Neuroshambles

The final episode of season 3 marks a first for Neuroshambles, as it’s the first ever live recording, performed in front of an audience. Mark is joined by returning guest Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) for a raucous and laughter-filled discussion around what it's like to be a neurodivergent parent raising neurodivergent kids. They examine a wide range of autistic, ADHD and PDA traits, and discuss how each of these can impact a neurodivergent parents’ experience of raising neurodivergent kids. They shine light onto sensory sensitivity, touch aversion, and the chaos that unplanned changes can cause in a home that runs on routine. They also talk candidly about masking, difficulty with social interactions with other parents, executive functioning, rejection sensitivity and the challenge of navigating your own overwhelm while supporting a child through meltdown. There are plenty of positives too, as Mark and Lisa find the upside of autism parenting in shared understanding, a healthy disregard for authority, and the sense of injustice that fuels so many neurodivergent parents’ advocacy work. This warm, insightful and hilarious episode is a must listen for anyone navigating parenting through the lens of their own neurodivergency.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:26 - Meet the guest: Lisa Lloyd 00:06:07 - Topic of the week: parenting neurodivergent kids as a neurodivergent parent 00:13:24 - A shared neurotype and a closer bond with the kids 00:15:48 - Sensory sensitivity and touch aversion 00:21:22 - Coping with changes of plan 00:27:13 - Masking, social struggles and finding your tribe 00:35:10 - Executive function and the never-ending admin 00:40:36 - Rejection sensitivity 00:47:13 - Navigating overwhelm and meltdowns together 00:58:39 - The Positives: the upsides of neurodivergent parenting 01:07:09 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:13:31 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:18:08 - What The Flip Moments   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share Unmasking Mum by Lisa Lloyd - https://amzn.eu/d/0gbnKiwm Lisa Lloyd (ASD with a G&T) on the socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asd_with_a_g_and_t/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@asd.with.a.g.and.t Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASDwithGandT Includes Us Too - https://includesustoo.org.uk/ Spinning World of Autism (Laura Brown) - https://www.spinningworldofautism.com/ Speak Up for Autism petition - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764248 PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/   CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share   CREDITS 🎧 Sound recording by CRT Audiotech: https://www.instagram.com/crtaudiotech/ 🎥 Video recording by Brown Bear Studios, Brighton: https://brownbearstudios.co.uk/ 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Mark welcomes back a Neuroshambles favourite Lisa Galley, for a deep dive into one of the topics every family raising neurodivergent kids will recognise: meltdowns. As an autism family consultant and mum to three of her own, fully grown neurodivergent humans, Lisa brings a wealth of lived experience to help unpick what is really going on in a child's brain and body when their nervous system tips beyond its limits. Mark and Lisa explore the three main contributing factors to meltdowns, before working through the four main survival responses that PDA and other neurodivergent kids can show when overwhelmed: fight, flight, freeze and fawn. They also tackle one of the most frustrating bugbears for parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids - the assumption that a meltdown is simply a tantrum. They dissect exactly why the two are worlds apart and why treating one like the other often makes things worse. They share honest, sometimes hair-raising stories from their own households, from the most extreme of flight responses to an epic meltdown triggered by an Easter egg hunt and they offer a genuinely practical rundown of what can help before, during and after a meltdown happens. It's the kind of grounded, funny, non-judgemental chat about parenting neurodivergent kids that Neuroshambles listeners are looking - whether they're seeking autistic parenting advice for the first time or simply want to feel a little less alone in the chaos.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:10 - Meet the guest: Lisa Galley returns 00:03:02 - Topic of the week: what actually is a meltdown? 00:04:48 - The window of tolerance and the nervous system 00:13:37 - Three main causes of meltdown: sensory, communication and unpredictability 00:23:15 - Fight, flight, freeze and fawn: the four meltdown responses 00:43:00 - Tantrums vs meltdowns: what's the difference? 00:49:31 - Common misconceptions about meltdowns 00:50:55 - Public meltdowns and dealing with judgement 00:57:53 - Spotting the signs before a meltdown happens 01:06:43 - What actually helps during a meltdown 01:18:39 - The Positives 01:21:48 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:26:31 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:30:39 - What The Flip? Moments   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Parenting Your Autistic Child: Permission to Do It Differently, by Lisa Galley - https://amzn.eu/d/09LMvRVR Lisa Galley's website - https://lisagalley.com Lisa Galley's free Autism Parenting Guide to Meltdowns (plus bonus meltdown tracker) - https://learn.lisagalley.com/meltdownsguide Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/0cE2Sjcq Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share   🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

The issue of how to navigate sleep with our neurodivergent kids is one of the most requested topics on Neuroshambles, so Mark brought in someone who actually knows what she's talking about. This episode tackles the question that haunts pretty much every household raising neurodivergent kids: how do you get them to sleep, keep them asleep, and stop them waking up at some ungodly hour demanding an apple? Mark is joined by Michelle Cyril, a children's nurse and fully qualified paediatric sleep consultant who specialises in supporting families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. She's also a parent of neurodivergent twins herself, so this isn't advice from someone lecturing from a textbook - it's advice from someone who's been on the sharp end of three-hour bedtime battles too. Mark and Michelle break bedtime down into its component parts of chaos: the bedtime routine itself, actually getting to sleep, staying asleep through the night, and waking up - wether that’s ludicrously early, or begrudgingly late. They cover why traditional sleep advice is largely useless for neurodivergent kids, how PDA turns bedtime into a demand minefield, and dive into the knotty issue of melatonin. Anyone wondering whether melatonin is safe, why GPs are so reluctant to prescribe it, or why their kid can't seem to switch their brain off at night will find answers here. Whether it's a PDA profile, an ADHD brain that won't switch off, or a kid who just runs unnervingly hot in bed, there's something in this episode for most Neuroshamblers.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated) 00:01:48 - Meet the Guest: Michelle Cyril 00:04:00 - Topic of the Week: Why Sleep Is Such a Battle 00:13:39 - The Traditional Sleep Advice That Just Doesn't Work 00:16:13 - Making Bedtime Routines Fun Instead of Boring 00:26:35 - PDA, Demand Avoidance and Bedtime 00:34:06 - Getting to Sleep: Busy Brains and Familiar Stories 00:45:11 - The Melatonin Debate 00:58:39 - Staying Asleep: Night Waking and Anxiety 01:10:46 - The Early Morning Wake-Up Struggle 01:17:23 - The Impact of Poor Sleep on Parents 01:23:02 - Sleep Deprivation and Its Ripple Effects 01:26:44 - Finding the Silver Linings 01:28:39 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:31:48 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:35:58 - What the Flip?   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share Michelle Cyril, Family Sleep Specialist - https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/ Busy Brains at Bedtime (Michelle's free download) - https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/busy-brains-guide/ Greeking Out (National Geographic podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out/ Michael Gradisar - https://winksleep.online/about-michael-gradisar Confusional Arousals - https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias/confusional-arousal Neuro Embrace, Madeleine Woolgar - https://www.neuro-embrace.com ARFID Life UK - https://www.facebook.com/p/ARFID-Life-UK-61569140673395/   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share   CREDITS 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

Part two of our deep dive into EBSA for neurodivergent children is essential listening for anyone navigating the school avoidance minefield as a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child - whether they are autistic, ADHD, PDA profile, or any combination of the above. Heidi Mavir returns to offer her advice as someone who has lived every corner of this experience - not only in her own life, but also through her advocacy work with thousands of families affected by barriers to attendance. In this episode, we dig into the real-world impact - the emotional, financial and logistical strain it places on families. We also look at practical things parents can actually do if their child is experiencing barriers to attendance - from how absences should be coded at school, to what the Children's Wellbeing Bill means for home education rights, to when a part-time timetable might help and when it's just a sticking plaster. If you're wrestling with EBSA daily and you’re looking for advice that's rooted in lived experience, this is the episode for you.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:28 - Meet The Guest 00:03:25 - Topic of the Week: Barriers to Attendance Part 2 00:03:59 - Parental Blame and Being Doubted by School Professionals 00:09:32 - Attendance Targets, Fines, and Rewarding Full Attendance 00:13:23 - "Make Home Less Appealing" and Other Unhelpful Advice 00:17:49 - Why Exposure Therapy Doesn't Work for EBSA 00:21:35 - The Emotional, Financial and Relational Impact on Parents 00:35:34 - What You Can Actually Do: Practical Advice for Families 00:53:15 - Home Education, Deregistering and the Children's Wellbeing Bill 01:11:46 - EOTAS and When School Just Isn't the Right Shape 01:15:07 - It's Not All Rubbish: Specialist Settings and What Works 01:20:05 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:25:19 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:31:10 - What the Flip! LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of all What the Flip moments from all 59 episodes) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share Your Child Is Not Broken book, Heidi Mavir - https://www.heidimavir.com/i-wrote-a-book Your Child Is Not Broken free Facebook community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/eotasmatters Heidi Mavir: The Marble run - https://www.heidimavir.com/the-marble-run Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act - https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909 Section 19 of Children and Families Act - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/section/19 EOTAS, EOTIS, EOTISC - https://www.ipsea.org.uk/home-education-and-education-otherwise Not Fine in School - https://www.notfineinschool.co.uk Define Fine - https://www.definefine.org.uk/ SEND Advocacy Limited (Alice) - https://www.sendadvocacy.com/ Audhdacious Humans - https://www.audhdacious.com/ Make and Create Club - https://www.audhdacious.com/make-and-create/club/ Eliza Fricker and "Can't Not Won't" - https://amzn.eu/d/0bMMrrwa   📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share   🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

If you are a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child, the chances are that school attendance has been a topic that has kept you awake at night. Whether you know it as school refusal, emotionally based school avoidance, or one of a dozen other terms, it is one of the most stressful and isolating things a family can go through. As a neurodivergent parenting podcast, Neuroshambles has been asked about this topic more than almost any other, so this week’s guest is one of the best in the business. Heidi Mavir is a best-selling author, public speaker, late-identified autistic and ADHD adult, and one of the most knowledgeable and tireless advocates for SEND families in the UK. Her own journey with her son Theo, who went from full school attendance to none at all in the space of a few months at the age of fourteen, gives her both the lived experience and the hard-won expertise to talk about this topic like very few others can. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, so here we focus on what barriers to attendance actually looks like in neurodivergent children and young people - from the terminology chaos to the sensory nightmare of school environments, the morning meltdowns, the masking, the after-school explosions, the physical symptoms, and ultimately what can happen when it all builds up into burnout. Part 2 will focus on the family impact and what you can actually do about it. If you are a parent trying to make sense of what is happening with your child and school, this one is for you.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:37 - Meet the Guest - Heidi Mavir 00:05:08 - What is EBSA? Unpacking the Terminology 00:19:01 - Why School is a Sensory and Emotional Minefield 00:30:40 - The PDA Dimension - Demand Avoidance in School 00:35:27 - Early Signs of Barriers to Attendance 00:42:00 - Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn and Flop - Polyvagal Theory 00:45:33 - After-School Meltdowns and the Masking Behind Them 00:52:19 - Physical Symptoms - When the Body Tells the Story 00:57:01 - What Changes Outside of School? 01:03:41 - How Barriers to Attendance Build Up Gradually Over Time 01:07:42 - Autistic Burnout - When It All Catches Up 01:17:22 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:20:13 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:23:04 - What the Flip?   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Your Child Is Not Broken by Heidi Mavir - https://www.heidimavir.com/i-wrote-a-book EOTAS Matters - https://www.heidimavir.com/forfamilies PDA Society: School Distress - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-helps-guides/pda-and-emotionally-based-school-avoidance-ebsa/ Kieran Rose: School Induced Trauma - https://theautisticadvocate.com/school-refusal-or-school-induced-trauma-rethinking-ebsa-ebsna-and-the-harm-we-call-help/ Audhdacious Humans - https://www.audhdacious.com/ Polyvagal Theory - https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory Scouts UK - https://www.scouts.org.uk/ Heidi Mavir/Rachel Filmer webinar on SEND Reform Proposals - https://eotasmatters.kartra.com/page/WhitePaperWebinar Black SEN Mamas - https://blacksenmamas.com/ Rachel Filmer - https://www.instagram.com/sendra.uk/ Not Fine in School - https://www.notfineinschool.co.uk Square Peg - https://www.teamsquarepeg.co.uk/ Define Fine - https://www.definefine.org.uk/   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles/   🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

