EPISODE 9 – I Saw The Sign (Of Autism)

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

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I Saw the Sign Trend, Autism, and Why Social Media Trends Spark Debate

In this episode, we talk about  the viral “I saw the sign” trend and why it has split opinion online within the SEN-Community and wider. We look at the tension between sharing retrospective autism-related observations and the risk of minimizing the very real challenges many families face. The main topics are the social media trend itself, how autism is represented in public, and why parents can feel caught between silence and oversharing.

Key topics

We explain the “I saw the sign” TikTok trend, where parents look back at old clips and notice early signs of autism in their children. Is it a harmless trend or is it problematic?

One major concern discussed is that playful clips can seem to minimize the severity of autism for families dealing with self-harm, smearing, meltdowns, and other intense needs. However, when we show the difficult side of parenting autistic children, we are often criticized for sharing too much. We can’t win!

We talk about the difference between typical childhood behaviours and autistic traits and whether these short clips may concern parents of neurotypical children unnecessarily.

We share our personal experience of spotting signs (and sometimes missing them), including a childhood clip of Finn sitting fixated on the washing machine and a video of Bobby flapping while watching golf.

The episode touches on how social media formats like TikTok encourage short, snappy content rather than nuanced discussion.

As usual, we discuss a few lighter, personal moments, the menopausal brain farts are evident without Hannah around to keep us on track and would it even be an UnSENsored Club Podcast, without the conversation breaking down into typical chaotic, off-script carnage?

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:- 07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

This episode kicks off a new mini-series about grief in the SEN-parenting journey.  

In this episode, the hosts catch up on the chaos of school holidays ending, an unexpected health scare, and how family life shifts when kids go back to school. The conversation then turns to a new series about grieving the life you expected and the realities of raising autistic children. This week’s focus is communication, including non-verbal communication, hyperverbal communication, and the fact that being fully verbal does not always mean a child is expressing what they truly mean.

Support and Episode Shout Outs

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support

https://www.instagram.com/lifewithnatpod/

https://www.instagram.com/leonajadesmith/

https://www.instagram.com/helsthesenmum/

https://www.instagram.com/storiesaboutautism/

https://www.instagram.com/twins_tides_and_autism_vibes/

https://www.instagram.com/aacbrothers/

Episode 7 – The SEN-Bin (Room 101)

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

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An opinionated take on the things parents of disabled kids are most tired of dealing with. Hannah wants to banish companies that change packaging on safe foods, Lisa is raging with Chanel 4, and Chelle’s nomination makes her so angry, she suffers a mid-rant injury. 

In the episode, we also hear from our listeners who help fill up the SEN-BIN. Who knew the phrase “have you tired…” would cause such a reaction? If nothing else, this episode gives us all an opportunity to “get it out of our system!”                                                                                                                                                                               

Find Support

EHCP Support - https://www.sendiass.org/resources/education-health-care-plans-ehcps/

DLA Guideline https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

DLA Support https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/disability-living-allowance/

FASD Support https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder/

FASD https://nationalfasd.org.uk

Back to School, Big Feelings, and a Very Honest Family Catch-Up

This episode is a back to school check-in that swings between the practical and the emotional. We  talk through sensory needs, school transitions, meltdowns, and what families are actually dealing with when routines change. Poppy also joins for a sweet interview that gives a child’s-eye view of school, holidays, and what she really thinks about going back.

We dig into how the school holidays have really felt this year, especially during the heatwave, with exhaustion, guilt, disrupted routines, and the pressure of juggling work, parenting, and care needs.

We talk about how different children need different transition approaches, from last-minute school mornings to social stories, visual calendars, and carefully timed warnings.

A major theme is how much easier school can be when a child is in the right setting, with examples of self-regulation supports like a “ball” break, stimming time, and sensory play.

The conversation turns to the reality of fighting for education support, EHCP changes, tribunal delays, and why families often need legal help just to secure the right provision.

The episode ends on a lighter note, imagining our “perfect day” once the children are back at school, from shopping trips and cleaning the house to meals out, concerts, and a rare night of freedom.

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:- 07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

In this episode, we open up the mic to our listeners. If you've ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or unsure where you fit in the autism and ADHD conversation, this episode offers validation without oversimplifying the messiness of it all. Essential listening for SEND parents, late-diagnosed adults, and anyone who wants a more honest, nuanced conversation about neurodivergence and support. You are not alone.

We discuss, why so many women are only getting autism and ADHD diagnoses after becoming parents and the difference between having traits and having a diagnosis that affects daily life. We debate why "levels" might create more problems than they solve, especially when support is already hard to access and why labels like "autistic" or "learning disability" can mean very different things depending on the person you're talking to

Recommendations

https://www.readyeddiego.com

https://includesustoo.org.uk

Check out Hels Bels link tree in her TikTok profile - @helsthesenmumSponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:- 07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

In this episode, we open up the mic to our listeners. If you've ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or unsure where you fit in the autism and ADHD conversation, this episode offers validation without oversimplifying the messiness of it all. Essential listening for SEND parents, late-diagnosed adults, and anyone who wants a more honest, nuanced conversation about neurodivergence and support. You are not alone.

