In this joyful chat, AuDHDer and delightful clinical psychologist Brianna Thomas shares insightful, creative and practical strategies for building affirming spaces where neurodivergent and LGBTQI+ young people can explore their identities. We discuss the powerful intersection of neurodivergence and gender/sexual identity, why curiosity beats assumptions every time, and how creativity and parallel play can become your most powerful therapeutic tools. Also, flowers, glue and banana bread.

"If I don't regulate, how can they possibly be expected to do what we say if we are not doing it in front of them and really authentically living it out in that moment?" – Brianna Thomas

We cover:

• The high crossover between neurodivergence and LGBTQI+ identities and what adults need to understand
• How to create psychologically safe spaces through creativity, curiosity, thoughtful intake forms, and flexible communication
• Why slowing the pace (without blocking exploration) helps everyone process identity journeys together
• School strategies: bathroom accommodations, roll call flexibility, and family communication
• The power of parallel play and co-regulation in therapeutic sessions
• Bringing creativity into everything: why "making a sandwich" counts as creative practice
• Moving beyond worksheets to rocks with googly eyes, paint, clay, and colorful chaos

Resources Mentioned:

• Trans Hub: transhub.org.au – Information for clinicians, parents, and trans young people
• The Gender Identity Workbook for Teens – Structured resource for exploring gender journey (with quizzes and activities for individuals, families, or therapists): https://www.thenile.com.au/books/andrew-maxwell-triska-msw-lcsw/gender-identity-workbook-for-teens/9781648765087
• Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg – Picture book about finding opportunity in mistakes and imperfection: https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/076115728X

Connect with Brianna Thomas:

• ADHD IRL Podcast: Listen on Spotify
• The Psych Hive: thepsychhive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychhive/ and https://www.instagram.com/brianna_thomas_psych/

Daily deals on Neurodiversity Affirming Practice professional education - https://playlearnchat.com/deals-week (Ends 28 Nov 2025)

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As we head into the busiest part of the year with changes, unpredictable off-routine things, and maybe extreme weather, here's how to proactively regulate and prepare for difficult days. This helps the children you support, and yourself!

"When you're very proactive in putting supports in place, the amount of reactive support that's needed reduces greatly." - Adina Levy

In this episode, I share:

• Why preparing for difficult days (hot weather, poor sleep, changes to routine) is particularly helpful for Autistic and anxious folks, and how to anticipate what might be challenging
• How to build regulation toolkits with children: create short lists of what helps when dysregulated, model your own strategies, and practice strategies ahead of time, not just when things fall apart
• What lowering expectations really means (hint: it's not about limiting potential forever), and why self-advocacy takes practice and confidence

Links:

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

Black Friday Deals Week! All the best Neurodiversity Affirming Practice https://playlearnchat.com/deals-week

A new offer each day Monday 24th November - Friday 28th November.

Creating truly inclusive, accessible events is possible, practical and powerful... and not optional! In this incredibly insightful and delightful chat with Katie Koullas from Yellow Ladybugs, she shares the non-negotiables of creating inclusive events, and big ideas around building your unique event that is just what your community needs. "Accessibility is about removing barriers, but inclusion is about belonging and safety once you're there." – Katie Koullas In this guest speaker chat we cover: • How to define your non-negotiables and articulate a clear 'why' that guides every event decision • Practical choices that shape accessibility and felt-safety, from venue and timing to sensory supports and communication that respects capacity • Ways to test interest, gather useful feedback, and move through impostor syndrome while protecting your energy and boundaries

Links & Resources mentioned

• Yellow Ladybugs – Autistic-led charity supporting autistic girls, women and gender diverse people – https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/
• Local Connect (Yellow Ladybugs) – Find and connect with neurokin in your area – https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/Connect/LocalConnect
• Neurodivergent Business Collective – Adina's membership and community for Neurodivergent business owners, where sealed-section episodes (including the juciest parts of Katie's chat!) and loads more support and resources live – https://differentlyaligned.com/neurodivergent-business-collective/
• Book Adina mentioned: Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering – Purposeful, people-centred approaches to events – https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering
• Differently Aligned Podcast - For Neurodivergent Business Owners - https://differentlyaligned.com/podcast/
• Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast - for adults who support neurodivergent children - https://playlearnchat.com/exploring-neurodiversity-podcast/

Government-promoted resources aren't always safe or supportive. In this episode, I take you inside the Autistics Guide to Adulthood, a resource promoted by NDIS, and show you why it misses the mark and what to look for instead.

