In this episode, I explore what autism awareness and acceptance actually are, and what they look like in real everyday life. I talk about how, in practice, true acceptance is really more simple than you might think—and why it matters so much to autistic people like me. I cover why language matters when talking about autistic people, the importance of understanding the unique experiences of autistic individuals, and the power of making small changes that help create a more inclusive and supportive world. Whether you’re autistic yourself or someone who wants to be a better ally, this episode will help you understand what real acceptance truly looks and feels like.

In this episode, I chat with some amazing students at my small specialist college about what it really means to feel supported as a disabled or neurodivergent person in education. I’m neurodivergent and blind myself, so this is a topic really close to my heart.

We talk honestly about everything—from the little things that make a big difference, like subtitles and flexible breaks, to the deeper stuff like trust, identity, and the importance of being seen as a whole person. Storm shares their experience as a deaf student and gives some powerful advice on how to communicate better. Polly opens up about living with a rare condition and her wish to just be treated like anyone else. Brad talks about managing blindness and epilepsy, and Will reflects on anxiety, ADHD, and the value of shared understanding.

I also share some of my own experiences—like how people sometimes assume blindness is my biggest challenge, when actually, autism and anxiety play a bigger role in my life, and the difference being in a smaller specialist college has had on me. And just when we thought the episode was over, we were interrupted by a buzzing bee. Clearly, even the bees have something to say about inclusion!

Navigating school social life can be overwhelming for autistic students, especially when neurotypical expectations don’t align with their natural ways of interacting. In this episode i’m once again joined by Maria, a music teacher who has plenty of experience teaching both in mainstream and specialist settings. I share my own personal experiences, from the pressure to socialize in primary school to the isolation I faced in secondary school and the impact they had on me. We explore why forced socialization can do more harm than good, the impact of burn out and exhaustion, and how small changes—like safe spaces, flexible group work, and better autism education—can make a huge difference. Join us for an honest conversation on what real inclusion looks like and how schools can support autistic students to feel like they really belong and a part of the school community.

In the last episode, Maria and I covered noise sensitivity in schools. It was such a big topic that we decided to dedicate an episode to it on its own. But noise sensitivity isn’t the only sensory need in schools. The school environment can impact all of the other senses which have a huge impact on a neurodivergent persons school experience. In this episode, we dive into each of these sensory needs, discussing the potential challenges and offering practical solutions. Drawing from my personal experience and Maria’s extensive background as a teacher in various educational settings, we aim to highlight the sensory challenges students face and provide useful strategies to support them.

I hope this episode helps you to understand the sensory needs of neurodivergent students, and enables you to make adaptations and adjustments that will undoubtedly make a huge difference.

In this episode of the Neurodiversity and Education series, I chat with Maria, a music teacher with a wide range of experience. We discuss the challenges noise sensitivity presents in educational settings and share our personal experiences, from classroom difficulties to effective support strategies. Join us as we explore practical solutions to make learning environments more inclusive.

I'm very excited to announce a new podcast series all about Neurodiversity and education. I'll be hosting the series along with special guest Maria. In this episode I outline what to expect and the topics that will cover and you'll also get to meet Maria who is awesome. I'm very excited about what's to come, I hope you are too and that you learn and benefit from it.

In this episode I talk about weighted blankets and also mention weighted lap pads and compression sheets. I explain what they are, how they work and how they can help arrange of challenges like anxiety, sensory processing challenges, overload, sleep and much more. I also give Lots of tips to help you choose the perfect blanket and what you need to know before buying one.

Using fidgets like squishies, cubes, puzzels and anything that keeps the hands busy are really useful for us neurodivergent people. They provide much needed sensory input, help with concentration and anxiety amongst other things and they are simply great fun. In this episode I talk in more detail about the benefits of fidgets and how they help me, as well as how important it is to allow us to fidget as we need to.

I'm autistic with sensory processing challenges and noise has always been something I've struggled with. In this episode I talk about noise cancelling headphones and how they have changed my life and enabled me to do things I never thought I'd be able to do due to my sensory challenges. I also talk about other noise cancelling options like earplugs and ear defenders and compare the pros and cons of each of them.

Finch is an app that I've been using for a few years now and I've found it to be really beneficial. I also know lots of other people that use the app and have also got a lot out of it so I wanted to share my thoughts on the app and how it can benefit mental health and self-care. I describe the app in detail including how it works and the different features.

Link to the Finch website https://finchcare.com/