Lorraine Carson Independent Educational Psychologist

07/10/2025

05/10/2025

We’re excited to share that the Barriers to Education website has officially launched: http://barrierstoeducation.co.uk

The Barriers to Education website has been created to bring parents, carers and professionals together with practical, compassionate approaches that make a real difference.

At its heart is the WARMTH Framework, alongside a growing library of tools, strategies and case studies that show what’s possible when we focus on understanding needs and creating conditions where young people feel safe, valued and able to thrive.

The website isn’t just here for you to read, but it is here for you to use as you see fit:
💛 Share it
Feel free to share this website with anyone who may not otherwise see it

🧡Use the content
We are very happy for any of the content to be added to your own existing (or new) documents or guidance.

💙Amend the content
We are very happy for you to use but also amend any wording so that it fits your Local Area or setting, the people within it and your current work and priorities.

💜Use it as a foundation
You are welcome to use any of the content we have shared as a foundation for your own local ideas, strategies, provision and interventions in your area or setting.

💚Share with us
If you are using any part of Barriers to Education, we would love to hear from you! Our vision for this website is for it to be a community owned, shared space where best practice, ideas and successes can be disseminated. Taking the time to share your resources, input or learning in our 'WARMTH in Practice' section could offer others (across the country) the chance to make a life changing difference to the young people that they are supporting.

We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the creation of the Barriers to Education website. Over 1,500 people contributed including young people, parents and carers, professionals across education, health and social care, researchers and more and it would not have been possible without you.

You can explore the site and join us in shaping it through the link in the comments.

03/10/2025

NASUWT, Northern Ireland's largest teaching union said it will support a NI wide system of online resources for EBSNA children.

25/09/2025

25/09/2025

Northern Ireland desperately needs adequate post-19 provision for young adults with Special Educational Needs. This is a very sad story, but all too common, unfortunately.

25/09/2025

📣 We have a ClearView C Optelic reader available!

This clever piece of equipment works a bit like a large TV screen – you simply place a book, magazine, letter or document underneath, and it magnifies the text up to 30 times. Perfect for anyone with sight loss who finds standard print difficult to read. 👓📚

It comes complete with desk and manual!

Do you, or someone you know, think this could be useful? Get in touch with us – we’d love to see it go to a home where it can make a real difference. 💜🦋

25/09/2025

As dyslexics, it does take us longer than our neurotypical peers to read and to process questions and information.
One of the most helpful strategies my teachers followed in school, was to give me extra time in class to complete a task and to forewarn me about any upcoming questions, to give me time to process my thoughts and my response.
Simple strategies like this made a HUGE difference in helping me keep up with my class.

24/09/2025

This post has been shared with permission and was written by my friend, who has a wonderfully happy and delightful child with autism. I couldn’t have said it better myself …

If I were to believe yesterday’s headline news, my son Harry is autistic because I possibly took paracetamol during my pregnancy?

I can’t even remember now if I ever did or not, but what I do know with absolute certainty is this - nothing I took or didn’t take caused Harry to be autistic!

It’s worth noting that autism was first diagnosed in 1943, whilst paracetamol did not start go on sale until the mid 1950s….

But that’s not really the issue here.

The issue is that people like Donald Trump view children like Harry as broken.

No matter what my views on the man are, it’s a horrible thought that someone with so much power and influence could look at my beautiful happy boy and only see something undesirable — someone they think shouldn’t even be here. Something they think needs fixed.

And then, of course, there’s the misogyny woven through it all - blaming the mother. Blaming women!

There is nothing wrong with being different and Harry is not broken. Far from it. He’s the happiest child you’ll ever meet. He is perfect and most importantly, he is exactly as he should be.

He lights up every room he walks into. He has more warmth, love, and affection in his little finger than all of these loud, hateful voices combined.

And beyond Harry, we should remember that all neurodiversity brings so much richness to life, to our community and I am a strong advocate of neurodiversity awareness and acceptance in every workplace.

Creativity, honesty, focus, unique problem-solving, fresh ways of seeing the world – things we all benefit from when we actually make space for difference instead of trying to erase it. Instead of trying to fix or solve it.

Charities like Autism NI stopped using the jigsaw puzzle piece logo many years ago for this exact reason — because it implied autistic people were “incomplete” or “missing something,” a tragic problem to be fixed or solved. Moving away from it reflects something so important - a shift away from outdated, negative perceptions, towards a neurodiversity-affirming perspective that promotes acceptance, not just awareness.

The real problem isn’t autism. It’s the ignorance, prejudice, and lack of compassion that stops people from seeing the beauty in difference.

Harry doesn’t need to change.

The world does.

24/09/2025

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there is no evidence it causes autism in children.

Find out more ➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-paracetamol-for-adults/

24/09/2025

⚠️ Visitor Notice

A temporary Advice Against Bathing Notice has been issued for Portstewart Strand from today (Tuesday 23 September).

It comes after an assessment by DAERA's bathing waters team indicated that Blue-Green Algae has been recorded at a red alert level in accordance with the Inter-Agency Blue-Green Algae Protocol.

We ask that all visitors and their pets remain vigilant, stay away from the water, and advise that you...
• Don’t play with scum or mats on the shore
• Don’t let animals drink water, eat algae or swim
• Don’t swim
• Don’t fish or wade
• Don’t boat or kayak

DAERA will continue to monitor Portstewart Strand and advise of any changes.

For further information or if you suspect you have seen this algae please contact Northern Ireland Environment Agency using their reporting app for suspected sightings of blue green algae.

For more details, please visit the link in the comments.

National Trust NI | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

24/09/2025

Wheelie Active Clubs Return for Autumn 2025

We are pleased to confirm the return of the popular Wheelie Active multi skills clubs, providing active recreation opportunities for children with physical impairments, alongside siblings and friends.

The weekly sessions are open to ages 4-12 years old, with clubs starting back in four areas this month. See full list below:

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council
Date: Starting Tues 16th September
Time: 4.15pm-5.00pm
Venue: South Lake Leisure Centre
Contact: Colleen on colleenconnolly@dsni.co.uk

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough
Date: Starting Weds 24th September
Time: 5.15pm-6.00pm
Venue: Antrim Forum
Contact: Niall on nirwin@dsni.co.uk

Derry and Strabane Area
Date: Starting Thurs 25th September
Time: 5.00pm-5.45pm
Venue: Shantallow Community Centre
Contact: Niall on nirwin@dsni.co.uk

Mid Ulster District Council
Date: Starting Weds 24th September
Time: 6.15pm-7.00pm
Venue: Maghera Leisure Centre
Contact: Niall on nirwin@dsni.co.uk

Register at your local club today or share to anyone who might want to join us!

Sport NI Progressive Building Society

23/09/2025

Having dyslexia can be exhausting!
So much of our day-to-day lives relies on our ability to read.
Being a dyslexic student is all-consuming.
The fatigue caused by reading, writing, spelling and studying is such a mammoth effort for us that we often feel tired.
Trying to keep up with our peers in class, keeping on top of our studies and constantly feeling like we’re falling short, means we are often burnt-out and stressed by the end of the day.
We constantly feel swamped.
So please don’t ever mistake our fatigue and tiredness for being bored, lazy or defiant, in fact the opposite is usually true, we are working harder, longer and exerting more focus and energy than you can possibly imagine!