Maria Beard

Hypermobility. If you live with it, you know the unique challenges it brings: joint pain, fatigue, and difficulties in performing day-to-day tasks that many take for granted. This blog post aims to guide you through the world of hypermobility and highlight some of our products that can make life a little easier. Whether you're younger or older, suffering from hypermobility or arthritis, or caring for someone who does, there are tools and gadgets designed to help you navigate life with more comfort and control. 

Let's start with a brief overview of hypermobility. In the simplest terms, hypermobility refers to the ability of certain joints to move beyond the typical range of motion. This condition affects many people across all ages and can bring about both physical and emotional challenges. Pain and fatigue are common symptoms, and they can significantly affect quality of life. Tasks requiring fine motor skills, like writing or cutting, can become a source of frustration

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. It is characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can interfere with daily functioning and development. ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood, but its symptoms can continue into adulthood. Increasingly, adults are self-diagnosing by realising

As people become more aware of various learning difficulties and disabilities, and making our content accessible to everyone is super important. We believe there's no reason not to cater to all, and that means thinking about things like choice of font and branding, which can really impact how easy it is to read for folks with dyslexia. That's why we'd like to share with you why we've decided to use the dyslexia-friendly font Lexend for our content, striking a balance between professionalism and inclusivity. 

Accessibility is all about making sure products, devices, services, or spaces work for people with disabilities or learning difficulties. It's not just the right thing to do, it's also the law in loads of places, like here in the UK. The Equality Act 2010 says businesses and organisations have to make a reasonable effort to meet the needs of disabled individuals. 

When we design with accessibility in mind, it's a win for everyone, because it helps

At Tink’n’Stink, we understand the struggles that come with sensory processing issues. Fidget toys are a great way to relieve stress and anxiety and to help focus on tasks. But, there is a growing concern over the safety of cheap, unbranded fidget toys. We think it’s important to recognise and explore the dangers of these toys and understand why it's always better to invest in a branded fidget toy. 

The biggest concern with unbranded fidget toys is the lack of safety regulations. These toys are often manufactured without any testing or quality control standards, meaning they may contain harmful chemicals or break apart easily, posing a choking hazard. This is a major concern for children and adults with autism, who may have a tendency to put objects in their mouths. 
 
In contrast, branded fidget toys are designed with safety in mind. These toys are tested and adhere to strict safety regulations, ensuring they are safe for use. The materials used in branded fidget

The Resolution Foundation's recent research highlights that there has been a rise of 2.3 million disabled people in employment, with around 1 in 7 workers being disabled. If you have a physical or mental health problem, or if you are disabled, Access to Work may be able to assist you in finding or retaining a job.  
 
The level of support you receive will be based on your requirements. Through Access to Work, you may apply for a grant to help pay for practical work support, assist in managing your mental health at work, and more. 

To be eligible for Access to Work, you must be over 16 and have any condition or impairment that affects your ability to perform your job or travel to work, and be in or about to start paid work, including self-employment.  

Access to Work may only evaluate you if you have confirmed a job offer or during your employment; you cannot be assessed before receiving a job offer.  
 
You don’t need to be a UK citizen, but you

As an autism advocate and provider of autism-friendly toys and learning aids, I know how important it is for families with neurodivergent children to choose the right holiday destination. Holidays can be overwhelming and overstimulating for those with sensory processing difficulties, so it's crucial to choose a destination that caters to their needs. 
 
If you're a parent of an autistic child, you may have already experienced the difficulties of finding an autism-friendly holiday destination. However, with a bit of research and careful planning, you can make sure your family has a fairly relaxing and hopefully enjoyable break! 
 
Here are some tips for choosing an autism-friendly holiday destination: 

If you like reading reviews, there are plenty of online reviews geared towards disabled travellers. These are well worth looking at for handy tips and advice. We use DisabledGo and Euan’s Guide but there are lots out there!   
 
There are some wonderfully

Trichotillomania, commonly abbreviated as TTM, is a mental health disorder that causes a person to pull out the hair on their head, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, or anywhere else on the body with hair growth. This urge is often triggered by stress, anxiety, a chemical imbalance in the brain similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or changes in hormone levels. Although listed under OCD, trichotillomania is often considered a body-focused repetitive disorder and can become very addictive. Celebrities Megan Fox and Charlize Theron both have been diagnosed with this.  

It’s not completely clear what causes Trichotillomania, but for many pullers, this coping mechanism is used to combat stress and unwanted sensations such as boredom or anxiety.  
 
People with Trichotillomania often feel an intense urge to pull their hair out and report feeling a growing tension until they do so. After pulling, they may feel a sense of relief and control. On the other

Choosing a school or further education centre for any child can be an anxiety inducing experience for any parent or carer. Finding a suitable school, college, or university for a child or young adult with SEN or disabilities can be even more difficult. With more to consider, this exciting key stage in your child or teenagers' lives can feel like a real challenge. In today’s blog, we’re going to be discussing some factors to help make the process, choice, and transition into education a much smoother process. 

If your child already has an education, health and care plan (EHC), or a SEN support plan, then their previous school should be able to offer you support in finding another school or further education centre. These documents will also include a list of requirements for your child, so you know exactly what you should be looking for. If your child hasn’t yet started school, or isn’t receiving the support they need, you’ll need to get in touch with your