MN is concerned that is classes as being experienced?

I could well be barking up the wrong tree but of a parent truly believes in something it is unfair on MN to ask her to comply with such wishes. That is bound to result in the request to ban them because she is only supporting her own beliefs.

Noote different than asking a Christian to remove their cross in the workplace or risk getting fired....

Sorry but it is still daft

nothinginthefridge · 18/09/2012 16:57

MN I am extremely disappointed in your stance. Disgusted actually.

zzzzz very well said.

I will report every single 'don't believe' post in other forums regarding SN children and will be assured from your posts that their 'expertise' is also punished.