Specially Speaking

In our season finale, we hear from Sonia Padmore, Assistive Technology Support Specialist at Smartbox Assistive Technology.  Sonia's love of all things communication for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) learners is evident as we discuss the necessity of "giving all children and young people with SEND a voice."  Sonia explains her love of communication and the opportunities that augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC) can bring.  The conversation highlights the right that we all have to communicate and Sonia challenges assumptions that are often made by others, that if you cannot communicate verbally, then the child and/or young person doesn't have anything to say.  We discuss and challenge how communication in SEND schools can be too linear - choice is key and should be an expectation that is met by all those that educate children and young people with learning difficulties.  Sonia's passion is undeniable and her drive is impressive - listen and learn!

This episode challenges our understanding of the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) voice in SEND.  Does a BAME perspective even exist in SEND?  Specially Speaking discusses these issues with Marguerite Haye, independent Special Educational Needs Consultant and founder and Director of whatsthebige.com. We discuss language, stigma and deficit viewpoints that impact on how the BAME voice for children, young people and families in SEND is regarded and dealt with.  We also look at solutions as to how we can address and interrupt the current approaches to encourage improved outcomes.   

In this episode of 'Specially Speaking' we talk to independent Special Educational Needs consultant Marguerite Haye.  She discusses, honestly, passionately and frankly, her views on why diversity in leadership and governance is not moving in the direction that it should be.  Prepare to hear power to truth!  We also learn about the need for schools to embrace their diverse workforce and why bringing your authentic self is vital to the community that school leaders serve.  Marguerite talks about her love of advocating for the parent and child who may be entering the world of SEND and how she supports stakeholders on what can be a bewildering journey.  It's an animated and passionate conversation - don't miss it!

How often do we hear from the voice of a parent with children with the same SEN?  In today's episode we speak to Amanda Hassan.  She discusses her experiences with regards to the key agencies and establishments that she has dealt with over the past sixteen years and she shares what is missing from what parents need in the SEN arena.  She describes what is missing for parents to thrive - and WHY it is missing.  This is a powerful conversation and benefit anyone who wants to get a deeper knowledge of the journey of the parent through the systems and processes that can challenge anyone!  Amanda also talks about best practice that she has experienced and the difference that it has made to her day-to-day life.

We speak to Kari Anson - headteacher of Kelford School in Rotherham.  We learn how Kari entered the SEN phase and how this progressed into leadership.  We discuss the current global pandemic situation and the impact on SEN schools, parent partnerships, therapeutic input, work related learning and Kari's understanding of diversity in the curriculum.

This episode focuses on children and young people with special educational needs and how impactful puberty is on their development, and how we acknowledge these changes as educators and how parents come to terms with these changes.  As children with learning difficulties become young adults, the same issues and feelings that a neurotypical adolescent has, comes to the fore. We speak to Klaudia Matasovska,  a  former teaching assistant who is now an established and experienced qualified SEN teacher. After working in a couple of severe learning difficulty schools in London, Klaudia undertook her MA studies (Ed. Studies) at Goldsmiths, University of London, based on looking into employment opportunities for young people with SEND and an article about this dissertation was published in the AchieveAbility E-Journal: Neurodiverse Voices: Good Practice in the Workplace.   Klaudia presented a webinar for Educate and Celebrate which is a national LGBT+ charity last year to raise LGBT+ awareness amongst her students based at her current school in South London. We asked her what she was planning to do with her findings as she embarks on her PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London in this area and how she can apply her learning in a real-world setting.

"Is That Clear - effective communication in a neurodiverse world" is a fantastic resource for allistic (non-autistic) people.  This episode discusses the reasons why the book was written and the benefits that it can bring for autistic and allistic people.  We also discuss the most common examples of miscommunication between autistic and allistic people during Joe's time as a headteacher and the 10 steps non-autistic people need to think about when communicating with autistic people.  Joe is an experienced practitioner in the special educational needs sector and is the founder of @SENDsupportuk where she provides advice and consultancy on a number of key areas pertinent to SEND educational establishments and organisations.  Joe co-authored the book with Kathryn Alevizos and Zanne Gaynor and it has received positive, favourable reviews that also includes the book being a finalist for The Business Book Awards 2021.

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