This week we're back with part two of a candid, deep dive into screen time. Last time we covered all the good stuff - the regulation, the social connection, the sense of mastery. This time, we're braving the darker side of the coin. Mark is joined again by Hannah, mum to nine-year-old Henry (autistic, ADHD, PDA profile) and six-year-old Thea (suspected neurotypical). Together they work through the thornier aspects of neurodivergent parenting and screen time - addiction, in-game spending, safeguarding and parental controls. They also take an honest look at crushing guilt and the shame that often lies underneath it, as well as how to handle transitions off screens without descending into full-scale conflict. For anyone trying to navigate neurodivergency parenting without a rulebook, this episode won't give you all the answers, but it will make you feel considerably less alone. ------------ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:10 - Meet the Guest 00:02:34 - This Week's Topic: Screen Time - The Difficult Bits 00:03:48 - Screen Addiction, ADHD and the Dopamine Loop 00:16:12 - Managing Screen Time: Swapping One Dopamine Hit for Another 00:21:57 - In-Game Spending, Roblox and Robux 00:29:16 - Safeguarding and Online Safety 00:34:10 - Parental Controls: A Full-Time Job 00:46:52 - Are Screens Putting Our Kids Off Other Kinds of Play? 00:50:39 - Using Screens as a Tool for Transitions and Outings 00:56:38 - Getting Them Off Screens: Transition Strategies That (Sometimes) Work 01:01:45 - Parental Guilt, Shame and Societal Judgement 01:12:46 - It's Not All Rubbish 01:15:12 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:21:43 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:25:48 - What the Flip Moments ------------ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles Live, Brighton (23rd July 2026) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988682312330/?discount=Neuroshamblers Alternatively, search "Neuroshambles Live" on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk and use the access code “Neuroshamblers” for the discounted rate of £8 throughout May. After that, tickets go on general sale for £10. Screen time: Part 1 episode - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/screen-time-part-1-the-benefits-for-neurodivergent-kids-hannah-woods ADHD and dopamine - https://www.additudemag.com/brain-stimulation-and-adhd-cravings-dependency-and-regulation/ Roblox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox Grow a garden - https://growa-garden.io/ Apple parental controls - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121 Google parental controls - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/15077835?hl=en Microsoft parental controls - https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/family-safety Crunchyroll - https://www.crunchyroll.com/ Tech Smart Parenting book by Catherine Knibbs - https://amzn.eu/d/0iqIy0cv Holidays Episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/holidays-dr-hildi-mitchell Cards against humanity - https://amzn.eu/d/08Dn7YIt Smartphone Free Childhood - https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/ Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/ ------------ 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles ------------ 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Description If you're a parent of a neurodivergent child and you've ever felt quietly judged for your approach to screen time, this episode of Neuroshambles is for you. Mark is joined by Hannah Woods - one of the founders of the Spectrum Squad, a neurodivergent youth group in Penarth, South Wales - to tackle one of the most requested topics the show has ever had: managing screen time with our neurodivergent kids. This is part one of a two-part deep dive of a particularly knotty topic, and it's entirely focused on the positives of screen time. Because if you're navigating autism parenting, ADHD parenting, or PDA parenting, you'll know that screens aren't just a lazy shortcut - they can be a genuine lifeline. Whether it's helping your child regulate, learn and connect with peers, or just giving you ten minutes of respite to gather your energy, screen time is doing some heavy lifting in a lot of neurodivergent households. This is an honest, relatable conversation about the gap between the parents we thought we'd be and the parents our kids actually need us to be. Part 2, covering the potential downsides of screen time, is coming in the next episode. But for now, let's hear the case for the defence.   Chapter Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Neuroshambles Live Announcement 02:56 - Meet the Guest: Hannah Woods 08:10 - Topic Introduction: Screen Time with Neurodivergent Kids 10:00 - How We Thought We'd Parent Around Screens (Before We Met Our Kids) 14:29 - The Stigma Around Screen Time 15:23 - Screen Time Limits, NHS Guidance and Why It Doesn't Apply to Our Kids 18:17 - Dr Naomi Fisher: It's Not the Screen, It's What's Behind It 21:59 - Screens for Regulation - Meltdowns, Overwhelm and India's Wardrobe Nook 29:29 - Special Interests, Hyperfocus and Letting Them Go Deep 39:17 - Online Connection, Belonging and the Social Value of Multiplayer Gaming 42:39 - Building Friendships Through Minecraft and Shared Play 50:04 - Sharing Content as a Love Language (YouTube Clips Count) 55:16 - Watching Online as a Gateway to Special Interests 57:40 - Screens as a Learning Tool - Laptops, Writing and Demand Avoidance 01:01:08 - Reading Apps and How They Changed Everything 01:03:20 - Self-Esteem, Gaming and Finding Your Thing 01:04:53 - Screens as a Social Bridge 01:07:44 - From 3D Printing to School Fair Entrepreneur 01:09:52 - The Parental Sanity Argument (Yes, It Counts) 01:13:16 - Screens for Sleep and Winding Down 01:15:20 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:18:22 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:22:09 - What the Flip Moments   Links to Stuff We Mention in This Episode Neuroshambles Live, Brighton (23rd July 2026) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988682312330/?discount=Neuroshamblers Alternatively, search "Neuroshambles Live" on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk and use the access code “Neuroshamblers” for the discounted rate of £8 throughout May. After that, tickets go on general sale for £10. The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker - https://amzn.eu/d/02qGPcjD Dr Naomi Fisher article on screens - https://naomifisher.co.uk/tags/screens/ Bluey - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey Gravity Falls - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Falls How To Break Up With Your Phone - https://amzn.eu/d/04PSfLq9 Roblox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox JusTalk Kids - https://kids.justalk.com/ MindJam - https://mindjam.org.uk/ Super Mario Odyssey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Odyssey Audible storybooks - https://www.audible.co.uk/ Calm app - https://www.calm.com/ Greeking Out (National Geographic podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out/ Have Fun, Get Fit (South Wales) - https://www.facebook.com/HaveFunGetFitRossParsons/ Neurospicy Wings (South Wales) - https://www.neurospicywings.co.uk/   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles   🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

If you've ever found yourself having to outline the entire day's schedule before you've even had your first coffee, or negotiating bath time as a sacred non-negotiable human right, this episode might just be the one you didn't know you needed. Mark is joined by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a deep dive into what it really means to be your child's safe person. Whether your neuroshambolic family is shaped by autism, ADHD or PDA, so many of us know the exhausting, relentless, sometimes claustrophobic experience of being the one person our child needs above all others. It's a privilege and it's hard work, but it's almost never talked about with the honesty it deserves on a neurodivergent parenting podcast. In a Neuroshambles first, this episode also features a second guest - Dotty Matthews, Jo's 19-year-old autistic daughter - who joins Mark for a candid, funny and genuinely moving conversation about what it felt like to be that child. From the early days of demanding apple juice to command her mum's attention, through to slowly learning to find safety in other people, Dotty's perspective is the kind of lived experience that makes this show worth your time. There's also a listener email from Lydia, whose 13-year-old daughter's intense attachment prompted this whole conversation - and both Jo and Dotty have something genuinely useful to say in response. Autistic parenting advice doesn't get much more grounded in lived experience than this. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:08 - Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews 00:03:40 - This Week's Topic: Being Your Child's Safe Person 00:04:22 - Lydia's Listener Email 00:07:06 - Dotty's Early Attachment (and the Gee Story) 00:10:25 - Transitional Objects and Starting School 00:18:58 - Co-regulation: Being Your Child's Emotional Anchor 00:25:54 - Scaffolding the Day: Structure and Predictability 00:30:54 - Being Their Executive Function 00:37:45 - Advocating for Your Child 00:43:41 - Being a Physical Safe Space (Including Co-sleeping) 00:48:05 - Being an Emotional Outlet 00:56:34 - The Guilt and Exhaustion of Being a Safe Person 01:03:12 - Attachment Theory and Building Independence 01:06:58 - When Only One Parent is the Safe Person 01:14:17 - Meet the Second Guest: Dotty Matthews 01:38:51 - It's Not All Rubbish 01:41:07 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:43:46 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:47:04 - What the Flip Moments LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Attachment Theory (John Bowlby) - https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html The Loxdale Centre, Portslade - https://www.loxdale.com/ mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com/ Mark's talk: "How Dads Can Show Up Better For Our Neurodivergent Kids" - https://neuroshambles.com/page-gazc-3dk8-ywa8-dnly Raising SEND kids: The Dad's Perspective (with Terry Lloyd) - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/raising-send-kids-the-dads-perspective-terry-lloyd   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

