James could visit a small number of familiar safe places but couldn’t go into anywhere new that we have started to visit since epilepsy arrived. Last week, for the first time in five years, that changed.

Why neurodiverse children are often perceived to be able to ‘cope’ and be ‘fine’ at school, but can become overwhelmed by the time they get home.

The author hopes the book will encourage readers to think more about the next steps that we can all take together, to create a place of belonging and spiritual development for all.

‘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.

Let’s make sure we speak out and correct anyone who perpetuates these harmful views about autism.

Let us all metaphorically roll our sleeves up, get a bowl of warm soapy water, get down on our knees adopting an attitude of servanthood, and wash some feet together…. 

We have reduced our central heating thermostat by 1 degree and will look to reduce it further in stages. Jumpers are lovely, we should wear them more when it’s colder.

Animator Bobby Rubio is father to Alex, a young Autistic boy, and ‘Float’ is his way of sharing their story.

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

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

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

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

Jelena Sivulka, counsellor and founder of Hanina nada, talks about finding hope in Christ when dealing with disabilities. “God loves us for who we are. I share that with families of kids with special needs”, she says.

A visual timetable may also be really helpful for some children with additional needs, helping them to know what is happening now, what is coming up next, and how much longer the session is going to last. 

James’ Autism is neurodiversity, a different way of ‘being’. His brain is wired differently to mine, he thinks differently to me, sees and responds to the world differently to me.

James’ favourite song for me to sing with him is “Jesus loves me, this I know”.

For us as parents of a child with additional needs, there are certainly many times to weep, times to be sad. But there is so much more to life than the tears if we are willing.