In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to shocking recent comments from Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice — whose claims about “overdiagnosis,” ear defenders, and SEND support reveal just how dangerously out of touch his party is with neurodivergent realities.

They break down Tice’s statements about “too many labels,” “overdiagnosed children,” and the idea that SEND support should be pushed back onto already-burnt-out schools. Jordan and Simon explore why this rhetoric isn’t just ignorant — it’s harmful, ableist, and deeply rooted in a political movement that treats disabled children as a financial burden rather than human beings.

Across the episode, they dive into:

• Why claims of “overdiagnosis” are factually wrong — and why autism and ADHD remain massively underdiagnosed
• The danger of framing neurodivergent support as “optional” or “too expensive”
• How right-wing parties in the UK and US mirror each other in attacking disabled communities
• Why ear defenders, sensory tools, and accommodations matter — and what it means when politicians publicly mock them
• The long history of autistic people driving innovation, science, technology, art, and culture
• How austerity politics weaponise public ignorance about neurodivergence
• Why dismissing assessments, EHCPs, and support plans harms every child, not just SEND students
• What happens when politicians shape policy around stigma instead of science and lived experience

This is a fiery, unapologetic episode about the real political threat facing autistic and ADHD people — and why our community cannot stay silent when elected officials target disabled children to score votes.

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