Media Room

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Read the latest stories about Netbuddy. Just click on the links to download. If you are a journalist wanting information about Netbuddy, please contact Emma Sterland on 020 8677 7820 or email here

Netbuddy in Guardian Social Care
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Reading to anyone, regardless of their communication and cognitive skills, is integral to their development..' Storytelling: Netbuddy's top tips

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Balancing the needs of people with learning disabilities and their siblings can be really difficult at Christmas...' Learning disabilities - top tips for Christmas

Netbuddy in Evening Standard Online
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The event was celebrating the work of Netbuddy, an award-winning "social network" for parents and carers looking after people with learning difficulties...'  Sam Cam hosts charity reception at No 10

Netbuddy on Radio 4 Women's Hour
'Its very difficult when you are caring for someone to make time to be together...it is hard but people can make it work and do make it work...'  The impact on a relationship of having a disabled child

Netbuddy in Guardian Social Care Network
'As any parent of a child with special needs will tell you, "spontaneous" and "carefree" are not words they associate with a holiday...' Learning disabilities - top tips for family holidays

Netbuddy in the Observer
'A truly inspirational account of how much dad carers do for their children...'   Fathers struggle to cope with the pressure of caring for disabled children

Netbuddy in the Ham and High
'Netbuddy works because people in the learning disability community want to help each other..'   Sharing knowledge helps (977.9 KB)

Netbuddy in Surrey Mirror
'I wanted to raise funds for Netbuddy because it’s a fantastic charity for families affected by a learning disability...'  Month-long swim raises money for kids’ charity (485.4 KB)

Netbuddy in Learning Disability Today
'Netbuddy has definitely had a huge impact on people’s lives. It’s a constantly available friend...'   Emma Sterland - Me and my job (60.7 KB)

Netbuddy in Mencap 'Viewpoint'
'The key attraction to Netbuddy is its community feel..'   Your New Best Buddy (129.7 KB)

Netbuddy on Radio4 'You & Yours'
'43% of dads keep their disabled child a secret from their bosses. 15% don’t tell their work colleagues either...' Deborah Gundle on R4

Netbuddy in the 2012 Independent on Sunday Happy List
'Linda Goldberg and Deborah Gundle are the co-founders of Netbuddy, an online network for carers of people with disabilities...' 2012 IoS Happy List

Netbuddy in The Guardian
'Quietly and with no grand marketing, Netbuddy's audience has grown by word-of-mouth ...' Introducing Netbuddy – the special needs Mumsnet

Netbuddy in Progress Magazine
'Dads are battling against many misconceptions and challenges when trying to juggle work and caring...'  Reality for Dads (180.1 KB)

Netbuddy founder Deborah Gundle on Able Radio
'Every time I encountered a problem I knew someone had encountered a similar problem themselves...' Listen to Able Radio interview

Netbuddy in Guardian Society Daily
'On my radar ... Scope and Netbuddy are joining forces to lift the lid on the role of the father in caring for disabled children ...'  On my radar ...

Netbuddy Dares fundraising in Gravesend Messenger
Nicholas Harvey, 11, from Higham cycled up to 2km a day to raise money for Netbuddy..' Nicholas tackles a tough challenge (405.2 KB)

Netbuddy founder Deborah Gundle in Woman's Weekly
'I realised even the simplest idea can be life-changing. So I started writing down my tips ...'  My lightbulb moment (749.2 KB)

Netbuddy in Learning Disability Today magazine
'Buying goalkeeper trousers provided an unlikely catalyst for a website that provides support for parents and professionals connected to learning disabilities ...' Spread the word (1.5 MB)

Netbuddy in Ablemag
'Research shows that 65% of people with a learning disability want to work, yet they are more excluded from employment than any other group of disabled people...' New jobs & training pack (256.2 KB)

Netbuddy in Families magazine
'From brushing teeth to managing challenging behaviour, Netbuddy lists over 850 practical tips and suggestions...'
Buddies on the net (351.1 KB)

Netbuddy in Access magazine
'Netbuddy is an award-winning website for parents, carers and learning disability professionals ...' Netbuddy (228.0 KB)

Netbuddy in College of Occupational Therapists eNews
'The ipad has caused a mini revolution in the world of special needs. But, as a parent or professional, how do you start choosing from the hundreds of thousands of apps ...' Another great info pack (885.8 KB)

Netbuddy in Learning Disability Today magazine
'A survey by learning disability charity Netbuddy has found that the term that parents, carers and professionals prefer to describe the people they live and work with is a person with ...'
Survey uncovers terminology preferences

Netbuddy in Disability Arts online
Netbuddy, a social enterprise based in London, launched an interactive online community providing hundreds of practical tips and suggestions...' Disability Arts coverage of Media Trust Award (274.9 KB)

Netbuddy in Media Trust Community Voices
'Netbuddy, based in London, say they are thrilled to receive the Inspiring Voices award because it demonstrates just what people can achieve for themselves ...' Winners of Inspiring Voices Awards (712.8 KB)

Netbuddy in All Together Now!
'Three groups have been recognised with Inspiring Voices Awards from Media Trust for using digital media in an inspiring way...' Top awards for learning disabiity groups (248.1 KB)

Netbuddy in New Directions
'For many carers, one of the biggest challenges they can face is the isolation that unfortunately is often part and parcel of caring for someone at home...' Buddy Brilliant (377.9 KB)

Netbuddy in Unique magazine
'Netbuddy is the first online resource of its kind offering hundreds of simple, yet ingenious solutions to everyday issues ...' New learning disability website (226.6 KB)

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Latest top tips
a few bright ideas you've been sending us

  • Explore alternatives

    Try replacing repetitive behaviour with another activity that has the same function. For eg if your child flicks their fingers for visual stimulation, try giving them a kaleidoscope or a bubble gun.


  • Encouraging learning

    When my son was little he didn't show any interest in toys, and I had to help him develop a curiosity for learning. I'd pick up an object, like a leaf or a pebble and turn it around in my hands talking about it, encouraging him to look at it and feel it. Children with learning disabilities do learn, but they need to be guided.


  • Try a variety of brushes

    If someone doesn't like having their hair brushed, it could just be the brush you're using. Try a variety of different brushes to find one they like the feel of.


  • Social stories

    My son is obsessed with dinosaurs so I've written a social story about meeting a polite dinosaur, and I've built into the story the behaviours I want him to stop in public. Has worked a treat! Trying a story about over eating next.

  • Keep it together

    We have got a plastic over-door shoe holder for keeping syringes, flexitainers, giving sets etc in. It doesn't take up any room, and it's see-through so everything is easy to find.


  • Take a step back

    I have real problems with my daughter at hospital appointments or the dentist, doctor etc. I find if I take a step back she seems to respond better to the gentle encouragement of the nurses without me being around.