NeuroDADverse

Sometimes the smallest moments can mean absolutely everything.

An unexpected hug. A new way of communicating. A difficult school day. And the reminder that progress doesn't always look the way we imagined.

Welcome back to The NeuroDADverse Podcast, where Dan and Ben share the real-life wins, challenges and unexpected moments that come with raising neurodivergent children.

After a short break and a run of mini pods, both dads are back together to catch up on family life, autism, ADHD and the realities of parenting children with different needs.

This week, Dan discusses Frankie's developing communication and sensory needs, including a new challenge around clothing and understanding what's appropriate in different environments. As Frankie finds more effective ways to communicate what he wants, new questions arise about how to support his independence, privacy and understanding.

Dan and Ben also discuss emotional regulation, stimming and the difficult balance between allowing a child to process frustration and knowing when to intervene to keep them safe.

Meanwhile, Ben reflects on the ongoing challenges of school attendance for Oscar. Despite being in specialist provision, school remains difficult, with social and academic barriers affecting engagement.

As both a parent and a teacher, Ben shares his frustrations with an education system that doesn't always make children feel understood, and the difficulty of encouraging attendance without undermining the safe, accepting environment they've worked so hard to create at home.

But this episode also brings some wonderful wins.

After an unexpected trip to the hospital, Ben returns home to something he wasn't expecting: spontaneous hugs from both Mabel and Oscar.

For children who don't always seek physical affection, those small gestures become something incredibly meaningful.

Mabel also demonstrates remarkable independence and resilience, navigating long train journeys to school while Ben recovers.

And Dan celebrates some positive experiences for Frankie, including another opportunity to explore a SEND-friendly sensory activity.

In this episode

- Autism, sensory needs and changing communication

- Understanding privacy and appropriate clothing

- Supporting children through frustration and stimming

- Emotionally based school avoidance and SEND education

- The challenges of parenting while working in education

- Unexpected moments of affection and connection

- ADHD, independence and teenage resilience

- Finding the right sensory activities for autistic children

- Why progress looks different for every child

- Planning for half-term and Halloween

Because sometimes the biggest wins aren't the ones we plan for. They're the moments that happen when we're least expecting them.

💛 We'd love to hear about your week. What's been your biggest challenge, and what's been your biggest win?

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations, you’re not alone here.

Share your experiences in the comments or connect with The NeuroDADverse community on social media.

You're doing great. You are enough. And you're definitely not alone.

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We thought we'd cracked the dentist. Turns out, we're not quite there yet.

And that's okay.

Welcome to Episode 70 of The NeuroDADverse, a solo mini pod with Dan, sharing another week of the wins, challenges and unexpected lessons that come with raising a neurodivergent child.

This week starts with a brilliant win for Frankie. Following his latest school review, Dan reflects on just how far Frankie has come with his communication, understanding and learning. He's meeting most of his existing goals, taking on new challenges and settling well into his new classroom.

After years when meetings weren't always particularly positive, hearing everyone working together and celebrating Frankie's progress is something worth recognising.

But there's also a challenge.

Frankie's latest dentist appointment doesn't go quite as expected. Previous visits had been going increasingly well, so Dan arrived feeling confident. However, unfamiliar noises, sensory sensitivities and a reluctance to enter the treatment room meant the appointment had to take place in the waiting area instead.

It wasn't a failure. The dentist managed to examine Frankie's teeth to an extent, and everyone adapted to help make the appointment possible.

But it raises an important parenting question: when our children make progress, do we sometimes start expecting too much from the next experience?

Dan also reflects on the worry of knowing whether a child with communication difficulties is experiencing pain, why familiar routines matter and how important it is to recognise progress without expecting perfection.

In this episode:

• Celebrating Frankie's progress at his school review
• Developing communication and following multi-step instructions
• Autism, sensory sensitivities and dentist appointments
• Adapting medical appointments to a child's needs
• The worry of not knowing when your child is in pain
• Why progress isn't always linear
• Managing our own expectations as parents
• Celebrating an ordinary, happy week

Sometimes the win isn't that everything went perfectly. It's that everyone found a way through.

💛 We'd love to hear your experiences. Have you ever thought you'd cracked a particular parenting challenge, only for the next attempt to feel completely different?

Join the conversation and share your wins and challenges with the NeuroDADverse community.

You're doing great. You are enough. And you're definitely not alone.

