I hope it highlighted the challenges, but also the joys, of our story, and echoed the stories of families like ours across the country.

Loud or echoey noise, bright or flickering lights, strong smells, too much clutter, all of these and more can affect children and young people with a hyper-sensitivity

Let’s work together to ensure that every child and young person is able to learn and develop in the way that works best for them.

Churches can become centres of excellence for the creative use of AI technology to support everyone, including disabled people, both in church and elsewhere.

‘Invited to Belong’ begins with an invitation to consider, how you might invite young people with additional needs to find a place of belonging within your community, your youth group, your church.

Nonverbal communication is complex and can take more decoding than verbal communication, but it can be as rich and expressive if we are willing to learn it.

A range of fidget or fiddle toys can be really effective for children’s and youth workers and families, offering them safe ways to meet the sensory needs that children have.

Many children with additional needs can struggle with unpredictability and uncertainty, so try to keep a rhythm each day that they can get used to.

Children mattered to Jesus, and He taught us a lot through the things He did with them.

Leave the youth group on a Sunday and start going to ‘adult’ church services can be hard for any child, but having additional needs can often make it more difficult.

A bit of ‘hygge’ might come in handy for us all… especially for parents of children with special or additional needs.

We are just like candles, shining a light on a part of the world that the world often chooses to ignore.

Some of these characters, and their stories, can be helpful in raising awareness and in some cases acceptance of additional needs and disability.

When we do a Lego activity where 3 people have to work together to make something, by each fulfilling their allotted role, we can discuss how the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a relationship.

“There have been many, many times, particularly soon after ‘D’ was diagnosed, when I’d love to have just been able to run away from it all” . 12 testimonies.

Perhaps looking at it in this way helps us to understand both stories better, and to appreciate more fully the experiences, challenges and struggles of families that we know today.

We all long to be liked, to have friends, to be included and to belong.

Understand me: “If you tell me to sit up straight, now I have to use all of my brain to do just that.”

These words count for everyone.

You are so much more than you seem, you are so much more than what people see.

Candles can be vulnerable, but they can also burn brightly, lighting up a room, changing darkness into light.

Sensory Processing Disorder can mean that children or adults have under-developed or over-developed senses.

Much of our time as parents of children with additional needs is spent tending to their needs, supporting them. Jesus modelled this in so many ways during his ministry, and during those times that he served people he taught them too.

Yes, he did. He made you perfectly, he made you wonderfully.

It’s not your fault that our child is Autistic.  It’s not your fault that he has Learning Difficulties and struggles to communicate effectively. None of these things are your fault, or mine; they are no-one’s fault.