"Just because something has a big shiny seal of approval from a big government body, it may or may not actually be a quality resource." – Adina Levy

In this episode I cover: • Why the Autistics Guide to Adulthood resource, funded and promoted by NDIS, is outdated and harmful in key ways • How to spot when a resource pushes masking, compliance, and neurotypical norms rather than affirming autistic communication and self-expression • What to look for in genuinely neurodiversity affirming resources that support autistic people to thrive as themselves

Links & Resources mentioned • Embracing You Course – by Stephanie Robertson, OT, Autistic adult and many other things too! A fabulouly affirming resource for neurodivergent adults – https://www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com/embracing-you-course

• Grab my Free Checklist: Neurodiversity Affirming Social Support Approaches for Autistic Children – practical guide to evaluate supports that are and aren't ND affirming – https://playlearnchat.kit.com/1fcf4c5759

• Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Learning Hub Bundle – discounted professional training bundle for those who support neurodivergent children. Already discounted, plus get an extra 10% off with the code POD10 – https://playlearnchat.com/learning-hub/

"Don't give up and prove everyone wrong" - Kayla Ireland shares how horses, AAC, and a fierce sense of self-advocacy help her chase her dreams and redefine what's possible for herself and others.

There are intentional silences left in this recording. Normally I edit out long pauses, but when speaking with an AAC user like Kayla, it's important to honour the natural pace of her communication and make space for her to share in her own way. This different flow of conversation may feel unfamiliar, but it's valuable to experience and listen to.

In this episode, you'll hear: • Kayla's journey with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and discovering accessible ways to communicate • Honest insights into AAC, the importance of communication partners having patience, and the power of listening to lived experience • Why therapeutic horse riding gives her freedom, confidence, and a sense of joy that medicalised therapies can't Watch this chat on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VuyKBLO_iAA Kindly Neurodivergent with Kay: YouTube / Instagram / Facebook Email: [email protected] Silver Speech Speaking Series: YouTube Rock The World with Kay & Michelle: YouTube / Instagram / Facebook Inside Scoop of Living with Cerebral Palsy: Facebook / Instagram / YouTube Kayla Interviewing Adina: YouTube / Facebook

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

If you're an Allied Health business owner facing the NDIS pricing chaos, this episode gives you the practical steps you can take right now (today!) to steady your business, support your clients, and stop spinning in uncertainty. "When you strengthen your business with a solid, sustainable model, your clients and community are the ones that are going to benefit, as well as you, as well as your team." —Adina Levy In this episode, I speak directly to Allied Health professionals facing the NDIS pricing freeze (or backslide), and offer practical, grounded ways to respond with clarity, sustainability and self-care. Even if this exact situation doesn't affect you, there's plenty here to support you through any big, unexpected change in your business. I share about: • The immediate, simple action you can take today, using my free email template, to steady your business and show clear leadership • What the NDIS pricing freeze actually means for your business • Two key pricing paths you can take in response, with mindset shifts and maths to support your thinking LINKS:

• FREE TEMPLATE to send your clients today - 'Heads up: Upcoming pricing and billing Update - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPdh5RkVTqICfamrj78TvvfHibV6kJtzeaL0XQb44JA/edit?usp=sharing
• Workshop: Raising Prices in an NDIS Capped World - Live on Monday 23rd June and recorded - https://playlearnchat.com/workshop-raisng-prices/
• Differently Aligned Podcast for Neurodivergent Business Owners - https://pod.link/1729123916
• Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast for Adults who Support Neurodivergent Children - https://pod.link/1625478932

Being neurodiversity affirming doesn't mean avoiding challenge. It doesn't mean staying where you are, only doing what's easy or comfortable. We can do hard things. We can learn new stuff, try new stuff, stretch ourselves – and we absolutely should. The key is doing the right hard things, for the right reasons, with the right support, at the right time. That's how growth happens without stress, burnout, or disconnection from who we really are.