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:43 A Solo Mini Pod with Dan

01:22 Frankie's School Review

02:11 Celebrating His Communication Progress

03:01 Understanding Multi-Step Instructions

03:49 A Positive Meeting with School

04:55 This Week's Challenge: The Dentist

05:38 Why We Felt Confident Going In

06:16 When the Appointment Doesn't Go to Plan

06:58 Managing Sensory Sensitivities

07:24 A Successful Appointment, But Not as Expected

08:27 The Worry of Unrecognised Pain

09:09 Why Routine Makes a Difference

09:55 Managing Our Own Expectations

10:22 Celebrating an Otherwise Happy Week

10:52 Looking Ahead and Community Invitation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another NeuroDADverse Virtual Mini Pod, where Dan and Ben share their parenting challenges and wins separately, bringing together another week of real-life autism and ADHD parenting.

This week, Dan shares a challenging Sunday with Frankie. What should have been a straightforward family birthday gathering becomes unexpectedly difficult when Frankie wants to visit his nanny but struggles to understand why Mum can't come along.

It's a reminder that progress isn't always linear, and even when our children are developing new skills, unfamiliar situations can still be incredibly challenging.

Meanwhile, Ben reflects on an overnight stay with Mabel following a busy school open evening.

With Mabel exhausted, uncomfortable and her ADHD medication wearing off, Ben finds himself becoming frustrated by her constant commentary about how she's feeling.

Mabel, now in Year 11, is beginning to take real ownership of her education. After years of finding homework and schoolwork at home challenging, she's increasingly motivated to revise independently and engage with her GCSE subjects.

For Ben, seeing her approach education with enthusiasm rather than anxiety is a huge milestone.

Dan also celebrates Frankie receiving his first Diamond Award at school, recognising several days of positive engagement, communication and learning.

After a difficult few weeks involving injuries and emotional challenges, seeing Frankie happy, settled and progressing at school is something worth celebrating.

In this episode, we explore:

• Autism, ADHD and communication differences
• Helping autistic children understand changes to routines
• Why processing time matters
• Supporting teenagers when ADHD medication wears off
• Recognising when your child needs to talk rather than receive advice
• Encouraging independence with GCSE revision
• Celebrating progress in SEND education
• Finding the wins during challenging parenting weeks

You're doing great. You are enough. And you're definitely not alone.

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

01:10 Ben's Challenge: An Exhausting Evening

02:11 When Your Teenager Needs to Talk Things Through

03:42 When ADHD Medication Wears Off

04:31 Recognising What Your Child Actually Needs

06:26 Parenting Through Frustration

07:46 Dan's Challenge: When Family Plans Don't Fit

09:33 Frankie Wants to Visit Nanny

10:53 When Communication Becomes Difficult

11:54 Giving Frankie Time to Process

12:30 Finding a Win in the Challenge

13:31 A Family Birthday That Finally Comes Together

14:35 This Week's Wins

15:05 Mabel's Relationship With Homework

17:09 A Huge Change in Her Motivation

18:29 Taking Ownership of GCSE Revision

19:13 Reflecting on School Avoidance and Progress

21:17 Frankie Wins a Diamond Award!

22:34 Celebrating a Positive Week at School

23:26 Looking Ahead to Frankie's EHCP Review

24:07 Recognising How Far He's Come

24:33 Final Thoughts and Community Invitation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the biggest parenting wins look completely ordinary to everyone else.

This week on The NeuroDADverse, Ben shares why spending a few hours shopping with his autistic teenager meant so much. These were places that had previously been associated with anxiety, overwhelm and some incredibly difficult experiences. This time, Oscar was ready to go, navigated multiple shops, dealt with disappointment when the headphones they wanted weren't available, joked around with Dad and even tackled a supermarket shop.

They didn't really get the "stuff" they went out for. But Ben came home feeling like he'd got something considerably more important.

Dan also talks about a more challenging week with Frankie, including concerns around school and the reminder that behaviour is communication, particularly when a child doesn't necessarily have another way to express what they're experiencing. There's also a difficult attempt at a SEND-friendly activity. An unfamiliar venue, unexpected noise from a nearby drumming session and other sensory challenges quickly became too much. Rather than forcing the activity, the priority became listening to what Frankie was communicating and helping him regulate.

Meanwhile, Mabel misses a week of school through illness, leaving Ben confronting an uncomfortable parenting instinct: is she struggling with school again, or is she simply ill? Sometimes our previous experiences make it difficult not to catastrophise what's happening today.

