Mumsnet Book on Toddler: Special Needs information

[morningpaper]

Hello all,

As you probably know, MNHQ has tasked me with editing a Mumsnet Guide to Toddlers.

In this book we want to have a section on Special Needs, with paragraphs on:

• What are the signs?
• Autism
• ADHD
• Coming to terms with diagnosis
• Special issues with coping with a SN toddler

Most of the books on the market seem to contain this information, and they do seem to be common questions.

I'd be grateful for your thoughts on this section because I have no knowledge of these areas and I feel rather like I've been asked to write a few paragraphs on horse-racing. And to be blunt I really don't want people to feel as though I am mis-representing their advice.

I'd be grateful for your thoughts on what sort of advice you think would be appropriate and useful.

If you've got ANY questions about ANY aspect of this, please ask, or CAT me.

MP X

what about Down Syndrome Association UK to add to organisations who can help. ALthough fewer children with ds are being born these days

Erm... I think you may need to distinguish between services/help that is free and that you are legally entitled to, and things that cost money. Not saying these are bad things, generally excellent and in some cases heavily subsidised by charity contributions. But there's a lot of diff between claiming for DLA, which is a free govt entitlement and eg setting up an ABA program which is independant, often expensive, and hard (if not impossible) to get funding for.

Hello again all,

You were all SO helpful in helping me put this chapter together - thanks!!

Now we could do with some ideas for an amusing illustration for the chapter... I wanted an angry mummy ripping up holiday brochures to Holland, but it was too obscure.

Do you have any ideas? It can't have words, just an image... Any ideas?

Ripping up a child development manual that keeps saying 'Your child will be walking at 12 months, talking at 14 months, applying for uni at 18 years etc' ? All my child development books went to landfill a long time ago,

that's good i like it

ask Boco

she is Connected

Publisher very happy with the development manual idea which is excellent - thanks so much cyberseraphim.