Special Needs Support Groups

[noo noo]

Any idea how I could go about finding local special needs supports groups for children? or any other means of getting in touch with parents whose children have special needs?

I'm bringing an inclusive kids show to the venue and need to try and target poeple who probably don't come to mainstream children's theatre.

The show is is a truly accessible theatre and animation adventure for all 5-8 year olds and their families. The style of the show and the use of sensory elements as well as Makaton signing, singing, scent, music, sensory lighting, creating visual pictures and set transformations means that this show is suitable for children of ALL abilities. Wheelchair users, children with sensory impairments and children with profound and complex needs can all engage with the different elements of the production.

Any ideas?

[redhed]

Interesting question Noo Noo.

Special needs is a very, very broad church. It ranges from children who have mild and difficult to diagnose/ treat learning disorders such as dyspraxia or aspergers' to children with (as they say) "profound and multiple difficulties". Parents tend to band together by specific conditions rather than by locality unless they meet informally. Some places you could try:

- NHS. Many attend the local "childrens' development centre" which is usually based at a major hospital. It's a group of paediatricians specialising in developmental issues. You could speak to someone there, possibly put a poster up, there are a lot of noticeboards full of this sort of thing at the hospital we attend. Also, this sort of child is probably well known to their GP, so you could try advertising in the GPs surgery

- Carers' groups. Not every parent is a member of one of these but the group itself will have more idea of where to look: we have a few local ones, (Carers Waverley, Carers Guildford, Carers Cranleigh...) again your GP's surgery will be able to tell you who this support group is.

- Special Needs schools. There will be loads of these locally that you have never realised were there. Your local council should be able to give you a list and again maybe you could put posters up or send flyers to parents - they won't give you and address list but you may be able to ask to get something included in a regular mailing.

If I think of anything else, I'll add it!

[Damsella]

Wow, that show sounds great!! :)

Maybe you could get in touch with the local Riding For The Disabled group as well, if there is one? They may be able to put you in touch with their members, or with special needs groups they know of.

ETA: Also try any local SureStart authorities.

[noo noo]

Thanks for all of those suggestions - I've come up with quite a lot of contacts so fingers crossed I can get a good inclusive audience in for the show. There's actually an interesting website that I've come across thats recently been set up by someone in the same village as me - I'll do a seperate post on it as it may be useful to some poeple.