Autism, ADHD and Us Three

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. In this episode, Jenny is joined by children's nurse and sleep consultant Michelle Cyril to talk about neuroaffirming sleep and why traditional sleep advice often does not work for neurodivergent children and teenagers.
Michelle shares the moment she realised that the strategies she used professionally were not working with her own neurodivergent children. Together, Jenny and Michelle explore sensory regulation, busy brains and bodies, transitions, PDA and what it really means to work with a child's brain instead of against it.
Michelle also talks about the period she spent working with neurodiversity consultant Madeleine Woolgar, whose approach changed how she supports her own children. Madeleine's work is tailored to the individual family she is working with, so her specific recommendations are not covered here. Her details are in the links below.
Jenny and Michelle discuss why calm and stillness are not always the answer, how movement and sensory activity can help some children settle, and why your child's natural sleep window may look completely different from other children's. Michelle explains why an earlier bedtime does not necessarily mean more sleep and how parents can rethink routines, baths and expectations.
They also talk about the pressure parents put on themselves when sleep is difficult, why bedtime struggles are not a sign of failure, and how looking after your own regulation can make evenings easier for everyone.
Ultimately, neuroaffirming sleep is about understanding the child in front of you and creating routines that support their brain, body and nervous system.

Useful links
Family Sleep Specialist: https://www.familysleepspecialist.co.uk/
Michelle's free parent resource: https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/Parent
Neurodivergent Sleep Help Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodivergentsleephelp
Madeleine Woolgar, Neuro Embrace: https://www.neuro-embrace.com/
Madeleine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroembracingmadeleine
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Join Reclaim Yourself: https://www.audhdistically.me/join-the-membership
Work with Jenny: https://www.audhdistically.me/work-with-me
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Buy Jenny's book: https://amzn.to/4o58FQf
Audhdistically Me: https://www.audhdistically.me
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me

Keywords
Neurodivergent sleep, neuroaffirming sleep, autism sleep, ADHD sleep, AuDHD children, neurodivergent teenagers, PDA, bedtime routines, sensory needs, sensory regulation, busy brain at bedtime, sleep window, low sleep needs, teenage sleep, bedtime battles, neuroaffirming parenting, parenting neurodivergent children, nervous system regulation, neurodiversity consultant, Madeleine Woolgar, Autism ADHD and Us Three, Audhdistically Me, Michelle Cyril.

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. It's the first episode of Season 4 - can you believe it?!
In this episode, Jenny is joined by Daniel Curtis for a wide-ranging conversation about neurodivergence, diagnosis, masking, authenticity and what happens when you finally begin to understand yourself differently.
Daniel shares his experience of being diagnosed with ADD and the psychiatrist who told him, very bluntly, that he was “bluffing the world every day”. Rather than simply giving him a diagnosis and sending him on his way, she asked him a much bigger question: now that you know this about yourself, what are you actually going to do differently?
This episode explores masking, vulnerability, creativity, parenting neurodivergent children, the emotional impact of diagnosis and why there is no single correct way to process discovering that you are neurodivergent. Jenny and Daniel talk about the fear that can still surround diagnostic labels, why understanding a child’s neurodivergence can help us support them more effectively and the complicated mix of relief, anger, grief and self-understanding that can follow a diagnosis later in life.
They also explore why authenticity requires vulnerability, why we often connect more deeply with people who are willing to show their imperfections and how understanding yourself can change the way you move through the world.
The conversation turns to purpose, fulfilment and supporting other people through experiences you once had to navigate alone, as Jenny reflects on why so much of her own work comes from wanting other neurodivergent people to feel understood and less alone.
At the heart of the conversation is one simple idea: you do not need to have everything figured out. Sometimes you just need to work out what the next right thing is.
Useful links
Find out more about Daniel Curtis:
https://www.danielcurtishq.com/
Join the Reclaim Yourself membership waitlist or check whether doors are open:
https://www.audhdistically.me/join-the-membership
Work with Jenny, including 1:1 coaching and text coaching options:
https://www.audhdistically.me/work-with-me
Sign up for Jenny’s weekly Positivity Pause newsletter:
https://www.audhdistically.me/get-my-newsletter
Buy Jenny’s book:
https://amzn.to/4o58FQf
Visit Audhdistically Me:
https://www.audhdistically.me
Follow Jenny on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me