This week we talk about autism, ADHD, sensory overwhelm, school, communication, teenage independence and those seemingly tiny moments that can quietly show us just how far our children have come. Because sometimes a completely ordinary Saturday isn't ordinary at all.

💛 You're doing great. You are enough. And you're definitely not alone.

We have real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

00:00 – Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

01:33 – Our Week in Three Words

02:10 – This Week's Challenges

03:00 – How Has Frankie Been Doing?

07:03 – When Behaviour Is Communication

08:53 – When Your Child Makes Their Needs Known

11:38 – Are These Just Normal School Challenges?

12:58 – Trying Something New

14:46 – When the Sensory Environment Changes Everything

18:03 – A SEND Session That Didn't Go to Plan

19:55 – Why Parents Need the Information Beforehand

20:50 – Frankie Tells Us: Not Today

23:38 – Mabel Misses a Week of School

24:36 – Illness or School Avoidance?

27:01 – When Previous Experiences Affect How We Parent Today

28:42 – Sometimes Being Ill Just Means Being Ill

29:40 – This Week's Wins

30:06 – Being Enough, Being Tough & All the Stuff

31:40 – Ben and Oscar Go Shopping

34:05 – And Something Unexpected Happens

37:06 – Reaching for Dad When Things Feel Uncomfortable

38:56 – Handling Disappointment Differently

39:20 – Returning to a Place That Used to Be Really Difficult

41:02 – This Time Everything Feels Different

43:04 – Let's Try Another Shop...

44:32 – Four Shops. One Massive Win.

46:06 – Preparing Oscar for Independence

46:39 – We Didn't Get the Stuff... But Got So Much More

47:37 – Looking Back at How Far We've Come

51:02 – Looking Ahead to Next Week

52:36 – Final Thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When your child is clearly communicating “no”, sometimes the hardest parenting decision is working out whether the thing you're fighting for actually matters.

Not every parenting battle needs to be won.

Sometimes the bigger win is recognising what your child is actually trying to tell you.

This week, Dan and Ben are back together and catching up on another very real week of neurodivergent family life from bathtime resistance and sensory needs to school attendance, teenage independence and knowing when it's worth pushing... and when it's better to stop.

Dan reflects on a challenging moment with Frankie around bath time and the realisation that, although he may not communicate in the conventional way, letting the water out of the bath is a pretty clear way of saying “I don't want a bath.”

Meanwhile, Ben and Laura are navigating Oscar's difficult relationship with school. Oscar is beginning to communicate which days feel manageable, seemingly settling on three days out of five, raising some familiar questions about encouraging attendance while respecting what your child is telling you.

And Mabel has a difficult careers day that ends in tears before completely turning things around: a colourful CV, some new interview clothes and a 20-minute interview that she ultimately comes away feeling good about.

There's also room for the wins: longstanding relationships around Frankie, Mabel finding confidence through her band and helping a new student, and Oscar increasingly coming to Dad simply because they want to share the things they're excited about.

It's another week of challenges, wins and figuring things out as we go.

If any of this sounds suspiciously like life in your house, come and join the conversation. You're doing great, you are enough, and you're definitely not alone. 💛

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

01:26 Three Words for the Week

02:32 This Week's Challenges

04:54 When Bath Time Becomes a Battle

06:03 Is It Really Worth the Fight?

07:12 Oscar Negotiates School

10:12 Is Three Days a Week Enough?

11:29 Mabel's Careers Day

13:10 When It All Becomes Too Much

14:26 Turning the Interview Into Something Fun

15:01 She Did It!

16:14 When Gamifying School Doesn't Work

18:41 Changing an Autistic Child's Safe Space

20:40 Another Unexpected Parenting Challenge

22:08 This Week's Wins

25:52 Mabel Finds Her Confidence

28:06 Oscar Starts Asking for More

29:00 Why THAT Is Such a Big Win

30:47 Looking Ahead

34:02 A Surprisingly Good Week

35:47 You're Definitely Not Alone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some weeks feel like everything happens at once.

A mystery black eye. School struggles. Big parenting questions. And thankfully, a few much-needed wins to remind us why we keep going.

This week we're trying something a little different. Welcome to our first NeuroDADverse Virtual Mini Pod. With family life getting in the way (as it often does!), Dan and Ben recorded separately, sharing the highs and lows from their week before bringing everything together into one episode.

