Welcome to Special Edition Parent
Parenthood doesn’t come in one standard edition — and neither do families.
Special Edition Parent is a family-led blog, resource hub, and merchandise shop created to celebrate parents who are walking a path that looks a little different. Whether you’re raising a child with special educational needs or disabilities, home educating, parenting outside the “typical” box, or simply navigating a version of family life that feels unique — you belong here.
A special edition parent is any parent whose journey includes challenges, choices, or experiences that set them apart. That journey can be beautiful, exhausting, joyful, overwhelming — sometimes all at once. Our mission is simple: to make that journey feel less lonely and more supported.
We believe that even when parenting is hard, you don’t have to do it alone. Here at Special Edition Parent, we’re building a community where you can feel seen, understood, and empowered. A place where you can find practical resources, encouragement, and connection — and where thriving, not just surviving, is possible.
What We Do
We create tools, content, and products designed to support families like yours, including:
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Inclusive lesson plans that spark curiosity and support learning at any ability level
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Home education resources that work with your child’s needs, interests, and pace
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Merchandise that celebrates your journey and proudly represents our community
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Communication and behaviour guides (coming soon)
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Children’s books featuring characters who face challenges just like your own children
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A family blog sharing the real twists and turns of special edition life
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A growing online community, including social media spaces and a private Facebook group — your village, when you need one most
Everything we create is rooted in real-life experience and one clear goal: to help you build confidence, connection, and a version of family life that truly works for you.
So let’s find your strength.
Let’s build your village.
And let’s learn to thrive — not just survive.
Who We Are
Hi, I’m Steph, and together with my husband Bug, we raise our four incredible children.
Special Edition Parent was born from years of feeling like the “odd one out” — parenting a larger-than-average family, raising a deaf child and a disabled non-verbal child, and choosing to home educate. Even with support around you, there’s a particular loneliness that comes from walking a path few others truly understand.
When I joined online spaces for parents of disabled or special needs children, I noticed a common theme: exhaustion, grief, overwhelm, and a sense of simply going through the motions. While those feelings are completely valid, I knew there had to be room for something more. Because while this life may look different than expected, that doesn’t mean it can’t also be full of joy, growth, adventure, and deep connection.
I wanted to help change the narrative.
After years of navigating appointments, waitlists, and watching our boys struggle, I decided to become the support our family needed — and then extend that support to others. After spending many years as a Veterinary Nurse and even spending sometime teaching the Veterinary Nurse course at a college. I undertook diplomas and training in SEN teaching, ABA therapy, speech and language, British Sign Language (BSL), child psychology, and more, all with the aim of helping children learn and thrive in ways that truly suit them.
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Our Approach to Home Education
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We love home education for the freedom it gives our family — the freedom to teach our children how they learn best, not how they’re expected to learn. It allows us to travel, explore, follow special interests, and turn real life into meaningful education.
Home education doesn’t have to look like school — and often, it works better when it doesn’t.
Children can learn maths, English, science, history, geography and more through play, curiosity, conversation, and experiences — often without even realising they’re learning. When learning is built around their interests and abilities, confidence grows and progress follows.
Our week-long lesson plans were created with this philosophy at heart and have helped children re-engage with learning and truly thrive. Even if you don’t home educate, these resources work beautifully as enrichment tools, special-interest learning, or extra support at home. We’ll also be releasing seasonal activity packs to help keep little minds engaged during times when you need that extra helping hand.
We’re so glad you’re here.
We hope you’ll join the Special Edition Parent family — and we can’t wait to be part of your journey.