If you've ever stared at a parenting book and thought "none of this applies to my child whatsoever" - this episode is for you. Mark is joined by comedian, author, and fellow parent-in-the-trenches George Lewis for a proper deep dive into one of the great unspoken challenges of neurodivergent parenting: figuring out who your kid actually is, and how to parent them, when the instruction manual simply doesn't exist. Because most parenting advice out there is written for neurotypical kids. And when you've got autistic, ADHD, or PDA children, you quickly discover that you essentially have to work it out yourself. That means years of research, trial and error, conflicting information, and the occasional moment of going "hang on… is THIS a thing I need to learn about now?" It's exhausting and exasperating, but it's also, occasionally, brilliant. This is an honest, funny and insightful autism parenting podcast episode that covers the whole messy journey - from those early days of thinking something's different but not knowing quite what, through diagnosis (including the woefully misguided NHS leaflet with their list of top tips), to the point where you cautiously start to feel like you might actually know what you're doing. If you're deep in that process right now, or just starting out, this one's for you. And if you're a seasoned neurodivergent parenting veteran, you'll recognise pretty much every single moment of it. -------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated) 00:00 – Intro 01:15 - Meet the Guest: George Lewis 06:28 - Topic of the Week: Writing Your Own User Manual 08:18 - Imagining parenthood vs the reality 12:04 - Apraxia of speech and George's early diagnosis journey 18:19 - Understanding autism: the spectrum, spiky profiles and the mixing desk analogy 31:32 - Navigating the NHS diagnosis route (and the unhelpful booklet you receive when they're diagnosed) 58:16 - Information overload and knowing when to put the lid back on 01:03:39 - Discovering PDA and low demand language 01:05:31 - Conflicting advice and how to navigate it 01:11:36 - Trusting your gut when some recommended approaches don't sit right 01:20:44 - It's Not All Rubbish: the positives of doing the research 01:25:52 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:28:53 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:32:24 - What the Flip! Moments -------------- LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE George Lewis website - https://www.georgelewiscomedian.com George Lewis Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/georgelewiscom George Lewis TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@georgelewiscomedian George Lewis Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/georgelewiscom George Lewis YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@georgelewiscom Autism Colour Wheel - https://community.autism.org.uk/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/4/autism-colour-wheel.pdf Government SEND white paper - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving Neuroshambles Episode with Kieran Rose: How Autistic Is Your Child? – https://neuroshambles.com/episode/how-autistic-is-your-child-kieran-rose Autistica - https://www.autistica.org.uk/ Pierre Novellie “Why can’t I just enjoy things?” - https://amzn.eu/d/0fL1X5Fb Fern Brady “Strong Female Character” - https://amzn.eu/d/07Uk4H6a -------------- 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: @neuroshambles -------------- 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Mark is joined by Sam Bayley - founder of mASCot, a Sussex-based parent-to-parent support network for families of autistic, ADHD and PDA children and young adults - for a warm and genuinely uplifting conversation about one of the most important things you can do as a neurodivergent parent: find your people. They dig into why parenting a neurodivergent child can feel so isolating - especially in the early days before diagnosis, when you're still trying to crowbar your kid into situations built for neurotypical families and slowly realising it isn't working. Sam shares the story of how mASCot grew from a few breakout coffee sessions into a community supporting thousands of families, and Mark recounts the moment he first walked into Sunday Club and felt the blessed relief of a room with absolutely no judgement in it. They also get into the thornier side of finding your people - namely, the bit where you have to let go of the ones who aren't. From unsupportive friends who just aren't listening, to family members who think it's all a fad, this episode doesn't shy away from how hard it can be to protect your energy when you haven't got much of it to spare. If you're after a neurodivergent parenting podcast that feels human, honest and occasionally sweary, this one's for you. --------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Meet the Guest: Sam Bayley 04:01 - Topic of the Week: The Importance of Finding Your People 09:10 - How mASCot Was Born: Coffee Mornings and the Birth of Community 10:09 - Early Expectations and the Reality of Neurodivergent Parenthood 27:19 - The "Coming Home to Autism" Event That Changed Everything 31:35 - The mASCot Card: A Little Bit of Context, a Lot of Confidence 37:51 - Sunday Club and the Joy of a Non-Judgmental Space 47:59 - Inspired to Act: Hannah Woods and Spectrum Squad Penarth 52:16 - The Online Community: Why mASCot's Facebook Forum Matters 59:52 - When Lockdown Showed Us What Our Kids Already Knew 01:01:49 - Finding Your People Means Letting Go of the Wrong Ones 01:09:05 - The Tricky Business of Unsupportive Family Members 01:13:18 - It's Not All Rubbish: The Positives of Finding Your People 01:16:17 - Neurodiversity Champions: mASCot, Bill Bayley and the BNC 01:22:40 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:26:12 - What the Flip? Moments --------------------------------------------------------- LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Podcasthon - https://podcasthon.org/ mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com Donate to mASCot via Givey - https://www.givey.com/mascot National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Bristol Parent Carers Forum - https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/ The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene - https://amzn.eu/d/0jkdMxga Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/ Brighton Neurodivergent Community (BNC) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brightonneurodiverse --------------------------------------------------------- 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles --------------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of Neuroshambolic families - whether it's brushing, washing, cutting it or trying to navigate dreaded nit combs. Mark and Rebecca unpick why hair-related stuff can be so dysregulating for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids - from sensory overwhelm and loss of control, to the irrepressible instinct to run away when someone approaches them with a brush and they're already feeling overwhelmed. Rebecca explains her role as night time hair brushing ninja and Mark recounts the horror story of the time he tried to trim India's fringe himself. They also dig into the awkward realities of salons and barbers, the compromises that sometimes (briefly) work, and the grim truth that a lot of so-called “simple” solutions don’t feel simple at all when you’re parenting a child with a PDA profile, ADHD traits, or autism-related sensory sensitivities. If you’re after autistic parenting advice that feels human rather than preachy, this one will have you nodding, laughing and cringing in equal measure. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00:37 - Intro 00:01:07 - Meet the guest: Rebecca Huseyin 00:05:36 - What’s the topic of the week? Hair care 00:08:01 - Haircuts: clippers, salons and pure dread 00:13:16 - Dealing with brushing & knots - night time ninja brushing 00:21:40 - Sensory overload: why hair care causes so much overwhelm 00:25:25 - The drama of washing their hair 00:42:34 - Barbers/hairdressers: trusting a stranger with scissors 00:47:15 - Products, routines and reducing the stakes 00:55:08 - The reason some neurodivergent’s prefer long hair 00:58:10 - The lengths we go to for a haircut 01:03:12 - Not wanting people to notice their hair 01:05:47 - Reliving Mark’s trauma of cutting India’s fringe 01:18:17 - A surprising India haircut success story 01:21:04 - It’s not all rubbish: looking at the Positives 01:22:22 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:26:10 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:31:18 - What the Flip Moments? LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Jem’s Hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTSItLZ India’s hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/072vd0L6 India’s coconut scented hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/05Er65tF Nit comb - https://amzn.eu/d/00cSPgcz Grappling with Personal Hygiene episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/grappling-with-personal-hygiene-rebecca-huseyin Wash and Go - https://amzn.eu/d/0cmgCDdU Danielle Jata-Hall / “PDA Parenting” - https://pdaparenting.com/ Hairport (Brighton) - https://www.brightonhairport.co.uk/ EAG Expo, Docklands - https://www.eagexpo.com/ 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective. They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to the party” when it comes to recognising neurodivergence, struggling to process what it all means, and figuring out how to show up properly for your family - especially when one parent has already been doing the heavy lifting for ages. They also delve into how traditional gender roles can make everything harder, and why guilt, grief and defensiveness can quietly shape how dads respond in the early days. There are also plenty of practical, lived-experience tales about having to unlearn how we were parented, getting on the same page as your co-parent and the challenge of not accidentally becoming the bad cop. A must listen for any dads raising autistic, ADHD or PDA kids, as well as any mums interesting in hearing a different perspective of the challenges men face, but often can't articulate. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:00:37 – Intro and what’s coming up 00:01:15 – Meet the Guest: Terry Lloyd 00:04:07 – Topic of the Week: Dads and the neurodivergent parenting journey 00:05:36 – Being late to the party spotting neurodivergence (and why dads often miss it) 00:06:05 – Inheriting breadwinner v caregiver roles, and the mental load gap 00:10:47 – When your co-parent says “something’s different” 00:17:03 – Labels, diagnosis, and why denial delays support 00:25:21 – The provider/disciplinarian stereotype (and how it backfires) 00:32:07 – How our own upbringing can influence dads' approach to parenting 00:36:52 – PDA, control, and why authority dynamics don't work 00:48:34 – Before diagnosis: doubt, uncertainty, and needing clarity 00:51:20 – Grief, shame, and the emotional weight of realising your child is neurodivergent  00:55:40 – The importance of finding other dads in the same boat 01:00:07 – Learning the hard way (books and resources that helped) 01:09:54 – Advice for dads needing to get more hands-on 01:21:08 – It’s Not All Rubbish: Finding the positives 01:24:59 – Neurodiversity Champions 01:27:57 – Tiny Epic Wins 01:29:49 – What the Flip Moments 01:34:52 – Outro (how to share your stories, links to the socials and wrap-up) ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles website – https://www.neuroshambles.com The Journey into SEND Fatherhood (book Mark and Terry contributed to) - https://amzn.eu/d/03g3S0J7 The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/0az7Uy7e SEND Dads Drop In (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100788930061466 PDA Father Figures (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/809973900027348 Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) - https://linktr.ee/ASDwithagandt Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/01pvrF2f SAA Clothing (sensory-friendly clothing) - https://www.saaclothing.com/ Let Us Learn Too (parent/carer education campaign) - https://letuslearntoo.wordpress.com/ Amaze Sussex dads support group (run by Darren Walker) - https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/dads-group-east-sussex/ ⸻ 📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles ⸻ 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD. Mark is joined by Lucy Pocock, a registered GP and parent of a neurodivergent child, as they pull back the curtain and take a deep dive into how the system works (and why it so often doesn’t).   They talk through the routes families are typically funnelled into when they’re seeking support: school evidence, GP involvement, referrals, and the confusing reality that the pathway can look completely different depending on where you live. It’s the sort of honest, informative discussion many families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids wish existed when they first started asking questions.   Mark and Lucy also unpack what happens once ADHD enters the mix - including medication pathways, titration, prescribing delays, and the complexities of shared care. Lucy explains why bottlenecks happen, what GPs can and can’t do, and how those constraints land on families already stretched to breaking point.   Along the way, the conversation touches on demand-avoidant (PDA) profiles, why some parents go private, and what families can realistically expect when it comes to letters and evidence for things like EHCP and DLA. It’s the kind of candid, good humoured and insightful chat that this neurodivergency parenting podcast is known for.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:00:37 - Episode 50 intro 00:01:20 - Meet the Guest (Lucy Pocock) 00:03:07 - Topic of the Week – UK healthcare and ND referrals (the two main routes) 00:09:23 - The postcode lottery, delays, and mismatched pathways 00:17:42 - ADHD medication: shared care, titration, and why CAMHS take so long 00:27:31 - Lucy's journey with her own PDA son's diagnosis as a GP 00:34:00 - Training: Oliver McGowan and the impact within the NHS 00:37:15 - How much neurodiversity scepticism is there within the healthcare system? 00:42:00 - What can you do if your GP is not informed about neurodiversity? 00:46:15 - Are there really parents trying to take advantage of the system? 00:56:00 - What support can we ask for from our GP that we don't know about? 00:59:45 - Could GP's relieve some of the burden from CAMHS? 01:04:30 - GP limitations on prescribing drugs: melatonin and anti-depressants 01:07:00 - Shared care, Right to Choose and commissioning constraints 01:10:45 - Is the system broken? Why is support for neurodivergency such a postcode lottery? 01:20:30 - How can we fix the flaws in the healthcare system? 01:27:00 - Looking at the positives 01:30:03 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:32:27 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:35:26 - What the Flip Moments   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Shared care - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/ Right to choose - https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/ CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/ Oliver McGowan training - https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/ Neuroshambles: Medicating our children | Danielle Jata-Hall - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/medicating-our-children-danielle-jata-hall Melatonin - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/ Neuroshambles: The Bumpy Road to Diagnosis | Tam - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/the-bumpy-road-to-diagnosis-tam Murmuration Community, Bristol - https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/ Incredible Kids, Bristol - https://incrediblekids.org.uk/   CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles   CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy educator and fellow Neuroshambler Grace Lockrobin for a cathartic look at the ages of 7-11, which is where the wheels can start to wobble more for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids. Together, they unpack the pressures of conformity, the nightmare of homework and the heartbreak of parents evenings. From school trips and transitions to SATs and navigating playground politics, they shine a light on why this age can be so tough - and why the system often gets it wrong. It’s warm, witty, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel just a little less alone when your child doesn’t quite fit the mould.  If you’re searching for an autism parenting podcast or ADHD parenting podcast that actually reflects the messy, hilarious, heartbreaking truth of raising neurodivergent children, you're in the right place. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro and meet the guest 03:30 - What’s changed since we last spoke 05:50 - Intro to topic of the week 23:00 - The challenges of the shift in KS2 teaching style 10:00 - Misguided attempts to get them to "catch up" 13:00 - The role that transitions play in these difficulties 22:15 - Social cliques and friendship dynamics 35:15 - Bullying 43:00 - The difficulty of parents’ evenings 57:15 - Homework nightmares 1:00:40 - The unhelpful pressure of SATs 1:06:25 - School trips 1:12:10 - It's not all rubbish: looking at the positives 1:24:15 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:27:45 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:30:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments 1:33:50 - Wrap-up and where to find us ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: SATs - https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/ Karate Zone - https://karatezone.com/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com    