Dan talks about the worry of collecting Frankie from school with a significant black eye and no clear explanation of how it happened. After last week's hospital visit, it felt like another emotional challenge, even though Frankie himself remained happy and settled. He also shares two brilliant wins, including Frankie's first successful overnight stay away from home and being awarded Star of the Week at school.

Ben reflects on Oscar's continuing challenges around school attendance and the importance of playing the long game, while also celebrating Mabel's growing confidence, friendships, band rehearsals and commitment to Year 11. He also shares some lovely moments of connection with Oscar through gaming and simply spending time together.

In this episode we discuss:

• A mysterious black eye at school
• Supporting an autistic child through repeated injuries
• School attendance and emotional wellbeing
• Parenting teenagers with anxiety
• Celebrating the little wins
• First overnight stays
• Friendships, music and growing confidence
• Finding positives during difficult weeks

💛 If you've ever had one of those weeks where it felt like challenge after challenge, we'd love to hear from you. Come and join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels.

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:45 Introducing Our First Virtual Mini Pod

01:39 Dan's Three Colours of the Week

01:55 Frankie's Mystery Black Eye

04:53 Ben's School Attendance Challenge

07:22 Mabel's Positive Start to Year 11

10:34 Small Wins with Oscar

12:36 Dan's Wins of the Week

12:53 A Night Away & Film Festival Success

14:26 Frankie's Star of the Week

15:14 Final Thoughts

16:40 You're Definitely Not Alone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One small accident turned into one of the hardest parenting days we've faced in a long time.

Sometimes it isn't the injury that's difficult, it's helping your child navigate everything that comes afterwards.

This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan shares the emotional story of Frankie's accident and the unexpected challenges that followed. From sensory overload and hospital waiting rooms to advocating for a child who can't yet explain what they're feeling, it's a conversation many SEND parents will recognise.

Ben also opens up about Oscar's difficult return to school, navigating emotional based school avoidance, teenage anxiety and the importance of resisting the urge to catastrophise when progress feels slow. Meanwhile, Mabel reminds us why celebrating the quiet wins matters just as much, with friendships, music and growing confidence helping her settle into Year 11.

In this episode we discuss:

• Hospital visits with autistic children

• Sensory overload and processing time

• Advocating for children who communicate differently

• School avoidance and anxiety

• Supporting neurodivergent teenagers

• Why small wins matter

• Parenting through difficult days

If you've ever walked away from a day thinking, "Did I handle that the best I could?" this episode is for you.

🎙️ NeuroDADverse Podcast

💛 We'd love to hear your stories too. Join the conversation in the comments or come and find us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations, you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

Episode chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:43 A Different Kind of School Week

02:20 Three Words That Sum Up the Week

03:38 Frankie's Swimming Accident

04:56 When a Simple Injury Becomes So Much More

10:28 The Hospital Experience

15:18 Waiting Rooms, Processing Time & Sensory Overload

20:03 Learning to Advocate for Your Child

25:31 Helping Frankie Understand Healing

28:22 Finding the Win After the Hardest Day

31:11 Oscar's Return to School

32:18 Emotional-Based School Avoidance

35:06 When Your Teen Just Wants to Be Alone

36:58 This Week's Wins

37:30 Mabel's Amazing Start to Year 11

39:21 Looking Ahead

41:45 Frankie's New Word

42:17 Final Thoughts

43:20 You're Definitely Not Alone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first week back at school can feel like the biggest hurdle of the year.

But what if we've been worrying about the wrong week all along?

This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on the transition from the summer holidays back into school life and why they've completely changed the way they think about September. Instead of chasing the "perfect" first week, they're learning to focus on helping their children feel safe, heard and emotionally regulated, trusting that routines and confidence will come with time.

Along the way, they discuss:

- Returning to school after the summer holidays

- Supporting autistic and ADHD children through transitions

- Why listening can be more powerful than solving

- Managing sensory challenges in the classroom

- Building confidence through independence

- Dungeons & Dragons, new friendships and teenage anxiety

- Siblings supporting one another

- The importance of kindness in education

One of the biggest lessons from this episode is that progress doesn't always happen in the first week. Sometimes it comes from staying patient, accepting that adjustment takes time, and being the calm presence your child needs.

💛 If this episode resonates with you, we'd love to know: What's been your biggest back-to-school win or challenge this year? Join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels.

