Silverwood Speech Therapy

08/07/2026

‼️ Please see below, if you would like to take part, please see link in comments! ‼️

Are you a parent or guardian of a child aged 4–16 years with a disability and/or long-term medical condition living in Northern Ireland? We want to hear from you.
Researchers at Ulster University are exploring how cost is affecting children's participation in sport and physical activity, and your experiences can help shape future research and policy. You are eligible if you are:

Aged 18 years or over
A parent or guardian of a child aged 4–16 years with a disability and/or long-term medical condition*
Living in Northern Ireland

The interview will take around 30 minutes, can be completed by telephone or Microsoft Teams, and all information will be fully anonymised.

*For this study, a disability and/or long-term medical condition includes any ongoing physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental or health condition that may affect a child's participation in sport or physical activity. A formal diagnosis is not required, and you will not be asked to share specific medical details about your child*

04/07/2026

‼️ Real Life Summer Stories ‼️

Below another account from a family.

This is happening here and now in NI. Thank you to the family sharing this, it’s not easy but I am so determined that YOUR voices are heard 🩵

⬇️

What does summer look like for us?

I’ve sat down to write something numerous times but don’t know where to start.

However we have just returned from a very positive day out and I thought now is the time.

Because for us it’s not all bad, today was a great day. Our son played in the play park while his older brother supervised him. We got to parkrun. We went swimming and finished the day at a farming event with lots of people and noise.

But our son is 14 he should be too old for the park, he should be able to go swimming on his own. And he should be able to walk around events without being attached to one of us. (We use a restraint were he is attached to one of us all the time in a crowd)

And while I know for others reading this they are thinking, you are lucky to be able to do those things, in the shop on the way home he lifted eggs and broke them. I’ve just had to stop typing this and go and get him out of his brothers room before he breaks or wrecks something.

Summer scheme is over for this year and while we have days ahead with nice things planned, there will never be a time when our son can be independent and enjoy activities on his own. His older brothers still live at home so there is still a busy house for our son to enjoy. But someday it will just be my husband and I. We won’t be able to enjoy days out or meals out just the two of us. We won’t be able to ever able to go on holiday just the two of us. And even if we do arrange for carers, they can let you down at the last minute. This has happened me already this summer and we are only at the end of the first week.

Our son is non verbal, autistic and has a severe learning disability. But he enjoys company and this is what we struggle with, having somewhere to take him were he could enjoy a night away or a group he could go to over the holidays were we could get a break and he could have fun with others.

It’s when school finishes for him completely in 5 years time. We will be older and less able. Where is he going to get structure and get the chance to enjoy fun activities- we will not be able to take him out on a day like today as we will not be physically able.

Our government need to recognise that our young people will always be young and a future for them at the minute just looks bleak and uncertain 💔

03/07/2026

🩵 Summer is incredibly lonely at times…I want to take the opportunity to use our page to voice real experiences of what it’s like 🩵

Please take a moment to read from one mums perspective…this is real life 🥺

Summer is, sadly, an incredibly challenging time for our son, A, and for our entire family.
A requires constant 24-hour supervision and can never be left alone or unsupervised. He is extremely dysregulated and can enter a fight-or-flight response—almost always "fight"—without warning. This makes leaving the house exceptionally difficult and often unsafe.

Many of the places that other families enjoy during the summer are simply not accessible to us. We cannot safely take A to playgrounds, cafés, shopping centres, forest parks, or anywhere near water because of the significant risks associated with his unpredictable behaviour. Even the limited places that may be suitable require at least two adults to support him safely. As my husband works, I am unable to take A out on my own, leaving us largely confined to our home throughout the summer.

Although our home has been extensively adapted to meet A's needs, his behavioural challenges mean that keeping him occupied for long periods is extremely difficult. The constant need for supervision, intervention and support makes life at home exhausting, isolating and, at times, claustrophobic for all of us.

Our wider family life is also significantly affected. Visiting relatives is often fraught with challenges, and it is almost impossible for us to invite family members into our home due to A's support needs and behavioural difficulties. This has resulted in increasing isolation for all of us, including A's sister, whose opportunities for typical family experiences are greatly limited.

A also has a sleep disorder and is frequently awake from around 3:00 a.m. This has a profound impact on the entire household. The chronic sleep deprivation affects our physical and emotional wellbeing, making it even more difficult to manage the increased demands of the summer months.

For most families, the summer holidays are a time for children to have a break from school routines and for parents to enjoy spending quality time together as a family.

However, without additional support, the summer holidays become a period of survival rather than one of rest, enjoyment or creating positive family memories.

03/07/2026

MYTH VS FACT

Myth:
""Children will simply grow out of learning difficulties.""

Fact:
Every child develops at their own pace, but ongoing challenges with learning, communication, attention, or emotional wellbeing shouldn't be ignored.

Early identification doesn't mean labelling a child. It means understanding their needs and ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.

When children are supported appropriately, they are often better equipped to build confidence, develop coping strategies, and engage more positively in their learning journey.

Seeking support is not about finding what's wrong.
It's about understanding what's needed to help a child thrive.

Have you ever heard this myth before?

17/06/2026

Such a beautiful read 💕

How beautiful is this! Thank you Bernie Scullion for sharing your gorgeous words about your son Christopher. Love the opportunity to share our kids! This is what Caleb’s Cause is all about.

We see you Christopher 🩵🥰

01/06/2026

Limited appointment slots available for July and August. Contact Grainne on 07899641586 to get booked in 🌞

30/05/2026

This a really important message about the need for changes to be made for all children and adults with a diagnosis of Autism in relation to access to medical services. Please take the time to listen and to support this extremely important campaign

16/05/2026

Please have a look at this fabulous new business delivered by Lisa Colhoun who is a teacher and a parent. This is a fantastic way to support parents who are navigating the education system, supporting them to fully understand reports and scores and to ensure that each and every child can reach their full potential 💖💪

29/03/2026

‼️LURGAN CLINIC‼️

We have some appointments remaining for the April Autism Assessment Clinic in Lurgan.

Email us for more information or to get booked in:

📧 [email protected]