Let's Talk Small Talk

Libby interviews Lyndsay Critchlow founder of Education For All. Lyndsay is a neurodivergent parent to 3 neurodivergent boys. She has been through things that people could only imagine to get to where she is today. From fighting for support all the way through to fighting for school placements. Lyndsay says, "I became an advocate in 2021 to support families to navigate through the systems and gain the support and help they need. I strongly believe my job is not to tell families what to do or take over their voices but to be there to support and ensure that they are heard. I believe Advocacy is supporting them to have their own voice and to ensure that they are making the choices of what they want and need in their lives. I advise every option available and then support them down their chosen path. I love the work that I do my only wish would be to be able to help more."Lyndsay is also an author of 4 books about PDA with more to come:https://amzn.eu/d/0av2Obdshttps://amzn.eu/d/0eMq4BDrhttps://amzn.eu/d/05H6CEz1https://amzn.eu/d/0iLobWbl

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dawn and Libby as they discuss her new book Born Naughty? Decoding PDA – A Decade of Discovery in Practice. Drawing on over ten years of clinical experience, Libby shares powerful insights into Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), exploring why it's so often misunderstood and how we can better support children and families. Whether you're a parent, professional, or simply curious about neurodivergent experiences, this is a must-listen episode packed with practical wisdom, real-life stories, and compassionate expertise. https://amzn.eu/d/cHVRPRU

Libby talks to the lovely Anna Biavati. Anna Is a multilingual speech and language therapist specialising in selective mutism and multilingualism. With years of experience, she has developed a unique and holistic approach that focuses, not just on speech, but on building resilience, self esteem, and fostering independence in all aspects of a child's life. Anna is the creator of the brave muscle method which takes into account the brain function approach, and her method is designed to empower children by starting from what they can already do and gradually building their ability to communicate in a pressure-free way. Her Steps to Brave Talking program provides a structured step by step process to help children with selective mutism find their voice in a supportive and encouraging environment. Believing that family plays a crucial role in a child's Progress, Anna developed the Family Dynamic Approach, ensuring that parents and caregivers are actively involved in their child's journey. She provides practical tools, training and guidance to help families create a nurturing and supportive environment for communication growth. In addition to her work in speech and language therapy, Anna is trained in primitive reflex integration, which she incorporates into her approach to address underlying motor and sensory challenges that may impact a child's ability to communicate confidently. By integrating these reflexes, she helps children develop greater emotional regulation, body awareness and communicational readiness. https://stepstobravetalking.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@annabiavatislt https://www.edinburgh-speech-therapy-wordsteps.co.uk/

Dawn interviews Libby about her new book 'Doing what it takes' which is about Libby's work with children and young people with selective mutism. Available from Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/6niLwWK

Libby, Donna and Bernadette were on the advisory panel for the NHS England commissioned Autism and parental blame study. In this episode they they discuss their reasons for wanting to be involved, the implications of parental blame and some of the other aspects covered by the report. You can access the report in full https://www.wm-adass.org.uk/improvement/autism-and-parental-blame-research. They all feel very strongly that the messages which are delivered within the report MUST be shared as widely as possible so that we can move forward. Families must get the help they need, not the blame they might receive instead through a damaged system.Donna has organised a conference in Stafford for 28th January. If you are interested contact [email protected]

Dawn interviews Rachel Winder about what it really means to be neurodivergent-affirming. Rachel was diagnosed as autistic with dyslexia and ADHD in her forties, has become an 'accidental' neurodivergence influencer. We have known Rachel a number of years now while we have been on our journey to get it right. We realise that it is a work in progress but we are passionate to make it the best it can be. Listen to Rachel's views here.

Libby discusses the new book that she has been working on with Georgina Smith and Laura Graham. Georgina Smith, a specialist dyslexia tutor, and Laura Graham, independent occupational therapist and sensory integration practitioner teamed up with Libby on this project to look at why many children are struggling at school with literacy but it's not all due to dyslexia. This team of professionals all practice clinically and bring a wealth of experience along with tried and tested advice and strategies to help parents and teachers alike gain the correct support for the young people in their care. Topics covered include:*Developmental Language Disorder *Dyslexia *Developmental Coordination Disorder *Cerebral Visual Impairment *Autism *Attention Deficient Hyper Activity Disorder *Trauma *Sensory Processing Differences *Anxiety *Executive Functioning *Auditory Processing DisorderGeorgina's website https://www.dyslexia-codebreakers.co.uk/ Laura's website https://lauragrahamot.co.uk/ Join them at the book launch 10th October 2024 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-what-if-its-not-dyslexia-tickets-1023433616497?aff=oddtdtcreator