C.E. Jottings

Transition to adult services - and so it goes on, unending, unchanging. No? Tell me different, then!

Searching for something else, I came across this earlier today. Written when our daughter Sarah was 18 (so about 2000), for a purpose long since forgotten, possibly publication, its subject is the transition from children' services to adults' services, from childhood to adulthood. It's a bleak picture as bleak as the Joseph Rowntree Report that it refers to "Hurtling Into A Void?" Would that someone could tell me how much better transition is for young people and their families today,... Read more →

"World going to pot? No it's a trick of the mind." CP, CE and becoming an adult

"World going to pot? No it's a trick of the mind." Such was the headline in an odd little story, just the sort of thing that catches the eye and then is quickly forgotten, in yesterday's The Times (£Murdoch paywall). The headline gives the gist of the article, which begins: The majority of people suffer from “declinism”, the belief that the world is worse than it used to be, discounting the benefits of medical progress, new technology and improved living... Read more →

The Economist on early years' education, an international trend

Over the years, I have often found myself making the case for the conductive education of very young children with cerebral palsy, in the face of doubt, disbelief or downright dismissal that education has anything to offer. Surgery? Yes. Drug treatments? Yes. Therapy? Of course. But education? I am not aware of any mainstream schools or nurseries that offer specialist education programmes, led by specifically trained teachers, for the very young with cerebral palsy. Perhaps somewhere there is but I... Read more →

Worcestershire assault on independent living challenged by Irwin Mitchell

There was I thinking the best thing for me to do, not having posted for a while, was to put up the shutters and hang a sign up "Back in the New Year". Then this: Teenager Who May Be Forced Into Residential Home To Seek Judicial Review Over Policy to Cap Care Costs A teenager and his family are launching a legal action in the High Court against Worcestershire County Council to challenge a policy which they say may force... Read more →

Taking the long view, for the moment

Just heard Sarah's going to be home late. Hasn't yet left Paces. Don't know what time she'll be in for tea. Transport company being evasive about where her taxi is and likely time to pick her up. Funny same thing happened last Friday. Next week she's joining her two friends - and soon to be housemates - for afternoon tea, to see their new bungalow. All refurbished and newly painted and kitted out by AbbeyCare. Sarah has chosen lilac for... Read more →

Walmart Foundation puts up $3m for transition

"In the US, retail giant Walmart has teamed up with The Arc of the United States - "the world’s largest" community-based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - to establish the Walmart Foundation School-to-Community Transition Project. "The Walmart Foundation awarded The Arc $3 million to start the project, which will be dedicated to improving outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially during the transition from school to adult life. "The goal of these transition... Read more →