Special Needs Jungle Clears the Way for Parents

By Hayley Newman (UK, blogger, mum of 2, author, speaker, inclusion ambassador at Downs Side Up, linktr. ee/downssideup )

Founded in 2008 as a way to support parents and educators as they navigate the often stressful and daunting mazes through the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) world, Special Needs Jungle (SNJ) has now become the UK’s largest and most respected SEND platform.

Former journalist, author, and Special Educational Needs (SEN) parent Tania Tirraoro (mum of two young adults with autism, ADHD and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, she herself has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, is a wheelchair user and was diagnosed as autistic at the age of forty-six) first founded Special Needs Jungle in 2008.

Together with co-director Renata Blower (mum to Dominic, who has an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition which means he is physically disabled and has complex health needs; Lilia, who has a mild version of the neuromuscular condition, as does Elliot, who also has high-functioning autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and sensory issues), they tirelessly and selflessly bring a rare mix of clout, integrity, and credibility to this one-stop shop of current information so that children and young people achieve better outcomes. Their determination has enabled them to advise at a high level in Government: They are both on the SEND Ministerial Group, SEND Ministerial Roundtable Group, and Tania is on the Ofsted SEND Stakeholders Group. Special Needs Jungle has made a difference for countless families. The site is packed with trusted, parentled information, accessible resources, personal stories, and informed opinion pieces. They cover topics that include disability, learning disability, rare diseases, mental health, and autism. They aim to inform, educate, and empower families to self-advocate confidently so that children and young people get the help they need to live the best life they can. SNJ gets an incredible and very telling traffic of 250,000 unique visits per month. Every parent’s support network is unique. But in the early days, I withdrew. As much as I wanted to know everything I could about Natty’s condition and the best possible ways to support her, I couldn’t bring myself to meet other parents or contact our local support group. Instead, I preferred to read everything I could get my hands on, from books and leaflets to websites. This way, I could anonymously process information at whatever time of day or night I needed it without fear of being judged. Immediately, I tapped into an incredible online world inhabited by passionate individuals. Tania Tirraoro and Renata Blower were among the first two special needs bloggers whose words lifted and carried me. SNJ’s help proved invaluable, for example, when I had to decide what a specialist school could offer Natty over a mainstream school. They also were a much-needed lifeline during the dreaded Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process! When I find myself out of my depth, rendered emotional and overwhelmed by the system, Special Needs Jungle is my go-to point of reference, from

“I firmly believe the the daily challenges to the bigger all-conweakest among us should suming issues. be supported and not Always topical and trusted, these vilified, victimised or powerhouses don’t shy away from polarisabandoned.” ing or taboo subjects. Their March exposé on Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII), which they published along with access to a free webinar to help parents protect themselves from false allegations, is a case in point. Tanya says: “I firmly believe the weakest among us should be supported and not vilified, victimised or abandoned.” Join the Special Needs Jungle Family The SNJ team have expanded over the years to include a highly respected team of contributors with legal, medical, and educational backgrounds, such as Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) expert Marguerite Hayes and Matt Keer, dad of two deaf children who has bitter experience of the tribunal system. They also offer training and a consultancy service and are able to advise on the complex EHCP process and legal questions.