What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger’s? Kieran Rose returns for a deep dive into the language we use to describe autism - and why it often does more harm than good. He and Mark explore the flaws in functioning labels, the dangers of ranking autistic traits, and how trying to quantify someone’s autism usually misses the point. In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice. A powerful, enlightening and empowering episode - a must-listen for anyone parenting autistic kids who’s ever felt under pressure to explain, justify or minimise their child’s neurodivergence.   📍 CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro: Meet Kieran Rose 04:30 - Life in a Fully Neurodivergent Household 08:00 - Topic of the Week: How Autistic Is Your Child? 12:00 - Labels, Bias, and the Stigma Around Autism 18:00 - High vs Low Functioning: Where It Comes From 23:00 - What Even Is Autism? 28:30 - The Flawed Legacy of Asperger’s 35:00 - Identity vs Diagnosis 42:00 - DSM-5 Levels of Autism: Why They Don’t Work 49:00 - Profound Autism and The New York Times Article 55:00 - A Counterpoint: The Voices We Don’t Hear 1:00:00 - Co-occurring Conditions and the Real Source of Needs 1:07:00 - Clinical Labels vs Lived Experience 1:14:00 - Mark’s Imposter Syndrome as an Autism Parent 1:18:00 - What’s the Alternative? 1:23:00 - Final Thoughts: Humanising, Not Diagnosing 1:27:00 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:33:00 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:39:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments 1:43:00 - Wrap-up & Where to Find Us 🔗 LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Kieran Rose website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/ Eugenics - https://www.newscientist.com/definition/eugenics/ Asperger Syndrome - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome Hans Asperger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger Lorna Wing - https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/lorna-wing-an-autism-hero DSM-5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5 PDF Download of DSM-5 - https://ia800707.us.archive.org/15/items/info_munsha_DSM5/DSM-5.pdf New York Times article: The Autism Spectrum Is Too Broad - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/opinion/autism-diagnosis-category-stigma.html Greta Thunberg - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49918719 What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism Ehlers Danlos Syndromes - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/ Communication First - https://communicationfirst.org/ Autism Central - https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/ Kieran Rose Animated Guide to Monotropism - https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=diwlbe4AHRcxfjQF Kieran Rose Animated Guide to The Double Empathy Problem - https://youtu.be/qpXwYD9bGyU?si=7bnGR2UsrCgLa_hL   KIERAN'S HOMEWORK Kieran Rose Blog: Autism, it’s Labels and the Language of Pathologising Rhetoric - https://theautisticadvocate.com/autism-its-labels-and-the-language-of-pathologising-rhetoric/ Sunday Times article: Extra time in exams ‘unhealthy’ for children with ADHD and autism - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/extra-time-exams-unhealthy-children-adhd-autism-k820s56zh TES magazine article: Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/sami-timimi-interview-problems-with-send-diagnosis-adhd-autism Yahoo News: Badenoch says motability cars not for people with ADHD - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/badenoch-motability-cars-not-people-135341300.html?guccounter=1 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Why won’t our neurodivergent kids just take the bloody Calpol? Michelle Parton joins mark to explore the baffling and emotionally loaded issue of kids who resist medical help. Mark and Michelle swap tales of their kids’ iron-willed resistance to all forms of treatment - even when they’re clearly in pain, bleeding, or itching uncontrollably. Together, they explore the many reasons this might be happening - from sensory issues and PDA to past trauma, masking, and a fundamental lack of trust in strangers in latex gloves. It’s funny, cathartic, at times heartbreaking - definitely one for any parent of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids who have ever tried (and failed) to put a plaster on their dysregulated child before they bleed out! ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Michelle Parton 03:00 – Topic of the Week: Refusing Medical Help 08:00 – Kids hiding injuries 13:00 – Dysregulation about the prospect of going to the doctor 17:30 – Trust issues with medical professionals 23:00 – Lyme disease and the unholy nightmare of blood tests 29:00 – Trying to administer medication 35:00 – The impact of sensory overwhelm: Plasters, creams & the taste of medication 42:00 – The added complication with PDA kids 47:00 – The role that masking might play 54:00 – How alexithymia and interoception can influence things 59:00 – The impact of past traumatic experiences 1:04:00 – The positives 1:06:00 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:10:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:14:00 – “What the Flip?” moments 1:18:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Us ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Lyme Disease - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Alexithymia - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ky5qgrlpo Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing Beyond Creative Education - https://www.beyondcreativeeducation.org.uk/ ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

In part two of this deep dive into transitions, Mark reunites with Pete Wharmby to look at more reasons they can cause such a monumental challenge for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults). From difficulties pulling our kids away from screen-time and replacing a broken fridge, to the regular flashpoint of brushing teeth, Mark and Pete share real-life strategies that can make these transitions more manageable - or at the very least a bit more fun. Pete shares what he wishes more teachers understood, and Mark reflects on how small wins in transition can change the whole feel of a day. Essential for any parent of neurodivergent kids who has ever said “we need to leave now”… and regretted it instantly. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Welcome back and reintroducing Pete Wharmby 02:30 - Recap of what we covered in episode 45 and why transitions affect all neurodivergent kids 06:10 - Screen time, flow states and Pete's oil tanker analogy 16:45 - The role that monotropism plays in transitions 27:00 - Strategies: lead-In Times, choice and routines 36:40 - Understanding how PDA affects transitions and why it’s not just defiance 46:00 - Strategies for control-driven transitions (e.g. declarative language) 55:30 - Difficulty throwing stuff away: fridges, crocs and clinging to familiarity 1:04:30 - Schools as the perfect storm of transitional triggers 1:15:20 - The positives 1:18:00 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:20:40 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:23:15 - "What the flip?" moments 1:26:00 - Wrap-up and thanks ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/ Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4 What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism Last One Laughing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOL:_Last_One_Laughing_UK Ausome Training, Cothu course - https://ausometraining.com/cothu-with-pete-wharmby Declarative language - https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/declarative-language-for-neurodivergent-communicators/ Anna Freud - https://www.annafreud.org/ Georgia Pavlopoulou (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-georgia-pavlopoulou-651a042a Neuro Nook Storytime - https://www.neuronookstorytime.com/ Bedknobs and Broomsticks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedknobs_and_Broomsticks Silksong - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Knight:_Silksong ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay

This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodivergent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they delve into the messy, stressful, and often misunderstood world of transitions – from seemingly small everyday routines to major life changes. Whether it’s leaving the house, going into school, or prying them away from screen time, transitions can often be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare for parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. But why exactly are they so hard – and what can we do to ease the load? In part one if this two part special, they discuss the neurological and emotional roots of transition difficulties, and how demand avoidance, anxiety and executive dysfunction play a role. This is an insightful, heartfelt, and cathartic episode full of insight, compassion and practical suggestions, as well as a much-needed sense of solidarity for anyone who’s ever dreaded their kids being invited to a birthday party. — CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 – Intro and why this is only part one 03:30 – Meet the guest: Pete Wharmby 12:00 – Transitions: What they are and why they’re so difficult 19:00 – Fear of the unknown 25:00 – Why birthday parties can be so anxiety-inducing 32:00 – Strategies for smoother transitions to the unknown 40:00 – School and powerlessness 48:00 – Holidays, Google Earth and visual planning 55:00 – Fear of the Known: Why school can feel like a punishment 1:03:00 – Processing struggles and instruction overload 1:13:00 – Fixable triggers and simple (free) accommodations 1:20:00 – The double-edged sword of hyperfocus 1:24:00 – Neurodiversity Champion: Fight For Ordinary 1:26:30 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:29:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:33:00 – Wrap-up and tease for part 2 — LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION: Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/ Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4 What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ Fight for Ordinary - https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/fight-for-ordinary/ Google Maps Street View - https://www.google.com/streetview/ Google Earth - https://earth.google.com/web/ Ordnance Survey Maps - https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Albion In The Community - https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/ Monotropism and Autism Theory - https://monotropism.org/ Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing — CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles — CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

How do you hold down a job when your home life is full-on chaos? Mark is joined by fellow dad Mark Holborow to take a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising neurodivergent kids and trying (often unsuccessfully) to keep those two worlds from colliding.. They explore the dubious benefits of working from home, burnout, discrimination, and what happens when employers don’t understand - or care - about your home life. Mark Holborrow shares his career journey and how he’s built boundaries that actually work. Mark Allen opens up about the guilt of trying to “do it all”. It’s a cathartic, relatable deep dive into the realities of navigating employment when your home life is anything but typical - with plenty of laughs, rants, and candid talk about autism, ADHD, PDA and neurodivergent parenting. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 – Intro & Listener Survey Feedback 05:30 – Meet the Guest: Mark Holborough 10:00 – The Challenges of working parents 16:30 – Working from Home with neurodifferent Kids 25:00 – Background chaos, interruptions and client calls 33:00 – The emotional guilt of being the breadwinner 40:00 – Supporting the non-working Parent 53:00 – How open can you be at work? 1:00:00 – Hiding a child at work: Real life stories 1:07:00 – Why parents of neuro-exceptional kids make great employees 1:13:00 – The economic cost of caring 1:26:00 – The Positives 1:29:00 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:33:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:37:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:41:00 – Wrap-up and thanks ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Neuroshambles Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/2wFVupe4HumCYym6A LSE Report – The Economic Case for Prioritising Autism in Policy and Reform: http://lse.ac.uk/cpec/assets/documents/Autismeconomics.pdf The Sunflower Alliance – raising awareness of hidden disabilities: https://hdsunflower.com/ BUPA Medical Insurance: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance-ppc-b  ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com  