We discuss, why so many women are only getting autism and ADHD diagnoses after becoming parents and the difference between having traits and having a diagnosis that affects daily life. We debate why "levels" might create more problems than they solve, especially when support is already hard to access and why labels like "autistic" or "learning disability" can mean very different things depending on the person you're talking to

Recommendations & Thank Yous

https://www.readyeddiego.com

https://includesustoo.org.uk

Check out Hels Bels link tree in her TikTok profile - @helsthesenmum

Thank you to Danielle Robins for her beautiful poem

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:- 07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

In this episode, we talk candidly about what friendship looks like when you are parenting children with additional needs. We cover adult friendships, school holiday survival, the role of carers, and the surprising ways neurodivergent kids form connections on their own terms. Join us for this personal, practical conversation about exclusion, masking, and finding your tribe.

Key topics

Chelle shares her nerves and excitement around her boys having their first overnight stay with carers and we compare SEN-friendly outings.

We also cover masking, social camouflage, and how years of adapting to different groups have shaped us in adulthood.

We discuss navigating adult friendship dynamics when you are neurodivergent, have SEN children or suffer from rejection sensitivity or  

The conversation explores why some friendships fade naturally when life stages diverge, especially when one group is deep in parenting and another has older children or more free time.

We discuss our children’s friendships, their struggles and how exclusion has affected them (and us). We also talk about the special bonds they have found with other children, familiar adults and animals, and how empathy often shows up most clearly in those relationships.

Recommendations

Gravey Fruit Farm - https://www.graveleystrawberries.co.uk/

Thomley - https://thomley.org.uk/

Sponsored By Sensory Junction - https://www.sensory-junction.co.uk

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:- 07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

This episode tackles puberty through the lens of parenting neurodivergent children. We share real-life experiences from our own families and hear some listener messages. We cover everything from precocious puberty and PMDD to hygiene struggles, body autonomy, gender identity, and the emotional impact on carers. The discussion is honest and sometimes uncomfortable, but we do try to see some light in these heavy subject matters. We believe this is the best way to open conversations that are often seen as taboo. We also discuss how important support, community, and early preparation can be when it comes to puberty in our neurodivergent children.

Please remember, we are just mums sharing our lived experience. We are not qualified to give medical advice. We therefore always recommend contacting one of the below organisations for qualified support.

Disability & Healthcare Support & Services

·      Brook (Sextual Health & Wellbeing) - https://www.brook.org.uk/

·      CAMS (Mental Health Support)- https://cams-care.com/

·      NHS Mental Health - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

·      Mermaids (Gender Identity in children and young people) - https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

·      Samaritans (Mental Health Support) - https://www.samaritans.org/

·      Stonewall (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer+ equality) - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/

·      Young Minds (Mental Health Support for Children and Young Adults) - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Recommendations

The Growing Up Book For Boys (Davida Hartman) - https://amzn.eu/d/0d2paDic

The Growing up Book For Girls (Davida Hartman) - https://amzn.eu/d/0fnYVp7W

EPISODE 2

In this episode, hosts Chelle, Hannah, and Lisa share a candid and humorous take on the challenges of parenting during the school holidays. Expect honest conversations, real-life anecdotes, and a celebration of the imperfect journey of being a "SEN mum.

Grab your cuppa and connect with us:

Don't forget to hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and join our brand-new community on social media to share your own stories. We can't wait to get to know you!

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:-07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

Please remember, we are just mums sharing our lived experience. We are not qualified to give medical advice. We therefore always recommend contacting your NHS provider or reputable organisations and charities for support.

Find support at:

https://kabukiuk.org.uk/

https://www.dementiauk.org/

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

https://www.championscharity.org.uk/

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

https://www.autism.org.uk/

https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org/

https://adhduk.co.uk/

https://lupusuk.org.uk

Welcome to the very first episode of The UnSENsored Club!

Grab a cuppa, get comfy, and join Chelle, Lisa, and Hannah (three SEN mums navigating life, laundry, and neurodiversity) for an honest, unSENsored chat about the beautiful chaos of motherhood and womanhood.

In this debut episode, we’re stripping away the filters and laying it all out on the kitchen table. We introduce who we are, how we met, and what it’s really like raising brilliant, neurodivergent kids with Autism and ADHD while trying not to lose our own minds in the process.

Whether you’re a fellow SEN parent looking for your tribe, or just someone who appreciates a laugh and an honest conversation about life, you’ve found your people. We’re all in this together!

Grab a cuppa and connect with us:

Don't forget to hit Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and join our brand-new community on social media to share your own stories. We can't wait to get to know you!

Please contact us to feature on future episodes

Email:- [email protected]

WhatsApp:-07840113994 (Voice Notes welcome)

Please remember, we are just mums sharing our lived experience. We are not qualified to give medical advice. We therefore always recommend contacting your NHS provider or reputable organisations and charities for support.

Find support at:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

https://www.autism.org.uk/

https://adhduk.co.uk/

https://lupusuk.org.uk