🎙️ NeuroDADverse Podcast

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

#NeuroDADverse #autismparenting #adhdparenting #backtoschool #autism #SENDparenting #schooltransition

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:43 Why We Missed Last Week

01:49 Back-to-School Reflections

07:21 Three Words for the Week

10:23 Sensory Challenges Return

14:28 Dungeons & Dragons & Anxiety

18:30 The Reality of Staggered School Starts

23:07 Small Wins From Week One

25:45 Why Listening Matters More Than Solving

26:03 This Week's Parenting Wins

35:00 Siblings Supporting Each Other

37:12 Calm Acceptance Over Quick Fixes

41:25 Kindness in Education

44:03 Mabel's Creative Success

45:23 Looking Ahead

48:23 Final Thoughts

49:27 You're Definitely Not Alone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the biggest parenting breakthrough isn't hearing a new word, it's finally understanding what your child has been trying to tell you all along.

Sometimes progress isn't loud.

Sometimes it looks like a picture card on the fridge, a homemade fajita, a family walk, or a child quietly showing you exactly what they need.

This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on a week filled with those seemingly small moments that actually mean everything. From visual schedules helping Frankie prepare for swimming, to unexpected communication breakthroughs and family adventures led entirely by him, it's an episode about recognising progress in all its different forms.

Ben also shares how changing the way he communicates with Oscar has encouraged more independence, while both dads reflect on the importance of adapting to their children's needs rather than expecting them to adapt to ours.

In this episode we discuss:

- Using visual schedules and social stories

- Supporting autistic communication

- Independence and reducing conversational pressure

- Frankie's growing confidence and decision-making

- A family walk that turned into an unexpected adventure

- Summer holidays before the return to school

- Celebrating the little wins that most people never see

If you're parenting an autistic or ADHD child, or navigating life within the SEND community, we hope this episode reminds you that communication comes in many forms and every small step forward deserves celebrating.

💛 We'd love to hear about one moment your child surprised you this week. Join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels.

🎙️ NeuroDADverse Podcast

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn

#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:43 Three Words for the Week

02:14 A Surprisingly Calm Summer Week

03:50 Different Children, Different Needs

07:40 Visual Schedules for Swimming

10:30 Frankie's Biggest Communication Win

12:10 Oscar's Growing Independence

16:15 When Visual Supports Really Work

18:20 What Happens When Plans Change?

22:11 Frankie Makes Dad a Fajita!

26:05 Parenting Wins This Week

27:30 A Surprise Visitor During Recording!

32:30 Preparing for Back to School

35:10 Frankie Leads a Family Adventure

37:45 The Closest He's Come to Saying "Mum"

40:30 Looking Ahead to Next Week

42:13 School Readiness & New Activities

50:03 You're Definitely Not Alone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the hardest parts of parenting isn't knowing what to do.

It's knowing when to step back.

This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on the hidden challenge of supporting neurodivergent children without feeling like you have to solve every problem for them. From disrupted sleep routines and summer holidays to live music, gaming, friendships and swimming lessons, this episode is full of honest conversations about recognising progress, even when it doesn't look how you expected. 

We also chat about:

• Summer holiday sleep routines
• The pressure of returning to school
• Why every neurodivergent child is different
• Supporting independence without removing safety
• Family concerts and navigating new environments
• Gaming as a way to connect with teenagers
• The importance of trusted friends and sleepovers
• A huge swimming breakthrough built on self-regulation rather than intervention

One of our biggest takeaways this week is that parenting isn't always about calming the storm for our children. Sometimes it's about becoming the safe place they return to while they learn to calm themselves.

💛 If this episode resonates with you, we'd love to hear about a moment when you realised your child was becoming more independent than you expected. Come and join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels.

🎙️ NeuroDADverse Podcast

Real conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world.

Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here.

🔔 New episodes weekly

📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show

📧 [email protected]

🌐 All links & platforms:

👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse

🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible

📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube

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#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting

#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse

#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse

00:43 Three Words to Describe the Week

01:43 Summer Sleep Challenges Continue

05:12 Why Summer Holidays Feel Different

09:37 Teen Sleep Patterns & Letting Go

12:25 Taking Mabel to a Live Concert

15:59 Parenting Without Constant Pressure

18:16 Why Summer Freedom Matters

20:33 Preparing for the Return to School

27:56 This Week's Biggest Wins

29:49 Gaming Together & Building Connection

32:00 Jimmy Eat World & Family Memories

36:18 Frankie's Friendship Win

41:44 Swimming, Self-Regulation & Trust

49:21 Looking Ahead to Next Week

53:27 Final Thoughts & Community Message

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.