Why do so many neurodivergent kids swear - loudly, creatively and often at the worst possible moment? Heidi Mavir returns for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing. From F-bombs on the trampoline to grandparent-safe alternatives, they explore how language, context, and neurodivergent wiring all shape how (and why) our kids swear. They explore the relationship between swearing and regulation, impulse control, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), sensory overload, and social context. Heidi shares her take on separating language from intent, and Mark talks about learning when it's best to simply look the other way. Whether you’re a proudly sweary household or struggling to police your neurodivergent child's potty-mouth moments, this insightful autism parenting podcast episode is packed with nuance, honesty, and a surprising amount of empathy - even for those who hate bad language. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Welcome Back & Meet the Guest: Heidi Mavir 03:00 - School Turbulence, Burnout & Finding Your Flow 08:00 - Why Swearing Is This Week’s Topic 12:00 - What Is a Swear Word Anyway? 18:00 - Swearing, Context & Cultural Taboos 25:00 - Family Rules: “Nana Swears” vs “F-Bombs at Home” 33:00 - Parenting Through Swearing: Where Do You Draw the Line? 41:00 - PDA, Equalising Behaviour & Rage Rooms 50:00 - When the Swears Are Aimed at You 58:00 - Swearing as a Self-Regulation Strategy 1:03:00 - Should We Be Policing Swearing at All? 1:12:00 - Swearing and Impulse Control in ADHD 1:17:00 - Teaching Context Without Policing Expression 1:25:00 - Workarounds, Wordplay & Sweary Shenanigans 1:30:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:35:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:40:00 - Wrap-Up & Where to Find Heidi ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Heidi Mavir website - https://www.heidimavir.com/ Heidi’s “Your child is not broken” book - https://amzn.eu/d/cjoih9W Eliza Fricker “Can’t not won’t” book - https://amzn.eu/d/91m7voc PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda/ “F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me”, song lyric by Rage Against The Machine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ Lindsay McGlone - https://www.instagram.com/rollinwithlindsay_/ Reclaimed Means Business - https://lindsaymcglone.kartra.com/page/RMB2025 ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

The Summer holidays. Six weeks of unstructured time. No routine. No school. Mark and Lisa Galley explore why the this can be such a challenging experience for parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids and why the concept of a “relaxing summer” is more often myth than reality. Touching on the common parental feelings of boredom, guilt and the ever-present FOMO, this is a candid, humorous and insightful look at what parents experience over the summer when it seems like we're under house arrest with our neurodivergent kids. Lisa shares strategies for low-demand structure and building in recovery time. Mark opens up about the fantasy of “the perfect summer” and how letting go of that can actually make things more enjoyable. Essential listening for anyone trying to survive the school holidays and come out of it with their sanity (mostly) intact. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Lisa Galley 04:00 - Introducing the topic of the week 06:30 - The burden of boredom 10:00 - Dealing with guilt of not providing the "perfect" summer 17:00 - The loss of spontaneity and the rampant FOMO 26:30 - The unspoken impact on working parents 30:00 - Attempting to go on holiday 34:00 - The importance of summer holidays for our kids 38:00 - Q&A: Answering listeners' summer holiday questions 41:00 - Testing out home education in the summer 45:00 - How to help yourself as a parent 47:30 - The challenges of co-parenting in the summer holidays 58:00 - Advice from listeners 1:03:00 - The positives of the summer holidays 1:05:00 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:08:30 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:11:30 - "What the Flip?" moments 1:16:30 - Outro and Season Wrap-Up ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Lisa Galley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/school_run_mum_autism/ Parent Carer Cheerleeding Squad Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/parentcarercheerleadingsquad Special Assistance at airports - https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers-and-public/special-assistance/accessing-special-assistance/ We're Not Your Typical Podcast - https://were-not-your-typical-podcast-258bbca3.simplecast.com/ Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids Podcast - https://pod.link/1442067009 Legoland Windsor Accessibility Pass - https://www.legoland.co.uk/plan-your-day/before-you-visit/accessibility/ "Holidays" episode of Neuroshambles - https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/2b5dc7973b418c9d6069ced370c409b9 "Hobbies" episode of Neuroshambles - https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/19a31193017cd7413d681ff3b36119eb Lisa Galley's Summer Survival Guide - https://lisagalley.myflodesk.com/survival ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

For autistic children - or those with ADHD, PDA, and other forms of neurodivergency, swimming can be simultaneously a magical sensory experience and an absolute logistical nightmare. Hatty Ashdown joins Mark to dive into the deceptively simple but totally chaotic world of swimming. From the infuriating act of trying to get them to swim in the first place, to negotiating the changing room routine, navigating the lockers and dealing with their antics in the pool, Mark and Hatty share candid and hilarious tales of what it’s like to take your neuro-exceptional brood swimming - and why we keep doing it, despite the enormous faff. This is a funny, heartfelt and painfully relatable episode about parenting neurodivergent kids that is well worth a listen if you've ever had to try to retrieve your child from inside a locker. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Hatty Ashdown 06:00 - Topic of the Week: Swimming 09:00 - Why do neurodivergent kids love swimming? 15:00 - The challenge of teaching neurodivergent kids to swim 30:30 - The massive faff of a swimming trip: Hatty's routine 37:00 - The massive faff of a swimming trip: Mark's routine 42:00 - The chaos of changing rooms 46:30 - The stress of the lockers 53:00 - Shenanigans in the pool 59:30 - Losing their goggles 1:04:00 - The Positives: the joy of swimming 1:08:00 - Neurodiversity champions 1:12:00 - Tiny epic wins 1:15:00 - What the Flip? Moments 1:20:00 - Wrap-Up and Where to Find Hatty ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: • Hatty Ashdown’s Website – https://hattyashdown.com/ • Funny Mummies Podcast: Basics – https://pod.link/1451332466 • Funny Mummies Podcast: VIP (Patreon) – https://www.patreon.com/FunnyMummiesPodcast • Bella Ramsey (Neurodiversity Champion) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Ramsey ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

Following on from part 1, fan favourite Jo Matthews joins Mark once more for another laughter-filled, cathartic rant through the most mind-bogglingly ill-informed things people have said about raising autistic, ADHD, PDA and otherwise neurodivergent kids. In this episode, Mark and Jo go deeper into strategies for pushing back against ignorance without burning out. They discuss when to educate, when to ignore, and how to protect your peace when it feels like the world has no idea what you’re going through. Jo shares practical approaches for raising awareness in schools and extended families, and why some battles just aren’t worth fighting. This one’s full of laughter, reassurance, solidarity and a few tactical comebacks for the next time someone says, “They seem fine to me.” ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews Returns 05:30 - "Have you tried a routine?" 10:30 - "Have you tried a parenting course?" 13:30 - “Have you tried changing their diet?” 17:00 - "Why don't you take their screens away?" 20:00 - "Does he have mild autism?" 25:30 - Good autism v bad autism 29:00 - “We’re all a bit autistic" 34:30 - "ADHD is just an excuse" 37:00 - “It doesn't define him” 41:00 - "There's nothing wrong with him" 43:00 - Medical v Social models of disability 47:30 - "My kid does that" 50:00 - “He'll eat when he's hungry" 52:30 - “He'll grow out of it" 54:30 - “He doesn't look autistic" 56:30 - “But, he can talk, so he can’t be autistic” 59:00 - “ADHD is just for boys” 1:01:30 - "What's wrong with him?" 1:02:30 - "I bet he's good at maths" 1:04:30 - "I don't know how you do it" 1:07:00 - Misguided empathy: "I know how you feel" 1:09:00 - "But I do that and I'm not autistic" 1:14:00 - The completely batshit mental comments 1:20:00 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:21:30 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:25:00 - "What the flip?" moments 1:27:30 - Wrap-up & contact info ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: The medical vs social models of disability: www.scope.org.uk/about-us/social-model-of-disability/ Autism assessments (AQ Test): www.embrace-autism.com/aq-10/#test Bowles Outdoor Centre - www.bowles.rocks ⸻ CONTACT US 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

In this episode, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a cathartic, hilarious, and occasionally sweary dive into the unfiltered reality of parenting autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. From "It's just a label" and "He’s fine with me" to "You just need to push them out of their comfort zone", this is part one of a two-part special on the unsolicited commentary we all get, whether it’s from strangers, family members, or well-meaning-but-utterly-wrong professionals. The kind of comments that pretend to be supportive but are really just dismissive, ignorant, or unhelpfully optimistic. Together, Mark and Jo share personal stories, listener submissions, and a few moments of pure rage-laughter, as they unpack why these statements cut so deep - and how to push back with humour, honesty, and the occasional incredulous raise of the eyebrow. If you've ever encountered the ignorance of strangers and you're looking for a neurodivergent parenting podcast that makes you feel seen, this is the one for you. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews 06:00 – “It's just a label” 08:00 - The story of Rube Waddell 16:00 - "Stop Mollycoddling your child" 21:00 - "You let them win too much" 22:30 - "Can't you just make them do it?" 26:00 - "You should make their home life more unpleasant" 28:00 - "Your parenting is wishy washy" 31:00 - "Children just need boundaries" 36:00 - "You need to push them out of their comfort zone" 43:00 - "Are you too afraid to say no?" 48:00 - "How will they manage in the real world?" 52:00 - "Sometimes, it's a choice" 54:00 - "They're just trying to get their own way" 01:02:00 - "They're fine when they're with me" 01:07:00 - The Positives 01:09:30 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:12:00 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:14:30 - What the Flip? 01:17:00 - Wrap-Up & What’s Coming in Part Two ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Rube Waddell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Waddell "Am I raising an arsehole?" episode of Neuroshambles -https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/a313c1057becbcd2e24d64c5bf94820e "The Explosive Child" book - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm ⸻ CONTACT US 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

In this episode, Nicole Bateman joins Mark to explore why neurodivergent kids often struggle to take up hobbies - those wholesome after-school activities that see neurotypical kids flourish… but which, for many parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids are either a logistical nightmare, a sensory minefield, or a fast track to public meltdown. Together, they explore the myths, pressures and downright ridiculousness of what “having hobbies” means when you are parenting neurodivergent children. Nicole shares how she’s reframed success and what helps her child engage without pressure. Mark opens up about the guilt, the frustration and the financial strain of trying to nurture interests that never seem to last past the first session. They cover what actually works, what definitely doesn’t, and the benefits of learning to follow your neurodifferent child's lead, so you can meet them where they're at, rather than where you want them to be. It’s an honest, often funny conversation about persistence, passion and letting go of neurotypical timelines.   STUFF WE COVER: 00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Nicole Bateman 03:00 – The fantasy of hobbies vs the reality 08:00 – Issues with trust and accessibility 13:00 – After-school clubs 18:00 – The Summer holiday hobby void 25:00 – Trying to force your neurodivergent children to have a hobby 33:00 – Social disconnect in group settings 39:00 – When your best intentions fail 44:00 - Environmental barriers to adopting a hobby 47:00 – Competitive Sport: Gift or Curse? 53:00 – Caesar-or-Nothing syndrome & hobby avoidance 59:00 – Drop-off disasters 1:07:00 – What *does* work? 1:12:00 – It's not all rubbish: A look at the positives 1:15:00 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:23:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:26:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:29:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Nicole   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Nicole Bateman’s Website – Friendly SEND Advisor and Super Sensory Squad: https://nicolebateman.co.uk/ Conversations with a SEND Mum – Nicole’s podcast: https://conversationswithasendmum.buzzsprout.com/ Super Sensory Squad Book – ‘Buzz’s Birthday’ and other penguin-based sensory tools: https://www.thesupersensorysquad.com/ Cub Scouts: https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/being-a-cub/joining-cubs/ Lisa Lloyd reel - Neurotypicals watching what their parents watch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIzCFBxNzxT “Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?” by Pierre Novellie – Caesar-or-nothing brains and comedy insight: https://amzn.eu/d/dSZA4dC Minecraft Club - Online Social Group for 7-14 year olds: https://minecraftclub.co.uk/ Press Play - Stop frame animation workshops in Sussex: https://pressplayfilms.co.uk/  Boogie Beat - Music and movement classes: https://boogiebeat.co.uk/ Sam Mills – Disability Tennis Brighton: Email [email protected] for information   CONTACT US 📧 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles   CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com  

