S3 E9: Raising a Non-Verbal Child and Rethinking Everything
From Autism, ADHD and Us Three by Jenny Lucas
May 3, 2026 · 40 min · Season 3 · Episode 9
About this episode
Jenny Lucas and Dana Garrett discuss the challenges and strategies of parenting a non-verbal child, emphasizing communication, community, and caregiver support.
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…
People in this episode
Host: Jenny Lucas
Guest: Dana Garrett
Topics covered
- parenting a non-verbal child
- communication strategies
- caregiver support
- advocacy
- community building
- inclusive literature
Keywords
- non-verbal child
- communication
- advocacy
- caregiver self-care
- inclusive books
- neurodivergent parenting
- sibling dynamics
More episodes of Autism, ADHD and Us Three
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- S3 E8: Autism, Advocacy and being Unapologetically Visible with Yenn Purkis · April 5, 2026 · 43 min
- S3 E7: The Post Diagnosis Crash No One Warns You About · March 1, 2026 · 30 min
- S3 E6: Understanding Autism and ADHD Assessments for Children and Families · February 1, 2026 · 32 min
- S3 E5: Beyond Diagnosis: The 7 Steps That Helped My Child Speak Again with Taiba Bajar · January 4, 2026 · 49 min
- S3 E4 Navigating PDA: A Journey of Understanding and Support · December 7, 2025 · 56 min
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