‘Fowl Language’ – a medical-humanities conversation.

This is joint presentation from a parent of a child with special needs and that child’s consultant community paediatrician. The presentation concerns a real little girl, Rosie, with Goldenhaar’s syndrome. Rosie is deaf, mute, has a tracheostomy, plus other complex congenital medical problems requiring ongoing major surgeries and is under 20 different consultants at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. In spite of this Rosie is happy, imaginative, brave, kind, intellectually very able and has a thirst for life. Seredipitously, a character of a signing 3 legged chicken evolved, using a form of British Sign Language, ‘Fowl Language’ from a completely unexpected event in an otherwise routine outpatient clinic. The story ‘Fowl Language – the adventures of Rosie and her 3 legged chicken friend’ now supports and prepares Rosie for her ongoing medical challenges, including a series of major surgeries, and for a long life beyond. There are now a series of ‘adventure’ stories with Rosie and her 3 legged chicken friend. All are illustrated by Rosie’s mother. Grove (2013:53) a leading practitioner in the use of storytelling argues for an inclusive provision which is creative: “children with special needs do not necessarily need a specialized curriculum, but one that offers opportunities to learn and consolidate in a wide range of imaginative ways that is rich and memorable”. Daniel (2012:6) draws attention to storytelling as  “a detailed, character-based narration of a character’s struggles to overcome obstacles and reach an important goal”. Together the presenters explain a shared journey in a conversation complete with Powerpoint presentation, illustrations, some film and a short segment of a public reading of the first story. Rosie, her mother and the illustrations can be seen on the online film.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hA5kmP7Ikw Keywords: Complex disability, British Sign Language, Goldenhaar syndrome References: Daniel, A.K (2012) Storytelling across the Primary Curriculum. London: David Fulton Press Routledge Grove, N. (2013) Using Storytelling to support children and Adults with Special Needs, transforming lives through telling Tales. London: David Fulton, Routledge