Shopping - whether it’s for clothes, food or shoes - can be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare when you’re parenting autistic or ADHD children. Helen Stuart joins Mark to discuss why “just popping to the shops” is a long-held pipedream. They share tales from the front line of their own shopping trip traumas, and discuss how sensory overload, PDA, and unpredictable environments make supermarkets and shopping centres feel like hostile territory. Helen explains the practical steps her family takes to get through it - and when they just opt out entirely. Mark shares how even a trip to the corner shop has to be planned like a military operation, and how public perception adds a whole extra layer of pressure. A funny, honest episode that every neurodivergent parenting family will relate to.   STUFF WE COVER: 00:00 – Intro & Listener Feedback 02:00 – Meet the Guest: Helen Stuart 06:00 – Topic of the Week: Shopping 13:00 – Why Supermarkets Are Sensory Torture 19:00 – The Emotional Toll of Trolleys and Comments 25:00 – PDA Autonomy, Meltdowns, and the Elsa Cup Incident 33:00 – Supermarket Sweep, PDA-Style 39:00 – Self-Checkouts vs Human Interaction 45:00 – Clothing & Footwear Battles 52:00 – Lush, Libraries and Return Rage 59:00 – When Book Tokens Become a Poisoned Chalice 1:04:00 – The Positives (Yes, Really!) 1:10:00 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:16:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:20:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:23:00 – Wrap-Up & Thrive Together Info LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: PDA Society - Support and resources for families living with a PDA profile: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk Supermarket Sweep - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarket_Sweep_(British_game_show) Sunflower Lanyard Scheme - For invisible disabilities: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com Waterstones Book Tokens - https://www.waterstones.com/help/gift-cards-and-vouchers/32 H&M - https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/kids.html Skechers - https://www.skechers.co.uk/kids/ Lindsay's Swim School - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063580090089&sk=about Nelson Street Church, Rochdale - https://www.nelsonstreetchurch.org/ Thrive Together Training website – https://thrivetogethertraining.co.uk Thrive Together Training Facebook page – www.facebook.com/thrivetogethertraining Thrive Together Training Instagram account – www.instagram.com/thrivetogethertraining ⸻ CONTACT US 🎧 Do you have a “What the flip?” moment or a tiny epic win to share? 📧 Email us: [email protected] ⸻ FOLLOW US 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme tune by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com  

Starting school is a big deal for any child – but for neurodivergent children, it can be the beginning of a long and complicated relationship with the education system. Mark is joined by Helen Daniel to explore what happens when the school system isn’t built for your child. They discuss transitions, sensory overload, academic gaslighting and the slow-burning isolation that builds in the school playground (for kids and parents alike), as they dissect the emotional rollercoaster of watching your child struggle in a system not built for them. Together, they share tips for advocating for your child while staying sane – and what they wish they’d known from the beginning. If you’re looking for an autism, ADHD or PDA parenting podcast episodes about starting school, this one is essential listening. ⸻ STUFF WE COVER: 00:00 – Intro & Listener Message 01:45 – Meet the Guest: Helen Daniel 06:00 – Topic of the Week: Early Years & School 21:00 – Sensory Profiles and Unrealistic Expectations 34:00 – ND Communication Styles & Social Hierarchies 47:00 – Parent Isolation and Drop-Off Struggles 56:30 – School Pickup Dread & Neurodivergent Burnout 1:03:00 – What Needs to Change in Education 1:04:45 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:09:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:14:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:17:00 – Wrap-Up & Helen’s Book Plug ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Outside the Box Sensory (Helen’s website for talks, training and resources) - https://outsidetheboxsensory.com Follow Helen on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/otbsensory Follow Helen on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/outsidetheboxsensory Helen’s book – Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages and Inclusion (Amazon): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CV4PSMH7 The Double Empathy Problem – Dr. Damian Milton: https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics Heidi Mavir Neuroshambles Empathy Episode - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-avrx7-17af07c Pete Wharmby Neuroshambles Masking Episode - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cke9u-18156f6 Progressive Education – Resources for alternative provision and inclusive practice: https://www.progressiveeducation.org Grove Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education – Interest-based communities for ND kids: https://www.gr0ve.org/ Silent Disco - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_disco ⸻ CONTACT US 🎧 Got a “What the flip?” moment or a tiny epic win to share? 📧 Email us: [email protected] ⸻ FOLLOW US 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme tune by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com  

Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They discuss how it feels to be the lone neurotypical in a family teeming with autism, ADHD, and PDA - touching on everything from helping them navigate everyday social conventions to how to cope when your emotional needs are the only ones not being accommodated for. They discuss the challenges of bridging two worlds - interpreting “neurotypical” rules for neurodivergent loved ones, while also learning where those same social norms should be thrown out of the window altogether. There are candid insights into parenting styles, navigating brutal honesty (“Mum, why are you so old?” or “Dad, you should iron your face!”), and the realisation that sometimes your greatest strength is simply having enough “spoons” to hold it all together. A light-hearted but deeply affirming neurodivergent parenting podcast episode for mixed-neurotype families. ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Pizza Express - https://www.pizzaexpress.com/ The Great Escape - https://greatescapefestival.com/ Wife Swap - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife_Swap_(British_TV_series) Gorilla Gym - https://amzn.eu/d/bpK6C0G Angela Barnes – https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk/ The Stimming Pool - https://www.thestimmingpool.com/ Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings - https://www.electricpalacecinema.com/ Lucy Bronze – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xriJ8wZm1w4 ⸻ CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions, or any “What the flip?” moments you’d like to share, feel free to email us: [email protected] ⸻ FOLLOW US Instagram: instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: threads.net/@neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/   Thank you for listening and being part of the Neuroshambles community. If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend, leave a review, or share it on social media. Have a nice life!

What happens when you hit a wall, and there’s no one around to help you up again? Liz Evans joins Mark to talk about parental burnout: what it looks like, why it’s so common, and the stigma around admitting you're not coping. Liz discusses her own experiences of parental burnout, and shares her knowledge of how to spot the signs of impending burnout, before offering guidance on strategies we can implement to avoid it happening to us - because let's face it, many parents of autistic and ADHD children are constantly dancing around the edges of it. This one’s a lifeline for exhausted parents of neurodivergent kids who have been in survival mode for far too long. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Together For Send Conference, Bristol - https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/events/togetherforsend2025/ The Untypical OT website - https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/ The Untypical OT podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0L6K6RwcErY5Z9tggI40F3?si=d32fc06ab7ca4c60 The Untypical OT podcast (Heidi Mavir episode) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/49CtSzTKt8WStCL6bo8d5h?si=gVjZWlSgSj23eHJoMIGxWA Workplace Burnout - https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases Brené Brown short film on Empathy - https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw?si=nRHnjrN2pb4jZ-W7 Super Good Bikers For Autism - https://www.supergoodbikersforautism.com/ The Stimming Pool - https://www.thestimmingpool.com/     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Despite what some people believe, getting an autism or ADHD diagnosis for your child is far from straightforward. It's a frustrating, emotional and exhausting journey - no matter which diagnosis pathway you travel.  In this special episode, Mark speaks to Tam, who is his former partner, current co-parent and long time friend. They discuss the diagnosis process of their three neuro-exceptional kids, who each followed completely different routes in the UK - from NHS/CAMHS and private diagnosis, to the "Right to Choose" pathway. This is a uniquely intimate and candid episode, where both parents reflect on the emotional rollercoaster of seeking diagnoses for Jay (diagnosed autistic/ADHD), Otto (diagnosed autistic/ADHD) and India (suspected autistic/ADHD... until now). By a strange quirk of fate, the recording date of this episode fell on the same day they received the results of India's autism assessment, so you can hear their reaction to this, just moments after receiving the news, as they consider what it now means for their family unit. It’s a raw, informative and validating conversation - particularly for parents wondering if it’s worth pushing for that piece of paper. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/ The Effra Clinic - https://www.effraclinic.co.uk/ Right To Choose - https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/your-choices-in-the-nhs/ All Dogs Have ADHD - https://amzn.eu/d/8Tzq6dj All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum - https://amzn.eu/d/byZg2mQ ADHDUK - https://adhduk.co.uk/ Heba App (formerly Hibi) - https://www.heba.care/     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Why do so many autistic and ADHD kids put on a brave face at school - only to melt down at home? Masking is a survival strategy for so many of our neurodivergent children. Pete Wharmby joins Mark to talk about why they do it, what the long terms affects are on their sense of self, and how we can help them unmask safely. They explore the school environment, social pressures and internalised expectations that drive masking behaviour - often at great emotional cost. Pete shares his personal journey of unmasking as an adult, and how he’s helping his own child feel accepted without having to perform. Mark reflects on the challenge of supporting a child who seems “fine” to outsiders – and the guilt that comes when parents question their own instincts. If you’re looking for a neurodivergent parenting podcast episode that unpacks this essential topic with warmth, honesty and wisdom, this is it. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Pete Wharmby's website - https://petewharmby.com/ "Untypical" by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/35cWwBh Alexis Quinn - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/stories/stories-from-the-spectrum-alexis-quinn University of Edinburgh study in autistic communication with other autistics - https://salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk/our-projects/autistic-autistic-communication Autistic code switching - https://myautismmind.com/autism-masking/ Autistic Girls Network - https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/ Lego hidden disabilities sunflower - https://hdsunflower.com/uk/insights/post/the-lego-group-joins-hidden-disabilities-sunflower "What I Want To Talk About" by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/3HoKSt9   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

What do you do when you find out that you know more than the “experts” who are supposed to be helping you? In this episode, Mark is joined by Charlotte Mountford to talk about navigating services and seeking support for neurodivergent children. This episode deals with the familiar frustration of having to deal with the professionals who are gatekeepers to the accommodations our neurodifferent kids need. From teachers, whose evidence you have to seek in order to get a diagnosis, to CAMHS specialists, GPs, occupational therapists and paediatricians - the list of professionals we need to interact with is dizzying. Together, they also explore the disconnect between lived experience and professional expertise - and why parents so often become the real experts through necessity. If you’re a parent of an autistic, ADHD or PDA child and have ever come away from a meeting less supported than when you went in, this episode is for you.  LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell - https://amzn.eu/d/91hZpN4 Dean Beadle Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deanbeadlespeaker/  Dean Beadle Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dean.beadlespeaker Dan Beadle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@deanbeadleuk Eliza Fricker - https://missingthemark.co.uk/ Kieran Rose - https://theautisticadvocate.com/ "Bilal's Bad Day" by Neelum Khan - https://amzn.eu/d/5amH9zO "Neurotypicals don't juggle chainsaws" podcast - https://neurotypicalsdontjugglechainsaws.co.uk/ Liz Evans: The Untypical OT - https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/ Badger Education Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/badger.education Badger Education Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Badger.Education.Inclusive.Supports Badger Education Free PDF - https://badger-education.co.uk/reasonable-adjustments-opt-in-2893   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Why do simple hygiene routines, like brushing teeth or taking a bath, feel like impossible mountains to climb when you're raising ADHD, autistic or PDA kids? Rebecca Huseyin joins Mark to discuss one of the most frustrating (and least talked about) aspects of neurodivergent parenting: personal hygiene. They explore how sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, and demand avoidance can turn everyday tasks into full-blown standoffs. Rebecca shares her own experiences with honesty and humour, and how she’s adapted her expectations to support her child. They swap tales of the ludicrous lengths they go to when trying to navigate personal hygiene tasks, such as cleaning hands, wiping faces, brushing teeth, having baths, cutting fingernails and wiping bums. There are some hilarious anecdotes about the lengths to which Mark and Rebecca go to encourage their kids to engage in hygiene tasks - from fake drowning them in the bath, cleaning their teeth like a Victorian ghost and introducing the concept of "special dry". LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: The Lighter Side of PDA Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LighterPDA/ Rebecca Huseyin blog (A Boy Less Ordinary) - https://aboylessordinary.com/ SENDIASS - (Google for your local county SENDIASS details) PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Proprioception and Interoception: https://www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues Oranurse unflavoured toothpaste - https://oranurse.co.uk/unflavoured-toothpaste/ Little teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/little-teeth-toothpaste/ Big teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/big-teeth-toothpaste/ The Prism Cat - https://linktr.ee/KyraChambers   Tesco Mobile Sensory Box - https://bettersociety.net/tesco-mobile-sensory-box.php Insanity Arcade, Poole - https://www.insanityarcade.com/home   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Mark welcomes back the phenomenal Heidi Mavir, who is an  author, a neurodivergent advocate, activist, public speaker and Mum of a neurodifferent son (20, diagnosed autistic with a tic disorder, as well as suspected dyslexia and  Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). They pick up on a topic they very briefly touched on in the previous episode they recorded, which is whether there's any truth to the commonly-held belief that autistics don't feel empathy (spoiler alert - that view is abject nonsense). They dissect the very concept of empathy to try and understand why it's viewed as so important to neurotypicals, what "the double empathy problem" is and why our kids' way of displaying and responding to empathy is so varied. This is a genuinely insightful episode that gives a lot of food for thought when considering whether our own kids are able to feel empathy.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Heidi Mavir EOTAS Matters website - https://www.heidimavir.com/ "Your Child Is Not Broken" by Heidi Mavir - https://amzn.eu/d/8di4y0X "Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?" by Pierre Novellie - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR "How To Win Friends and Influence People" - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR The Double Empathy Problem - https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics/ "I Didn't See You There" by Charlotte Gail - https://amzn.to/3PUk4n1 Sesame Street Introduce Autistic Character - https://youtu.be/dKCdV20zLMs Muppet Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/JXaVI60BFJM Heidi Mavir on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heidimavir   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Should you medicate your child? And how do you cope with the guilt, fear and stigma that comes with making that decision? Danielle Jata-Hall joins Mark for a candid, compassionate and non-judgemental chat about medication. They discuss the medication journeys they've been on with their own kids, from overcoming their initial misgivings and dealing with the judgement of others, to the administrative nightmare of trying to get medication prescribed by medical professionals. Danielle also bravely opens up about her infuriating experience of being accused of FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) by the very people she'd turned to for help. A vital episode for any parent navigating medication options and craving reassurance that they’re not alone. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: "The Journey Into S.E.N.D Fatherhood" book - https://amzn.eu/d/0qwN0il Danielle Jata-Hall blog - https://pdaparenting.com/ Newbold Hope -  https://www.newboldhope.com/ FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/ "The Parent's Guide to ADHD Medicines" book - https://amzn.eu/d/i2e73JM Shared Care - https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/regional-medicines-optimisation-committees-advice/shared-care-protocols/ "I'm Not Upside Down, I'm Downside Up" book - https://amzn.eu/d/avsMxy2 "Black Rainbow" book - https://amzn.eu/d/he1Nd8K "Steph's Two Girls" blog with tips on getting your child to take medication - https://www.stephstwogirls.co.uk/2020/01/top-tips-when-your-child-wont-take.html "A boy less ordinary" blog - https://aboylessordinary.com/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

What was it like to raise an autistic child 30 years ago? Mark has a fascinating chat with Stephanie - his wonderful neighbour from over the road, whose autistic son is now an adult. They discuss how parents of autistic children were able to navigate the process of understanding how best to raise their kids, without access to the internet, social media or the breadth of information we have available now?  This is an enlightening and surprisingly uplifting episode about autistic parenting, which shines a light on just how far society has come in a relatively short space of time, when it comes to understanding, supporting and championing our neurodivergent kids. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Disneyland, Paris - https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/ Echolalia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolalia The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle - https://amzn.eu/d/boDv6wN Rain Man - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Man The Essential Different, Simon Baron Cohen - https://amzn.eu/d/3Y5xgWv Gentle Parenting - https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/on-babies/202405/gentle-parenting-doesnt-mean-permissive-parenting Leonardo Da Vinci - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/leonardo-da-vinci-adhd-health-mona-lisa-a8927641.html Social Stories - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/communication/communication-tools/social-stories-and-comic-strip-coversations Supported Employment - https://www.base-uk.org/about/members/brighton-hove-city-council Fare Share - https://fareshare.org.uk/ Oxfam - https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/jobs/home/ Leonardslee Gardens - www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Belle joins Mark to explore why transport can be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare when you’re raising neurodivergent children. They discuss unpredictable delays, overcrowding, transitions and the sheer panic that sets in when you realise that things are not going to go as planned. It’s funny, affirming and will make you feel seen if you’ve ever had to navigate a journey with your autistic, ADHD or PDA child and had to abandon it half way through. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Gatwick Airport Special Assistance - https://www.gatwickairport.com/passenger-guides/special-assistance.html Ferry cabins (DFDS) - https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/onboard/newhaven-dieppe/sleeping Jen Marillat, Dramatherapist - https://jenmarillat.com/ Health and Care Professions Council - https://www.hcpc-uk.org/ The British Association of Dramatherapists - https://www.badth.org.uk/  EMDR Therapy - https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/eye-movement-desensitisation-and-reprocessing-emdr Riding For the Disabled Association (RDA) - https://rda.org.uk/ Aspens, East Sussex - https://www.aspens.org.uk/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Lisa Lloyd joins Mark to tackle one of the toughest parts of neurodivergent parenting - judgement. From strangers tutting in the supermarket to relatives offering “helpful” advice, it can feel like the world is watching, and disapproving. They swap tales about comments they receive from people judging their children ("He's not autistic, he's just naughty"), judging their parenting ("He wouldn't act like that if he was my son") and judging the entire concept of neurodivergency ("It's just a label"). They discuss the misconceptions that cause people to act this way, as well as the appropriate responses you can give them in return. Lisa explains how she built resilience and a community of understanding, while Mark talks about learning to let go of needing to be understood. This autism and ADHD parenting podcast episode is a powerful, funny and validating conversation for anyone who’s ever felt scrutinised, criticised, or blamed for doing their best. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Raising the Sen-Betweeners, Lisa Lloyd - https://amzn.eu/d/4hm6Sb0 SEND Reform England - https://www.sendreformengland.com/ Lisa Lloyd Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asd_with_a_g_and_t/ Lisa Lloyd TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@asd.with.a.g.and.t Lisa Lloyd Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASDwithGandT     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok:https: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Comparison is the thief of joy - and nowhere is that truer than in SEND parenting. Samuel Wilson returns to talk with Mark about resisting the pressure to keep pace with neurotypical milestones. They explore how school, family, and social media can fuel comparison, and the emotional impact of feeling like you’re “behind”. Samuel shares how he’s learned to celebrate his child’s progress on their own terms, and Mark discusses the freedom that comes from letting go. If you’re looking for an autism parenting podcast episode that’s both validating and liberating, this one is for you. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Simpsons clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=784seqWxsMk&t=469s Dad La Soul - https://www.dadlasoul.com/ BBC Woman’s Hour - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0022ss7 India Croc replacement saga - https://www.instagram.com/p/C9hLMewpBH6/ "Lend a Hand", Samuel Wilson's book - www.littlestepspublishing.co.uk/books/lend-a-hand   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

It’s a question many parents of neurodivergent children have whispered: “Is this behaviour just a result of their neurotype - or is my kid actually an arsehole?” Mark is joined by Kate Ebbutt for an unfiltered chat about the guilt, fear and frustration behind this very real concern. They explore compassion fatigue, judgement from others, and the emotional toll of parenting children who challenge every boundary. They also discuss to what extent the gentle parenting approach could be contributing to this behaviour, as well as recounting experiences of times where they've had to explain their parenting choices to neurotypicals who struggle to understand their approach. It’s a brave, honest conversation hilariously relatable episode that will make all parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids feel seen. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: "The Explosive Child" book - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm Gentle Parenting - https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/what-is-gentle-parenting/ National Trust - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ RAM (Random Access Memory) - https://www.ign.com/articles/what-is-ram Sheffield Queer Parents - https://sites.google.com/view/sheffield-queer-parents Angling 4 Education - https://www.angling4education.com/     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

What does a meaningful conversation with a neurodivergent child actually look like? Mark chats with inspirational autism advocate Kieran Rose to unpack language and communication, and offer some fascinating insights into the different communication styles between neurodivergents and neurotypicals. They discuss situational mutism, hyperverbalism, small talk and monotropism to shine a light on why conversations don’t always sound like we expect. Kieran shares incredible insight from both personal and professional perspectives to explain how traditional communication expectations can alienate autistic, PDA and ADHD children, and how to create connection through listening, adaptation and patience. A standout episode for any parent who’s ever worried they’re not ‘getting through’ to their child - and a brilliant reminder that connection comes in many forms. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Neurodive Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/neurodivepod/kieranrose Kieran's website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/ Maori word for autism - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-40493398   KIERAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER READING: A short (and very inexhaustive) list of Autistic advocates and allies no longer with us, who have made a phenomenally constructive difference to the narratives around Autistic and Neurodivergent people, but who never get the recognition of lauded non-Autistic people:   Jim Sinclair Don't mourn for us - Jim Sinclair wrote one of the pivotal texts in the reframing of Autistic experience (opens as a PDF): https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://philosophy.ucsc.edu/SinclairDontMournForUs.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwik86zq-smIAxWCWUEAHQ2NH5UQFnoECCQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3WfDEINrbr2olYTgiO6ZKl A book about Jim: https://amzn.eu/d/3qalj4l   Donna Williams Conceptualised a model of advocacy based on an inside-out approach - that observation based on your own or a normative experience can only take you so far. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Williams She produced a massive number of books: https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-donna-williams-pid-199891   Mel Baggs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Baggs An old (quality is indicative of its age, so please bear with it) video on two parts that off a deep challenge to normative assumptions around communication and experience: https://youtu.be/JnylM1hI2jc?si=IaPhwkiYn1vRmmlp   Dinah Murray https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah_Murray Co-creator of the theory of monotropism: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361305051398 A basic introduction: https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=SMiSDEoiNcDtV2eg   Steve Silberman https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Silberman The author of Neurotribes, a game changing book that brought a model of different, not less into the mainstream: https://amzn.eu/d/clw0AD8     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Fussy eating takes on a whole new meaning when your child is neurodivergent. Dee McMahon joins Mark to talk about mealtime battles, safe foods and the stress that food can cause for both kids and parents. Mark and Dee take a deep dive into the soul crushing nightmare of trying to feed their neurodifferent kids something remotely resembling a balanced diet. From the trauma of putting together meal plans and shopping lists, to the sense of nervous trepidation when trying to introduce their kids to new foods and the wounded pride they experience when food they've slaved away at is dismissed without even being tried. They also take an in-depth look at the more serious side of food issues, when they discuss Dee's personal account of her boy's recent diagnosis of ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). If you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children with food sensitivities, this is a validating, compassionate conversation that cuts through the guilt and gets to the heart of the issue. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: ARFID - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant/restrictive_food_intake_disorder ARFID Community Facebook Group - www.facebook.com/groups/arfid/ mASCot website: https://www.asc-mascot.com/ mASCot Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221337174595596/ To make a donation to mASCot, so they can continue their amazing work: https://www.givey.com/mascot Evelina Clinic, London - www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk Sainsbury's pasta stars - https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-stars-500g? Spruce tips - www.foragerchef.com/spruce-tips/     CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Say cheese? Not a chance. Claire Quigley-Ward joins Mark to rant and reflect about why getting a photo of the whole family feels impossible when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children. They discuss the absolute nightmare of trying to take a "normal" photo of our kids - from the challenges of getting them to stay still and not be distracted, to their inability to pose for the camera and the inevitable dread of seeing how they stand out for all the wrong reasons in the annual school photo. Claire shares how she redefined success in capturing family memories, and Mark reflects on the balance between preserving the moment and surviving it. Funny, familiar and full of perspective, this PDA parenting podcast episode might make you feel better about every blurry, chaotic photo you’ve ever taken. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: All Aboard ADHD podcast - https://www.allaboardadhd.com/podcast All Aboard ADHD coaching - https://www.allaboardadhd.com/coaching Apple Live Photo feature - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/104966 Google Best Take feature - https://blog.google/products/photos/how-google-photos-best-take-works/ SenLife App - https://mysenlife.com/ Kate Peers - https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/adhd-children-diagnosis-special-needs-school-funding-a9163761.html   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Raising one neurodivergent child is tough. Raising several, with sibling dynamics in the mix, is a whole different level. In this episode, Mark chats with Jess Cain about sibling relationships, fairness, jealousy, and the surprising ways kids can support one another. They share anecdotes about the difficulties they face when trying to balance the wildly different needs of all of their children, whilst somehow trying to remain positive and upbeat. From avoiding conflict, the importance of discussing everyone's needs openly, and learning how to prioritise their own needs in the midst of the mayhem. Jess shares what’s worked in helping her children understand and relate to each other, and Mark opens up about the guilt and gratitude that come with sibling life. It’s a vital listen for families managing autism, ADHD or PDA alongside the complexity of sibling relationships. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Send Family Instincts Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sendfamilyinstincts/ Send Family Instincts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SendFamilyInstincts/ Send Family Instincts website - https://sendfamilymagic.mykajabi.com/ Eliza Fricker - https://www.instagram.com/elizafricker_missingthemark/ Charlie Gray (My Neurodivergent Adventure) - https://myneurodivergentadventure.co.uk/ Laura Kerbey (P-AST) - https://p-ast.co.uk/ Brighton Fringe (Neurodiverse Performer Award) - https://www.brightonfringe.org/brighton-fringe-awards-ceremony/ Sara Jane Harvey (Agony Autie) - https://www.instagram.com/agonyautie/ CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

In this autism and PDA parenting podcast episode, Lisa Galley joins Mark to talk about the long, often frustrating process of teaching neurodivergent children the life skills they'll need when they're an adult. As they cover the diverse range of topics under the umbrella of life skills, Lisa offers some valuable (and occasionally comforting) insights into how her kids have acquired skills, such as getting a job, navigating self care, managing money, learning to drive and, ultimately living away from home. Lisa shares her gentle approach to building independence at a child’s own pace, and Mark reflects on when to step in versus when to back off. A reassuring and practical episode for anyone wondering when – or if – their child will ever learn to make toast. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Lisa Galley Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/school_run_mum_autism/ Roblox "Find The Markers" - https://www.roblox.com/games/7896264844/Find-The-Markers-237 Metro Bank - https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/about-us/kids-zone/ Toren Wolf on Learning to Drive - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6PndheP02Z/ Danielle Jata-Hall (PDA Parenting) - https://www.instagram.com/pdaparenting/ Sara Jane Harvey (Agony Autie) - https://www.instagram.com/agonyautie/ Lisa Galley's Website: https://www.lisagalley.com/ CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Board games, video games, a nice, relaxing game of crazy golf - fun for all the family, right? Not if you have neurodivergent kids. In this episode, Mark is joined by Dan Clark to explore how seemingly simple games can quickly spiral into chaos and meltdown when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children. They chat about fairness, turn-taking, emotional regulation and why Monopoly might be the most dangerous game in a neurodivergent household. Dan brings humour and honesty, sharing how video games have been a surprisingly good way to bond with his children. They also discuss the hugely beneficial role that both video games and Dungeons & Dragons can play in teaching our kids some of the skills they need to develop, in order to navigate a world teeming with neurotypicals. If you’re looking for a neurodivergent parenting podcast that understands both the joy and unpredictability of family life, this one hits the mark.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: MindJam - https://mindjam.org.uk/ Monopoly - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game) Fast Show Competitive Dad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2x_DI7tzNQ Mario Kart - https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/mario-kart Beat the Parents - https://amzn.eu/d/3xTCOg8 Cranium - https://amzn.eu/d/cVedUTu Scrabble - https://amzn.eu/d/f4ngyJW Dungeon Mayhem - https://amzn.eu/d/3Z0NFr8 Throw Throw Burrito - https://amzn.eu/d/3Z0NFr8 Ocean Bingo - https://www.laurenceking.com/products/ocean-bingo Exploding Kittens - https://amzn.eu/d/933z2FH Unstable Unicorns - https://amzn.eu/d/cDnUP80 Risk - https://amzn.eu/d/dc7h30w The Dice Saloon, Brighton - https://www.dicesaloon.com/ Chase The Ace - https://www.classicgamesandpuzzles.com/Chase-the-Ace.html Zelda: Breath of the Wild - https://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild Boy beats Tetris - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67902380 Fortnite - https://www.ign.com/games/fortnite Candy Crush - https://www.ign.com/games/candy-crush-saga Dungeons & Dragons - https://dnd.wizards.com/ MindJam Adventure Guild - https://mindjam.org.uk/services/adventure-guild/ BAFTA Young Game Designers - https://ygd.bafta.org/ It Takes Two - https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/it-takes-two/about Brighton Festival Children's Parade - https://samesky.co.uk/events/childrens-parade-3/ Jump Inc Trampoline Park - https://www.jump-inc.uk/locations/lincoln/ Kellie Bright EHCP Film (BBC One Show) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z8w5   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles   CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Loud hand dryers, echoey classrooms, ticking clocks - for neurodivergent kids, the world can feel painfully loud. Lauren Palfrey joins Mark to talk about auditory sensitivity - from extreme reactions to loud noises and meltdowns when confronted with contrasting sounds and the fascinating topic of misophonia. They explore meltdowns triggered by hand dryers, how to handle noisy siblings, and the trauma that can come from being overwhelmed by everyday sounds. A brilliant episode for anyone parenting autistic or sensory-sensitive children - especially if you’ve ever had to leave a noisy party early, or worn ear defenders in a supermarket. This episode is best listened to with in a quiet place, with noise cancelling headphones!   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Ear defenders - https://amzn.eu/d/fIIDess Misophonia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia Cat scarer - https://amzn.eu/d/0U0SYMw Santas on a bike - https://www.facebook.com/groups/santasonabike/ Loop earplugs - https://amzn.eu/d/iNWzyws Lauren's noise cancelling headphones - https://groceries.asda.com/product/on-ear-headphones/asda-tech-bluetooth-noise-cancelling-headphones-black/1000370064193 Jay's noise cancelling headphones - https://amzn.eu/d/8hs4ToC White noise - https://open.spotify.com/album/7KbmHEKwEhKyeZT9xuYVco?si=L5-cYE1HSIiYsaqWs83F-A Brown noise - https://open.spotify.com/album/0onzJRO1vDBXmXqYy60qsR?si=xgwQCc0OSC-QfID0YOlycw Pink noise - https://open.spotify.com/album/5w3fCjBpzyGA6tW9mSfQmr?si=bqH-u1ySQzSYkHVPNjXG1w UK Misophonia Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShutUpWorld/?mibextid=K35XfP The Assembly - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001xyj5/the-assembly Bloke Barbers, Allestree, Derbyshire (Sara) - https://www.blokebarber.co.uk/#our-prices Comfa Clothing Fidget-T - https://www.comfa.co.uk/product/fidget-t/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles   CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Why is mealtime such a battleground in neurodivergent households? Mark reunites with Liam Mullone to discuss the daily drama of feeding neurodivergent kids, from food aversions and arguments about cutlery to why they simply don't have the capacity sit still and "eat nicely". They explore how control, routine and sensory needs all play a part in what (and how) kids eat, and the pressure parents feel to ‘just get them to eat something’. Liam brings sharp humour and brilliant analogies, while Mark reflects on his family’s evolving approach. Whether you’re dealing with autistic eating preferences, ADHD impulsivity or PDA-related food refusal, this episode will resonate with you.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Torbay General Hospital paediatric ward - https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/child-health/ McDonalds - https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb.html Wetherspoons - https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles   CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

How do you help a child who experiences emotions like a hurricane? In this powerful episode, Mark is joined by Grace Lockrobin to explore why emotional regulation is so difficult for autistic, PDA and ADHD children, and what parents can do to support them. They discuss emotional literacy, shutdowns, and the blurry line between PDA-related anxiety and perceived defiance. Mark and Grace also discuss how they deal with their own emotions as parents - from having to keep a firm lid on anger, to the often taboo subject of acknowledging the sadness in their own lives. This episode offers tools and reassurance to parents struggling to help their children navigate big feelings - especially when those feelings lead to meltdowns or withdrawal. If you need a neurodivergent parenting podcast that explores feelings with compassion and clarity, start here.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: The Apprentice - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0071b63 Emotion cards - https://amzn.eu/d/1uT2Pru Alexithymia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexithymia Aquila Magazine - https://www.aquila.co.uk/ "The Explosive Child" book - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm Beavers - https://www.scouts.org.uk/beavers/ Villa Real School - https://www.villarealschool.co.uk/ "All The Ways to Be Smart" book - https://amzn.eu/d/4Ssd6qF BBC Sport Article on Greg Halford - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68617366 Nick Ransom, Journalist - https://www.nickransom.co.uk/ Sapere - https://www.sapere.org.uk/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles   CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Getting out the front door can feel like a military operation when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA kids. Comedian Hatty Ashdown joins Mark to talk about how something so basic becomes so complicated. They swap stories about endless distractions, sensory meltdowns and the sheer unpredictability of transitions. Hatty shares the small wins and epic fails she’s had trying to leave the house with her kids, and Mark offers tips he’s picked up (usually the hard way). Funny, chaotic, and reassuringly honest – this episode is as a must for anyone who’s ever felt like they deserve a medal just for getting to Tesco.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Gorilla Gym - https://amzn.eu/d/22yMHaK Purple Parenting - https://www.purpleparenting.co.uk/about/ Natural History Museum "Dawnosaurs" sessions - https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dawnosaurs.html Hatty Ashdown's website - https://hattyashdown.com/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles   CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/