I’m chatting to a SEND Dad this week, my friend and radio colleague Adam Weighell. Adam talks about the life changing impact of his son Toby being born at 26 weeks. We discuss life in the NICU, the moment he and his wife Gemma finally got to take Toby home after 142 days in hospital, and the fact they were aware Toby’s chance of being neurodiverse would be slightly higher due to how early he was born and some medical complications that followed. Adam talks about the differences in parenting a neurodiverse child alongside a neurotypical one and the need for connection with other parents who are in a similar situation.
Adam has written a book about Toby’s start to life called Dear Toby – which he describes as a love letter to his son – designed to help other parents navigate the NICU and life with a premature baby. You can order the book here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Toby-Diary-Preemie-Parent/dp/1036916359

Tags: world prematurity day, autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder