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#happyinschool

H.I.S. BLOG

it’s OUT – S.E.N.D. in the Clowns is published

My second book is published! When you look at photos of authors beaming with their books, you don't always see the insecurities, late nights, hundreds of proof amends, hours of research and the many negotiations with illustrators, editors, designers. I'm sure you...

Short n’ Sweet

So, after more than seven years, many drafts, re-writes and soul-searching, the book is published. Feeling much emotion. It's available to buy at the link below. Cover S.E.N.D. in the Clowns by Suzy Rowland https://www.hashtagpress.co.uk/ If you'd like to go on our...

Back to School Part 2 Going back to go forwards

  In this film, on my #happyinschool YouTube channel, I talk about how we can start to discuss some of the tricky issues with our children, giving them time to make sense of them, before they go into a new setting (school) in the next few weeks. Some children are...

Are your kids ready to go back to school?

For the longest time since Spring, I stopped communicating. Like many parents, my energy levels of were pushed to their limits, soaking up the confusion and stress of the family I was trying to support. But slowly, gradually, my energy has ebbed back and now I'm in...

Getting ready to go back to school? try a little C.A.L.L.M.

I've been busy putting my ideas and experience into a number of articles during lockdown: pieces to help with home-learning, to combat boredom and more recently to help ease parents and teachers back into the school world, even though we don't really know what that...

Multilayered discrimination

Suzy Rowland, author of S.E.N.D. in the Clowns: Essential ADHD/Autism Family Guide, explains the crucial need for research into Black autism and ADHD Originally published https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/black-autism/91621/ © Image Millafedotova In...

A little piece of happy…

S.E.N.D. in the Clowns started as a collection of diary entries and a way for author and mother, Suzy Rowland, to make sense of her son’s frequent exclusions from primary school. Her aim wasn’t just to tell a personal story, it was also to help parents untangle red...

Changing Education Paradigms

https://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U Interesting questions in this video, both about ADHD and the origins of our standardised education system. Enjoy! And leave me a comment...

Managing lockdown with autistic/ADHD kids indoors

Managing lockdown during a pandemic might be one of the most difficult things you ever need to do with your autistic or ADHD child. The key consideration when engaging children with additional needs, is to ensure their comfort and well-being, during play time....

My book journey…

I started writing S.E.N.D. in the Clowns years ago; it started off as a collection of diary entries and was mainly cathartic – I would write through tears of injustice. Through increasingly detailed research, I could see there was a compelling story to tell. So here...

Zoom Zoom around the room

Really looking forward to talking to lots of autism and ADHD parents on Thursday.  I will also be doing a short book reading from S.E.N.D. in the Clowns, which is out in September. Looking for the perfect segment for you. Here's the flyer with all of the information:...

School Run: Home learning survival guide

Article published in The School Run: you can read the it here If your child has special educational needs, supporting their physical and emotional wellbeing and academic progress at home during the lockdown and school closures offers its own unique set of challenges. ...

Strengths-based Superpowers

"Focus on building your strengths rather than working so hard to overcome your perceived weaknesses."   Susan Duffy Saw this quote on my Twitter feed and it inspired me to write this post: Your strengths are your superpower. Not sure what your strengths are? Ask your...

Social stories: this time, slower

You may have seen these in other places but they are a great tool. There is a lot of information in these social stories and it's worth taking the time to revisit these with your autistic /ADHD children, but they are useful for kids without autism /ADHD too! What we...

S.E.N.D in the Clowns – what sparked my passion?

Do you know any children or young people with autism/ADHD who have been excluded from school? If you are their parent, I feel your pain, as I was that mum. I feel as strongly about excluding children from school, as I much as I believe in well-behaved children. These...

Homeschooling ideas #1

  If your child is missing school or a special teacher, perhaps as part of your homeschooling, you could practice writing a letter to the teacher? Or they could write to grandma if they didn’t get to see her on Mothering Sunday ? What could they include? Family...

Tips to build self-esteem in young people (with ADHD)

Give your self-esteem a boost Self-esteem can change in an instant, measure yours and your child’s constantly. Literally, on a scale from 1 - 5, where 1 =rubbish and 5 = on top of the world, how do you feel? If you feel yourself slipping, try out a couple of the...

Building self-esteem in young people

I'm looking forward to this week, even though it's crazy busy and I have twenty tabs open on my screen and I can't remember what I was going to do next, I am grateful be to working in an area that is making a difference. It's a joy to see families and parents opening...

A dedication to my mother

My mother isn't alive to know that her child is on the verge of publishing her second book. But I know that she knows. Another rainy Saturday afternoon and I'm spending half of it with my head bent over the laptop. But the end of book two is in sight and I hope that...

My book journey…S.E.N.D. in the Clowns

It's been long, it's been round the houses but at last it's here! 2020 is the year I will birth an idea I had many years ago but wasn't in a position to pursue.  S.E.N.D. in the Clowns is the name of this idea, which presents as a book but it is much more than that....

Updates – S.E.N.D. in the Clowns

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S.E.N.D. in the Clowns

I haven't written my 2020 goals yet, I do it every year as it helps my 'butterfly brain' to focus and yes they will be smart goals, just as I remind people to do in the #happyinschool sessions. The start of a new year/decade encourages you to look forward, but don't...

S.E.N.D in the Clowns {VIDEO}

Autism is a 'hidden disability'. This means that the features of the disability are not always obvious and can be misunderstood. For example severe anxiety and stress can look like rage or disobedience, especially in the classroom. I examine this in my new book...

Tackling subconscious bias in health & social care

"As the fourth largest employer in the world the NHS recognises it must be a role model of diversity and equality to which others can aspire."  This quote is from an article published a few year's ago in HR Magazine It's an editorial that's a few years old, and reads...

Willard Wigan – The King of Tiny Art

I met Willard Wigan at the Autism Show earlier this year. I had heard him speak before on TedX and also saw his incredible show at Ripley's Believe it or Not (that was a unique place, so sad it's closed), but hearing him speak to autistic and non-autistic people about...