Lovely mumsnet SN mums - I need your help!

[heartinthecountry]

I have just set up a charity called podnet to help support families of children with disabilities and special needs. Our main aim initially is to create a website that will become a kind of 'one-stop shop' where families can find anything they need to know in order to help their child and their family. So there will be a massively comprehensive listings directory of services and resources giving lots of detail about what they do and who to contact etc, loads of background info explaining, for example, what SALT is, how to go about getting it, things you can do at home etc etc. Basically just all the info that you should be told but no-one ever does.

The idea is for it to be a real community of parents helping each other (rather like mumsnet!) so not only will there be the core information but parents will be able to add their own bits of advice etc. So say someone looks up 'fish oils' they won't just get the basic info they will also be able to see other people's experiences and advice. The same with DLA, statementing, all the stuff we talk about on here.

There will also be a talk forum, and I am infact hoping that I can work with mumsnet so that podnet links here to the SN board as i think it is such a fantastic support forum and it would be silly to start another one unnecessarily.

So, why do I need your help? Well I am trying to get funding for the site at the moment and as part of that I wanted to do a survey to show that there really is a need for this kind of service.

It would be fantastic if any of you could spare 10 minutes and go to podnet where you can click through to a questionnaire.

Also please please pass this link on to anyone you know who has a child with SN. I reckon I need to get at least 100 responses. There is also a printable version of the questionnaire for anyone who doesn't have internet access.

I know you ladies are busy. But I really really would appreciate your help with this. The questionniare should not only help make the website a reality but it will give me really good feedback on what it is that would help you all most.

Merlot - you are lovely !

HITC, sorry, I haven't done much about this YET. Didn't attend last week's DSA meet, had so much to do and because I had Portage in the afternoon, was too busy. Got back from collecting Amelia from nursery to find a message on answer phone. She cancelled on me (again) giving me under an hours notice!
I will hopefully going to the next meet, next week. But for now I have emailed details to the ten or so people that I have email addys for!
Hope it's going well.

Bump....HITC.

Sorry I've only had a couple of responses so far, but both positive and both have completed the questionaire. Perhaps I could get some copies of the forms and circulate them for you. I might be able to leave some at dd's SN nursery and I am also up at the CDC over the next few weeks.

Thanks so much Dingle - yep, I've had a couple of responses which I think must be from friends of yours.

I am printing a load of the questionnaires over the weekend to distribute around here so if you don't mind I could send you a bundle to leave at your dd's nursery etc. I'll CAT you if that's okay.

thank you