Neuroshambles

• Why do our kids mask? | Pete Wharmby

  This episode takes a deep dive into why so many of our neurodivergent children feel the need to mask their autistic traits in social situations. Mark chats to fabulous guest, Pete Wharmby, who, as well as being a parent of a 10 year old girl (suspected autistic, but if anyone's going to be able to spot one, it's Pete), is also an author, a tutor, a conference speaker and a prolific advocate for the neurodivergent community. As an autistic/ADHD adult, he offers some frank and honest insights into some of the masking behaviours he employed when he was a child. This fascinating and wide ranging conversation looks at what masking is, why our kids do it and the many strategies they use to hide their autistic traits in many staunchly neurotypical environments. They also discuss some masking strategies used by people with ADHD, before looking at the harmful impact masking can have in the long term if accommodations aren't made. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Pete Wharmby's website - https://petewharmby.com/ "Untypical" by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/35cWwBh Alexis Quinn - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/stories/stories-from-the-spectrum-alexis-quinn University of Edinburgh study in autistic communication with other autistics - https://salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk/our-projects/autistic-autistic-communication Autistic code switching - https://myautismmind.com/autism-masking/ Autistic Girls Network - https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/ Lego hidden disabilities sunflower - https://hdsunflower.com/uk/insights/post/the-lego-group-joins-hidden-disabilities-sunflower "What I Want To Talk About" by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/3HoKSt9   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

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• Seeking help from "experts" | Charlotte Mountford

  This episode deals with the familiar frustration of having to deal with the experts who are gatekeepers to the accommodations our neurodifferent kids need. From teachers, whose evidence you have to seek in order to get a diagnosis, to CAMHS specialists, GPs, occupational therapists and paediatricians - the list of professionals we need to interact with is dizzying. Mark talks to wonderful guest Charlotte Mountford, parent to three neurodivergent boys: a 17-year old (suspected autistic), a 14-year old (diagnosed autistic) and a 13-year old (diagnosed autistic, suspected ADHD). Mark and Charlotte swap stories of their own experiences with experts - both good and bad, and discuss how to react when you realise that you actually know more than the professional in front of you.  LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell - https://amzn.eu/d/91hZpN4 Dean Beadle Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deanbeadlespeaker/  Dean Beadle Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dean.beadlespeaker Dan Beadle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@deanbeadleuk Eliza Fricker - https://missingthemark.co.uk/ Kieran Rose - https://theautisticadvocate.com/ "Bilal's Bad Day" by Neelum Khan - https://amzn.eu/d/5amH9zO "Neurotypicals don't juggle chainsaws" podcast - https://neurotypicalsdontjugglechainsaws.co.uk/ Liz Evans: The Untypical OT - https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/ Badger Education Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/badger.education Badger Education Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Badger.Education.Inclusive.Supports Badger Education Free PDF - https://badger-education.co.uk/reasonable-adjustments-opt-in-2893   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

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• Grappling with personal hygiene | Rebecca Huseyin

  Mark talks to the tremendous Rebecca Huseyin, who is a blogger, trainer, neurodiversity advocate and Mum of a neurodifferent son (13, diagnosed autistic with a PDA profile and suspected ADHD). They swap tales of the ludicrous lengths they go to when trying to navigate personal hygiene tasks, such as cleaning hands, wiping faces, brushing teeth, having baths, cutting fingernails and wiping bums. There are some hilarious anecdotes of the lengths to which Mark and Rebecca go to encourage their kids to engage in hygiene tasks - from fake drowning them in the bath, cleaning their teeth like a Victorian ghost and introducing the concept of "special dry". LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: The Lighter Side of PDA Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LighterPDA/ Rebecca Huseyin blog (A Boy Less Ordinary) - https://aboylessordinary.com/ SENDIASS - (Google for your local county SENDIASS details) PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Proprioception and Interoception: https://www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues Oranurse unflavoured toothpaste - https://oranurse.co.uk/unflavoured-toothpaste/ Little teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/little-teeth-toothpaste/ Big teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/big-teeth-toothpaste/ The Prism Cat - https://linktr.ee/KyraChambers   Tesco Mobile Sensory Box - https://bettersociety.net/tesco-mobile-sensory-box.php Insanity Arcade, Poole - https://www.insanityarcade.com/home   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

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  1:15:01
• Do our kids feel empathy? | Heidi Mavir

  Mark welcomes back the phenomenal Heidi Mavir, who is an  author, a neurodivergent advocate, activist, public speaker and Mum of a neurodifferent son (20, diagnosed autistic with a tic disorder, as well as suspected dyslexia and  Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). They pick up on a topic they very briefly touched on in the previous episode they recorded, which is whether there's any truth to the commonly-held belief that autistics don't feel empathy (spoiler alert - that view is abject nonsense). They dissect the very concept of empathy to try and understand why it's viewed as so important to neurotypicals, what "the double empathy problem" is and why our kids' way of displaying and responding to empathy is so varied. This is a genuinely insightful episode that gives a lot of food for thought when considering whether our own kids are able to feel empathy.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Heidi Mavir EOTAS Matters website - https://www.heidimavir.com/ "Your Child Is Not Broken" by Heidi Mavir - https://amzn.eu/d/8di4y0X "Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?" by Pierre Novellie - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR "How To Win Friends and Influence People" - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR The Double Empathy Problem - https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics/ "I Didn't See You There" by Charlotte Gail - https://amzn.to/3PUk4n1 Sesame Street Introduce Autistic Character - https://youtu.be/dKCdV20zLMs Muppet Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/JXaVI60BFJM Heidi Mavir on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heidimavir   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

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  1:29:08
• Medicating Our Children | Danielle Jata-Hall

  In response to several requests from listeners, this episode is all about the complexities of giving medication to our neurodivergent kids. Mark speaks to the tremendous Danielle Jata-Hall, who is an author, award-winning blogger and a disability campaigner. She has three children (13, 11 and 8 - all diagnosed Autistic with a PDA profile, as well as a blend of ADHD, Anxiety and potential bipolar disorder). Mark and Danielle discuss the medication journeys they've been on with their own kids, from overcoming their initial misgivings and dealing with the judgement of others, to the administrative nightmare of trying to get medication prescribed by medical professionals. They compare different prescription pathways and share their experiences of the difficult process of titration - not to mention the rigamarole of actually getting their kids to take the medication we've fought so hard to get for them.   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: "The Journey Into S.E.N.D Fatherhood" book - https://amzn.eu/d/0qwN0il Danielle Jata-Hall blog - https://pdaparenting.com/ Newbold Hope -  https://www.newboldhope.com/ FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/ "The Parent's Guide to ADHD Medicines" book - https://amzn.eu/d/i2e73JM Shared Care - https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/regional-medicines-optimisation-committees-advice/shared-care-protocols/ "I'm Not Upside Down, I'm Downside Up" book - https://amzn.eu/d/avsMxy2 "Black Rainbow" book - https://amzn.eu/d/he1Nd8K "Steph's Two Girls" blog with tips on getting your child to take medication - https://www.stephstwogirls.co.uk/2020/01/top-tips-when-your-child-wont-take.html "A boy less ordinary" blog - https://aboylessordinary.com/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

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