Sally's World

Follow me, I know a short cut!

When our eldest son Aaron was diagnosed with a muscle wasting condition, we took him to swim with wild dolphins in the Bahamas, words can’t describe the benefits it had on all of us, and we went back year after year as it kept him strong, Deion showed marked improvement, and it was just about the most peaceful place on earth, so we love it there.

I took Dave to Paris for the weekend as a surprise for his 40th birthday last year, it was the first time either of us had been and we loved it. Also the first time we have both been away from the children for two nights...it was so relaxing, and such a beautiful city, The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, The Arch de Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral, all amazing.

Here is a rather embarrassing picture of a group of us doing a fancy dress pub crawl to raise money (all in the name of charity I promise). We raised several hundred pounds after visiting about ten pubs in the Lewisham and Bromley area (and I'm sure the success we had was nothing to do with the short skirts we were all wearing at the time!!) The proceeds went to help a little girl called Danielle go off to swim with the dolphins in Australia. That's Danielle's Mum on the Left, and her Nan second from the right.

Here is a picture of me throwing myself out of a crane that happened to be 300 foot up in the air. Not one for the light hearted among us. Although this was only the first bungee jump I did, along with eleven other mad people, including two of my brothers (you can imagine how pleased my Mum was, she was far more nervous than we were!). I went on to do an even higher one the following year to help another child and her family go on a dolphin swimming and their dream holiday.

If you know of any bungee jumps (properly organised and registered ones only please) that are over four hundred feet high I would love to know about it. It's a dare I have been given, and I never ever back down on a challenge.
In fact I know a whole bunch of mad people who are up for just about anything daring, death defying and really really stupid! So let us know if you have any great (mad) ideas of things for us to try and we will do our best

And here is a photo of probably the most daring thing I have done to date......shaving my head! I think you'll agree that it is not really a good look for me!! But seven of us did this in the end and we raised a lot of money, so it was worth it (just!)!! although if I ever do it again it wont be in the middle of winter, it was December here and snowing, honestly, what on earth were we thinking??

Supports Children and Adults with Communication Difficulties.

WE AIM TO HELP THEM LITERALLY

'Find A Voice'

We provide on-line information to everyone in the UK and personal support to individuals, their carers and professionals who live in Kent and Medway.

More than a million people in the UK today have some kind of speech difficulty; and about half a million of those have significant problems in speaking and communicating.

Communication needs can be caused by many disabilities including:

Cerebral Palsy
Down's Syndrome
Global Dyspraxia
Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

http://www.findavoice.org.uk/

Aaron, born 5th December 1991, I became a mum to the most determined, forceful child to ever grace the planet. Aaron was the most loving child from the word go, he had an energy and zest for life I have never seen equalled, probably never will. Sadly after a long fight with a muscle wasting condition, Aaron passed away on 5th march 2006. He will be in our hearts and minds forever, and missed every single day, he is our angel, our brightest star and I wouldn’t change a moment.

Jordan, born on 22nd July 1993, always an incredibly bright child, had to know the truth from a young age and always trying to get to the bottom of things. There was no fobbing him off with stalks bringing babies…too illogical. He always loved building things and even better…dismantling things; he is going to be an architect, and I could probably have told you that when he was 2!!! He is a black belt in karate, is fun loving, sociable, loves music and video games (what 15 year old doesn’t) and loves to argue with his sister…

Robyn, born on 20th Sept 1994, I had three babies under three now and suddenly realised I must be insane. Good thing, Robyn was a sweet, good natured and almost angelic baby. She is determined (stubborn like her mum) and trying to give her dad a heart attack by wearing lipstick or mentioning boys names occasionally. She is tall and gorgeous and terrifying her father! I don’t worry, she has a black belt and a mean streak, no one will mess with her! She has dyslexia and has shown her strength and determination to overcome it and excel, she is helpful and loving unless fighting with her brother…

Deion, my teenie weenie, born on 17th Jan 1998, Deion was a preemie and has cerebral palsy as a result, but don’t be fooled into feeling sympathy, he’s a force to be reckoned with as he zooms around in his electric chair. He is cheeky in the extreme with a sense of humour way too well developed for his age. And the doctors could not have been more wrong when they told us he would never talk…we can’t shut him up…ever!...I often threaten to go and get my money back. He plays wheelchair basketball, loves football, video games and food.

Issue 39

The current issue of SEN Magazine includes articles from our Dyscalculia, Visual Impairment and Behaviour Specialists. There is a ten-page debate section focusing this issue on home education v. school education, and we have features on ADHD, sensory integration and Teens Plus, a pilot project running in Scotland. We also have a new point of view section written by a teacher and a parent. Plus! previews of Special Needs North and Naidex, and much, much more! Subscribe today and be SEN-aware.