London Sen Mum

22/09/2025

Response to Trump’s announcement on paracetamol and its link with Autism: The Autism Prevalence data & DSM Timeline clearly shows a massive jump alongside the changes in healthcare

1955: 💊 Paracetamol widely available → no change in autism rates for 35 years
1960’s- Paracetamol because the preferred analgesic recommended in pregnancy

1994 – DSM-IV: 📘 Major shift in diagnosis
• Broader autism definition → includes Asperger’s syndrome and PDD-NOS
• More people qualify for an autism diagnosis
• Scientific research begins linking genetics & neurodevelopment to ASD

Mid-1990s: 📈 Prevalence rises
• Awareness grows among parents, teachers, doctors
• Advocacy groups like CAN & ARI promote research and visibility
• UK adopts ICD-10, charities expand, and schools recognize autism → more diagnoses

2013 – DSM-5: 📙 Unified diagnosis → Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

💡 Summary: The rise in autism rates reflects broader DSM definitions, increased awareness, advocacy, and better record-keeping, not a sudden biological change.

13/09/2025

These new seatbelt covers are being offered by Devon and Cornwall Police.

They are being offered free, to those with additional needs, to help make communication easier after incidents including road traffic collisions.

The seatbelt covers are a new initiative and give help to people with a speech, language or communication need which may create a barrier.

The seatbelt cover can be personalised and wrapped around an adult seatbelt using Velcro. A card inside the seatbelt cover allows the user to add their name, age, address, medical conditions or other information about how they like to be communicated with.

In the event of an emergency a first responder (someone from the blue light services) or a member of the public can look inside the seatbelt cover to get more information and understand how they can respond appropriately to a person’s individual needs to help make them feel safe again.

There is also an option for the seat belt wearer to use the information card to point to a picture showing which part of the body they have injured.

13/09/2025

We went on a break on the same week the kids went back to school at as my son is autistic and doesn’t do well with crowds and loud noises. Here’s what we found:

🌟 restaurants, arcades, entertainment, the beach and even the accommodation was much less busy and made a huge difference with my son actually wanting to join in the dancing right near the front and watch the singing and children’s shows, compared to went we visited peak time and he wouldn’t even tolerate being in the room

🌟 Queues were much shorter for activities like the meet and greets and face painting

🌟 The accommodation was lovely and peaceful and made sleeping so much easier

🗒️ The only non accessible thing we found for sen children were the indoor fairground rides- because adults were not allowed to go with kids on the rides and we needed to in case he decided to try and climb out, this is also true of some toddlers and it would be wonderful if Butlins changed this rule

✅ we found all areas of the holiday to be accessible apart from taking wheelchairs on the beach, the entertainment areas had lifts too but could’ve done with some more

✅ There was a chain on the accommodation door -side note you can buy portable door alarms for taking on holiday with you from Amazon

✅ There were accessible toilets on site
✅ if you can afford to pay for food included there is a large buffet which includes safe foods like nuggets, pizzas, chips, pasta as well as other options including vegan such as stuffed peppers and Cajun vegan chicken and roast dinners, my son got addicted to their jelly pots 😜
🗒️ There were some attractions that were closed such as the climbing wall
📝 The indoor soft play and puppet show were too busy on rainy days so could improve using time slots possibly
📝 The visitors entrance for guests on foot locks at 8pm which is pretty early
Overall we would highly recommend going away to this resort off peak because not only is it cheaper, sen schools should usually allow children to attend under authorised absence and the lack of crowds makes it a lot more enjoyable for everyone 🏖️☀️🌊

19/08/2025

Our SEN Show tickets are now live 🥳 Newquay, Reading & Kent ✨️

I'm super happy to announce that tickets for our Special Educational Needs performances are now on sale. These specially adapted shows have been designed to create a more relaxed & comfortable environment for all.

Here’s what to expect dreamers...

No blackouts or strobe lights – the lights will remain on throughout the show.

Open and airy space – side wallings will be lifted (weather permitting) and the front doors will stay open for a light, breezy atmosphere.

No audience participation – so you can enjoy the show without any surprises.

Sensory sensitive adjustments – no loud bangs, pops, or unexpected sprays of water. The music will be played at a lower volume for a more relaxed environment.

Modified show lineup – the laser and crossbow acts will be removed due to flashing lights and blackout requirements.

I do hope these adjustments will help everyone enjoy the magic of the circus in a calmer, more accessible way.

Tickets live now @ www.paulos.co.uk

Looking forward to welcoming ya'll under our bigtop ✨️🎪🌟

16/08/2025

11/08/2025

I live this every day with my daughter Alex. She's not a baby. She's a young woman with dreams, dignity, and the same right to be out in the world as anyone else.

But try finding a public place where I can safely and respectfully change her when she needs it. Very few spaces have adult-size, height-adjustable changing tables. And without them? I'm left to lay my daughter on the floor of a public restroom—or the back of our van—just to meet a basic human need.

It’s heartbreaking. It’s exhausting. And it's wrong.

I’m getting older. Lifting her from the floor isn't just undignified for her—it's becoming dangerous for both of us. But what’s worse is what it says about how our society values disabled lives: that access and dignity stop at the restroom door.

This isn’t just an inconvenience. It isolates families. It forces us to choose between staying home or compromising our child’s comfort and health. That kind of exclusion wears you down. It takes a toll on your spirit, your mental health, your sense of belonging.

Families like mine don’t want pity—we want equal access. We want dignity for our loved ones. That starts with something as basic as an adult-size changing table.

These tables exist. They’re already installed in places that care enough to say: you matter, and you’re welcome here. But we need more. We need policy. We need compassion. We need to raise our voices until access is no longer a luxury, but a standard.

Because no one should ever have to lie on a restroom floor just to be part of the world.

Let’s change the spaces—and change the story.

04/08/2025

This is cool for visual learners

26/07/2025

21/07/2025