As a dad of a special needs child, I am very thankful that my mom taught me to thread a needle and a basic stitch.
My child has had several "must have" cloth toys that require/d repair. It would have been very difficult for them and myself had I not bee able to patch the toys up so that they could continue to play with them.
I am by no means great at sewing. I can patch up a rip, sew in a button, sew in a cloth patch to mend a hole. And that's about it. That's been more than enough thus far. :-)
Same here. Forum-like, message board like communication is more my style.