There's a Panda in my Bellybutton

A communication passport is a way of supporting a vulnerable person, such as someone with Autism, with communication difficulties when they have to transition through different events, such as changing schools, or their first job. In Ryan’s case, we made a new specific communication passport for his medical file so that all the medical professionals could learn a little about Ryan before they met him and therefore be better prepared and able to interact with him. A communication passport draws together complex information (including the person's own views, as much as possible) and formalises the information into a clear, positive and accessible format. Every passport is individual and every layout must be utilised for the specific person and audience for which it is intended. When Ryan moved from Primary to secondary school, his primary school made a really detailed tri-fold, double-sided leaflet. This was invaluable to all the teachers that would get to know Ryan in their v...

I Am...Ryan I previously published a similar post called I Am... Autism which was a mini-interview with Ryan that gave an insight into his autistic mind. This post is a different interview and a little more light-hearted as our recent posts about his cancer journey have been anything but. So here goes. Grab a quick break and enjoy... WITHOUT any prompting, ask your child these questions & write down EXACTLY what they say. It is a great and funny way to find out exactly what they think. Ryan, Age: 15 1. What is something Mummy always says to you? You need to take your meds. 2. What makes Mummy happy? Me. 3. What makes Mummy sad? Not having me. 4. How does Mummy make you laugh? She doesn't. 5. What was Mummy like as a child? I don't know I wasn’t there. 6. How old is Mummy? 30 plus 10 ish. 7. How tall is Mummy? Shorter than me. 8. What is Mummy's favourite thing to do? Nag. 9. What does Mummy do when you're not here? Drink. 10. If M...