Getting to sleep can be challenging for some, often leading to hours spent trying to unwind before finally drifting off. Improving sleep is crucial – not just for children and young people, but also for their parents, families, friends, classmates, teachers, and communities as a whole.

Dr Jill McGarry, consultant clinical psychologist and sleep expert, joins me in today's episode to discuss 'Sleep, Neurodiversity and Learning Disability'. With over 28 years' experience around sleep, Jill discusses:

• Sleep Challenges: How neurodiverse individuals and those with learning disabilities often experience significant sleep difficulties.
• Understanding Differences: How sleep experiences can vary widely among individuals and the need for personalised sleep strategies, as generic advice may not be effective.
• Research: Recent advancements in sleep research, focusing on how understanding brain function and sleep mechanisms can help tailor solutions for different individuals.
• Sleep Hygiene: How light, heat, routine, nutrients and sound impact sleep, with practical advice to create a conducive sleep environment.

Tune in to gain a better understanding of sleep, including the science behind it and some eye-opening (or should that be shutting?) insights!

About Dr Jill McGarry

Jill is a Clinical Psychologist with 28 years of NHS experience in psychological support for people with mental health issues. Throughout this work Jill has supported many people how have had sleep problems. This led Jill to complete both the sleep masterclass at Oxford University's SCNI and the 3-day training course with Sleep Unlimited as well as weekly taking part in the BSM international sleep seminars chaired by Arizona University .She is a member of the British Sleep Society and has supported the Sleep Charity develop a programme. From this she has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience at improving sleep for several client groups, including setting up a reasonable adjustment sleep apnoea clinic for Greater Manchester. Currently Jill runs a private practice for improving sleep. Over the past two years Jill has carried out numerous sleep awareness courses for wellbeing teams in NHS trusts and ICBs; schools/ college forums; counselling organisations; care and respite home managers; More specifically she has provided two bespoke training sessions for UCLH NHS Trust on learning disability and neurodiversity, co-facilitated a national conference on sleep & SEND and presented a webinar nationally for Autism Hears. Recently Jill has advised Baywater and NHS England on a project to develop materials for people with sleep apnea and reasonable adjustments.

Contact Jill

www.sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jill-mcgarry

Useful Links

• B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk
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• Email Dale – [email protected]
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