FestableUK

Given the #CoronavirusOutbreak we have sadly had to postpone #FestABLE2020. We're incredibly disappointed & are grateful that everyone involved has been so understanding. If you've already bought your ticket, we'll be arranging refunds asap-you'll be first to know the new date!

Teachers say they’re concerned over a lack of access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in schools. An NEU survey found 92% say their school either has not enough or no access to provision. Does your child’s school? cypnow.co.uk/news/article/t…

Let’s stop talking truancy: Political rhetoric that stigmatises absentee children as “truants” and an overly rigid target-driven education system risk aggravating the problem of children not attending school says Tim Linehan. Do you agree? blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpol…

If your teen/pre-teen is thinking about their future and the skills they might need, this is a great place to start: Skills Builder launchpad.skillsbuilder.org

Blue badge applications for hidden disabilities: is the updated scheme working? (Hint: it depends) learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/blue-badge-app…

Study links Autism to pregnant women drinking tap water with high levels of lithium. The findings “deserve intense scrutiny”, the researchers say, especially as lithium is increasingly buried underground in landfill that could seep into water sources. telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/0…

Autism Acceptance: What Employers Need To Know About Schools forbes.com/sites/drnancyd…

The Guardian has an editorial on the continuing battle many parents face to secure their child’s SEND provision: “They shouldn’t have to resort to this” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Podcast: What my son taught me about autism inews.co.uk/news/the-i-pod…

A mother of clinically extremely vulnerable twins has revealed how she was taken to court eight months after her children returned to school having previously withdrawn them at the height of Covid due to concerns for their health. inews.co.uk/news/court-kee…

York parents of autistic twins face dilemma as only one son is given a special school place. They say they feel “part of a horrible experiment”, bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

Autistic and gifted: A mother to a gifted autistic girl says she’s forced to to home-school her daughter, because the school system offers no suitable support for her needs bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

This analysis by @SpcialNdsJungle @CaptainK77 shows the overriding aim of the #SENDImprovement plan… and it’s not supporting disabled children and young people… twitter.com/SpcialNdsJungl…

🚨Calling health, social care & medical professionals🚨 We need to come together to challenge this absurd, discriminatory & damaging new ruling of criteria to be met in order to be referred for an autism assessment Could our professional bodies provide support to reverse this?

Something to shout about: The ‘deliberately inclusive’ Northumberland primary school where 1 in 3 pupils has autism or ADHD chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/ca…

NHS managers in south-west England have imposed strict new criteria that could deny autism assessments to thousands of children in a move that parents say “puts children at genuine risk”. theguardian.com/society/2023/m…

If you’re concerned that your child is missing school through mental or physical illness, you should check what the law says about reasonable adjustments and education provision: childlawadvice.org.uk childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pa…

“My daughter was locked in a room for 551 days.” WARNING: distressing themes. @C4Dispatches investigates why thousands of autistic people are being locked up in hospitals. We follow Dannielle who has been an inpatient for 13 years.

Unpaid carers say increased financial pressures mean they are unable to buy even basic essential items and feel forgotten by those in power. One young carer who supports three disabled adults said her family could not afford haircuts and underwear. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-…

‘I worry my young patients will die’: GPs, say young people with eating disorders are coming to harm and ending up in A&E because they are being denied care and forced to endure long waits for treatment. theguardian.com/society/2023/m…

It’s World Down’s Syndrome Day 2023: One mum from Hertfordshire is ‘eradicating’ stigmas and helping create national change for her daughter hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfords…