It’s been a tough weekend. I can’t say quite why but emotions have been high and tempers fraying. Linda, a Williams Syndrome adult, has been pushing at boundaries all round and collecting leaflets with a vengeance. I know this sounds trivial but believe me, pausing at every doorway to collect more paper gets to be […]
Black Swan Story
Linda was visiting a local park with a care worker today. Together they strolled through the gardens and around the lake watching the wildlife as they went. Linda’s bookshelves are groaning under then weight of nature books, particularly many different bird identification books, certainly numbering in double figures. This might be an interesting fact and […]
An Independent Life for A Learning Disabled Adult
Very few Williams Syndrome adults live independently. Research and longer term studies show a majority spend most or all of their adult lives being supported to various degrees by their families. Linda is no exception. But, as I need to go out and earn some money, during the week we are really fortunate to have […]
Sister, Will You Be Devastated?
Linda shows the typical paradox of many Williams Syndrome adults: she knows everyone and has friends on every corner and yet she has no one who really calls her friend. I’ve struggled with this and would love to see her develop a friendship, to want to visit or go visit with someone, to have a […]
My Williams Syndrome Adult Can Count!
Linda, like many adults with Williams Syndrome struggled and still struggles with numbers. Yes she can count but does she understand what those numbers mean. Any reading of a list of symptoms for Williams Syndome include poor numeracy skills but what does this mean for real people? If she works really hard Linda can tell […]
A Summer Holiday Surprise For Learning Disability Carers
When Linda lived at home with Mum & Dad, she lived with them all day, every day. She was loved to pieces and given every opportunity they knew how. Since Mom & Dad died, I’ve cared for Linda and three major things have changed. 1) We now have a positive FISH test diagnosis that confirms […]
Over Eating – A Particular Problem For Williams Syndrome Adults?
Linda loves her food. The days when she was fussy, picky or otherwise difficult to feed – those symptoms of Williams Syndrome are long passed. Now she is on the See-Food diet – see food and eat it! I can’t quite understand why but Linda has always eaten quickly. I promise you, there’s no competition. […]
Is the iPad a Good Buy For a Special Needs Adult?
We bought Linda an iPad for Christmas. She is an adult with special needs, Williams Syndrome to be exact. She can read and write but has poor coordination. Her visuo-spatial awareness is very poor, again typical of Williams Syndrome symptoms. She had used a laptop but couldn’t quite get to grips with the mouse and […]
Thanks From a Williams Syndrome Adult
It had been a long hard day. We’d been out at a social event during the afternoon. We certainly made small talk with people we really didn’t know very well or even at all and Linda had been part of the party. That famous, typical Williams Syndrome symptom of cocktail party chatter was put to […]
What a Busy Birthday Month!
As you might have noticed, it’s been a while since my last post. The delay was initially down to technical problems – my laptop experienced a power failure so when the battery finally ran down it was dead and not resuscitated ! All data safe thank goodness. By the time I was re-juiced, August had […]