Keywords
Late diagnosed autism, late diagnosed ADHD, AuDHD, ADD, adult ADHD diagnosis, adult autism diagnosis, neurodivergence, neurodivergent adults, masking, autistic masking, ADHD masking, unmasking, authenticity, vulnerability, self-discovery, neurodivergent identity, self-acceptance, late diagnosis, neurodivergent parenting, parenting autistic children, parenting ADHD children, diagnostic labels, autism diagnosis, ADHD diagnosis, neurodivergent creativity, executive functioning, mental health, personal growth, self-awareness, neurodivergent community, neurodivergent support, resilience, Autism ADHD and Us Three, Audhdistically Me, Daniel Curtis.

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. In this community Q&A episode, Jenny answers 10 questions sent in by listeners and Instagram followers about late-diagnosed autism, ADHD and AuDHD identity. This is the final episode of Season 3 as the podcast will be taking its summer break in July and August.

This episode explores the huge emotional reckoning that can come after diagnosis or self-discovery, including identity confusion, masking, self-diagnosis, exhaustion, executive dysfunction, relationships, friendships and redefining success on your own terms.

Jenny talks about why self-diagnosis is valid, why you are not lazy, why masking can be so hard to untangle and how late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults can begin building lives that actually respect their nervous systems, energy and needs.

If you have ever wondered who you are now, whether you have made it all up, why you are so tired or what success even looks like anymore, this episode is for you.
Who am I now and who have I been?
Why diagnosis can make your whole life reorganise itself
Why self-diagnosis and self-discovery are valid
Why exhaustion is not laziness
The invisible energy cost of masking, sensory processing and executive function
How to challenge the lazy script in your head
What masking actually is and how to start spotting it
Why relationships can shift after diagnosis
How to get things done with poor executive function
Body doubling, timers, rituals and externalising your memory
How to build a life that respects your AuDHD needs
Redefining success after late diagnosis
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Useful linksJoin the Reclaim Yourself membership waitlist or check whether doors are open:
https://www.audhdistically.me/join-the-membership
Work with Jenny, including 1:1 coaching and text coaching options:
https://www.audhdistically.me/work-with-me
Sign up for Jenny’s weekly Positivity Pause newsletter:
https://www.audhdistically.me/get-my-newsletter
Buy Jenny’s book:
https://amzn.to/4o58FQf
Visit Audhdistically Me:
https://www.audhdistically.me
Follow Jenny on Instagram:
Keywords
Late diagnosed autism, late diagnosed ADHD, AuDHD, autistic ADHD adults, neurodivergent women, self-diagnosis, autistic self-discovery, ADHD self-discovery, masking, unmasking, executive dysfunction, autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, neurodivergent exhaustion, self-acceptance, neurodivergent identity, adult autism diagnosis, adult ADHD diagnosis, AuDHD relationships, neurodivergent friendships, sensory overload, late diagnosed AuDHD women, autistic women, ADHD women, Reclaim Yourself membership, Audhdistically Me, Autism ADHD and Us Three.