"You get to define what the hard thing is in any one moment. If it feels hard, it is hard. That's a valid, real experience." - Adina Levy

In this crossover episode with my Differently Aligned Podcast, I share:

• Why doing hard things is not at odds with a neurodiversity affirming approach • My powerful framework to help neurodivergent folks of all ages to take on the right hard things with less stress and more support • Examples of how my framework looks for an Autistic boy learning to read, and for an ADHDer business owner working on changing up her chaotic non-systems.

LINKS & MORE SUPPORT

• FREE WEBINAR: Build your Business without Burnout – for neurodivergent business owners – https://differentlyaligned.com/allied-health-business-support/

• Neurodivergent Business Collective – my membership for neurodivergent service-based business owners – https://differentlyaligned.com/neurodivergent-business-collective/

• New webinar for Allied Health Practice Owners (including and especially for sole traders!) – Diversifying Revenue Streams – webinar on innovative business models – https://playlearnchat.com/webinar-diversifying-revenue-streams/

• Blog post + visual model of my "You can do hard things" framework –

https://playlearnchat.com/podcast-56

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

What looks like "bad behaviour" is usually a nervous system asking for help. In this episode, we explore what regulation really is, why it's really, really hard for kids to self-regulate, and what adults can do instead. From brain development to fidgets, co-regulation to Disney characters, we cover the real stuff that helps kids feel safe and supported.

"A caregiver's regulation is the very first exposure a child has to what regulation is." - Cheri Strecker, Occupational Therapist from Learn and Grow OT

Cheri and I would both love to hear your feedback and thoughts, so feel free to email me [email protected] or get in touch with us on Instagram – @learn.grow.ot and @play.learn.chat

CONNECT WITH CHERI • @learn.grow.ot – Cheri's Instagram account • @chargeyourmindprogram – updates and resources for Charge Your Mind Program • Learn and Grow OT – Cheri's website, including her parent programs – https://www.learnandgrowot.com.au/programs • Regulation Rescue & other free downloadable guides and tools – https://www.learnandgrowot.com.au/free-resources

LINKS

• Watch this chat on YouTube: https://youtu.be/54HUN0lo7kw

• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson – book recommendation – https://www.amazon.com.au/Whole-Brain-Child-Revolutionary-Strategies-Developing/dp/0553386697

• Neurodivergent Business Coaching & Consulting – my other business supporting neurodivergent business owners – https://differentlyaligned.com/

Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932

Website: www.playlearnchat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat

If your gut says "this test isn't showing the full story," trust it – especially when working with Autistic children. I'm sharing a live Q&A on Instagram (@play.learn.chat) every day Mon–Fri this week (31st March–4th April) – share a Q by DM or email me! Ask Qs about Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy support for Autistic Children, or Qs about my course Affirming Communication for Autistic Children! "We communicate in a different way. It's not wrong. But standardised assessments will often make it seem like it is." – Adina Levy Answering Qs and sharing thoughts about: • why standardised assessments often fail to capture an Autistic child's communication • what to do instead: connection-first approaches and the CPIE assessment framework • how a custom AI tool can help reframe your report language to be more affirming To get deeper and more actionable support around these topics and more, join me in my course! The Affirming Communication for Autistic Children Course is NOW OPEN for enrolments! Doors close on Friday 4th April, 1pm Sydney time (AEDT) All the info is here: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/