8. Navigating Overwhelming Environments: Tips for Families

In today's episode. Kate and Dave discuss how to support children in navigating overwhelming environments, focusing on strategies to help them regain a sense of control. They consider the importance of training children for the future by involving them in the planning and discussion. They also consider a number of ways to use the senses to help mitigate triggers and regulate when the environment is hard.To financially support this podcast, donate at our GoFundMe page here.To read helpful articles from Kate, head to her Substack page, An Extraordinary NormalDave's Bible story podcasts are called Stories of a Faithful God and Stories of a Faithful God for Kids and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.This podcast is a part of the Faithful God Network. Discover more great podcasts at faithfulgod.netSee also Kate’s articles on sensory kits here: https://anextraordinarynormal.substack.com/p/sensory-kitshttps://anextraordinarynormal.substack.com/p/the-invisible-sensory-kit For a free download of the Invisible Sensory Kit, visit our Resource Page here - https://www.faithfulgod.net/show/neurodivergence-family-and-faith/p/resources/A note on EARPLUGS from Kate: Earplugs can come in a range of strengths:Flare Calmer Kids have soft earplugs that flatten soundwaves somewhat and block just 10dB of sound. This can reduce buzzing in the ears without blocking sounds they want to hear. Loops earplugs have a range of strengths, they come with several sizes to adjust to fit the ears, these are also useful for sleeping in. Curvd have a range of strengths and also come with multiple sizes. Extra Small heads must be purchased separately, unfortunately. These are also designed for sleep. Quies wax plugs can be shaped to fit the ear, which takes some practice, but ends up giving the highest dB rating, though they need replacing often. These are better for older kids who can adjust them themselves.We’ve found that many cheaper brands hurt delicate ears fairly quickly, so these are the brands we prefer. (We’re not sponsored by any.)For the study Dr Katy Unwin: Unwin refers to: Unwin, K., & van Ommen, A. L. (2024). Autistic and Non-Autistic Experience of the Sensory Aspects of the Church Service. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 52(4), 410-425. https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471241266810CitationsAttwood, T., & Garnett, M. (2023). Autistic girls and women [Webcast]. Attwood and Garnett Events. https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.comAttwood, T. (n.d.). The impact of anxiety on daily life. Attwood and Garnett Events. https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/blogs/news/autism-the-impact-of-anxiety-on-daily-lifeBaiden, K. M. P., Williams, Z. J., Schuck, R. K., Dwyer, P., & Wang, M. (2025). The social validity of behavioral interventions: Seeking input from autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(4), 1172–1186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06297-3 There is a lot of research into this, but this paper is great because it consults autistic adults on the matter.Citkowska-Kisielewska, A., Rutkowski, K., Sobański, J. A., Dembińska, E., & Mielimąka, M. (2019). Anxiety symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Psychiatria Polska, 53(4), 845–864. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/105378Grant, R. J., Barboa, L., Luck, J., & Obrey, E. (n.d.). The complete guide to becoming an autism friendly professional: Working with individuals, groups, and communities.Vasa, R. A., Keefer, A., McDonald, R. G., Hunsche, M. C., & Kerns, C. M. (2020). A scoping review of anxiety in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 13(11), 2038–2057. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2393Webster, A., Saggers, B., & Carrington, S. (2021). Inclusive teaching for students on the autism spectrum. In S. Carrington, B. Saggers, K. Harper-Hill, & M. Whelan (Eds.), Supporting students on the autism spectrum in inclusive schools: A practical guide to implementing evidence-based approaches (pp. 47–57). Routledge.Wolfberg, P., & Buron, K. D. (Eds.). (2024). Learners on the autism spectrum: Preparing educators and related practitioners (3rd ed., pp. 82–84). Routledge.Mentioned in this episode:Neurodiversity and the Family of God WebinarTo find out more about the webinar and book tickets, head to faithfulgod.net/webinar