If you are parenting a disabled or neurodivergent child and sometimes feel like the world was not built with your family in mind, this episode will land.
In this episode of Autism, ADHD and Us Three, Jenny sits down with Dana Garrett to talk about parenting, advocacy, communication, community, and the very real emotional load of caring for a child with additional needs.
Dana shares her experience as the mother of a mostly non-verbal daughter, and opens up about everything from diagnosis and communication differences to sibling dynamics, self-care, and the power of creating stories that help children feel seen.
Together, they explore how behaviour is often communication, why caregivers need support too, and how inclusive books and communities can make life feel less isolating for families navigating disability and neurodivergence.
Inside this episode:
Communication beyond words, including AAC, sign language, gestures, and behaviour
Why behaviour is often communication, not defiance
The reality of parenting a non-verbal child
Supporting siblings of neurodivergent and disabled children
Why caregiver self-care is essential, not selfish
The importance of community, shared understanding, and safe spaces
How inclusive children’s books can build empathy, acceptance, and confidence
This is a warm, honest conversation about advocacy, resilience, and the need for families like ours to feel held, understood, and less alone.
🎧 Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dana Garrett
01:40 Early Development and Diagnosis of Elena
05:26 Communication Beyond Words
09:42 Understanding Behavior as Communication
12:12 Advocacy and Navigating Social Situations
13:34 The Journey of Self-Publishing Children's Books
17:44 Supporting Siblings of Neurodivergent Children
20:46 Creating Inclusive Stories
24:03 The Importance of Community
27:29 Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers
33:21 Upcoming Retreats and Workshops for Caregivers
💛 Connect with Dana Garrett
Author website:
https://danagarrett.com
Rare Blooms Foundation:
https://rarebloomsfoundation.org
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/danagarrett/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/danagarrett/
💫 Resources Mentioned
Elena and Wyatt's Adventures on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Elena+and+Wyatt%27s+Adventures
Self-love journals for caregivers on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=self-love+journals+for+caregivers
Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VJX4V4X
Coherent Breathing Technique:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6362514/
💛 Work With Me & Next Steps
New here? Start here:
https://welcome.audhdistically.me/start-here
Sign up for The Positivity Pause newsletter:
https://www.audhdistically.me
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me

Hello lovely humans, and welcome back to another episode of Autism, ADHD and Us Three. If you’re new here, I’m so glad you’ve found us. And if you’re a regular listener, thank you for being part of this space 💜

If you enjoy the podcast, it would mean the world if you could leave a quick review. It helps more people find these conversations and feel a little less alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Yenn Purkis, an autistic and ADHD advocate, author of 18 books, TEDx speaker and PhD candidate. We talk about how Yenn was unexpectedly pulled into advocacy, and the moment that shifted everything for them. From there, we explore the realities of being visible, the impact of deficit-based narratives around autism, and why so many common assumptions about autistic people are still so harmful.

We also dive into gender identity, inclusion, and what it really means to stand up and be seen in a world that doesn’t always feel safe to do so.

This conversation is honest, thoughtful and at times challenging, but also incredibly grounding for anyone navigating identity, late diagnosis, advocacy or burnout.
​How Yenn found themselves in advocacy and what changed their direction
​The impact of deficit-based messaging on autistic people
​Why visibility and representation matter so much
​The truth about “functioning labels” and why they’re often misunderstood
​Navigating identity, including gender diversity and autism
​Dealing with criticism, pushback and online spaces
​Burnout, work and creating a life that actually fits
​Autism diagnosis should mean liberation
​Visibility is vital for change
​Functioning labels are not diagnoses

00:00 Introduction to advocacy and autistic identity
01:34 The journey into advocacy
04:54 Writing as a tool for change
10:37 The evolution of public speaking
15:26 Changing perspectives on neurodiversity
19:39 Balancing advocacy and academia
20:36 Embracing passion and overcoming adversity
24:50 Redefining work and income streams
28:05 Identity and advocacy in the non-binary and asexual community
32:11 Navigating pushback and promoting visibility
34:52 Debunking myths about autism
41:51 Future aspirations and life philosophy
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You can find Yenn and their work here:
Website https://www.yennpurkis.com
Books on Amazon*https://amzn.to/4dg03Eg

If something in this episode resonated with you, I’d love you to share it with someone who might need to hear it too. And if you want more conversations like this, you can follow along wherever you listen to your podcasts.

*Affiliate links are used in these show notes.