There's No Such Thing As Normal

In this episode, I talk about co-regulation. I explain what it is, how it helps, and why it’s so important, especially for autistic people. I also share why needing other people to help us regulate isn’t a weakness, but a human need.here's an interesting article I read whilst planning this episode https://autisticrealms.com/neurodivergent-co-regulation/

In this episode, I talk all about Neurodivergent fatigue and burnout, which affects so many of us. I explain the differences between fatigue and burnout, share my own experiences and how it affects me, and how co occuring conditions make it even harder. I also talk about why neurodivergent people experience such deep exhaustion, including sensory overwhelm, intense emotions, social energy drain,, constant processing and more. Most importantly, I go into what actually helps. From pacing to creating a sensory-safe environment, this episode is full of strategies and self-compassion. I hope you find it useful and relatable.

In this episode I am joined by Victoria , who, like me, is completely blind with ADHD. We talk about the unique experience of living with both conditions, from how ADHD often gets overlooked in blind people, to what the assessment and diagnosis process is really like.Victoria shares her experience of ADHD medication which has been very different to my own. She also shares the strategies that help her manage her ADHD, from therapy and reiki to creative outlets. And Victoria also opens up about the challenges of memory, planning, and route learning, and why professionals need more awareness of the ADHD–blindness overlap. through this episode, I hope to razor awareness of the unique experience of being both blind and ADHD, and why there needs to be more support and recognition of the challenges we face. I hope you find it interesting and insightful.

In this episode, I explore the Zones of Regulation — a framework that helps people understand their emotional states, energy levels, and what they need to feel okay.I share how the zones were adapted for me as a blind person, what each zone means (including why I call yellow the “fizzy zone”), and how I use them to reduce overwhelm, manage meltdowns, and develop more self-understanding.I talk through real-life examples, sensory strategies, and how it has made a difference for me as an autistic ADHDer.

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I’m joined by the incredible Gabi, a musician, teaching assistant, and former dentist, as she shares her personal journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).We talk about what FND actually is, the wide range of symptoms, and how misunderstood it still is in both medical and public spaces. Gabi opens up about how her life changed overnight — from collapsing at work to navigating seizures, brain fog, and losing her career in dentistry.We explore: •What FND is and what it can look like•Common myths and misconceptions•Gabi's experience with diagnosis, treatments she's tried and finding strength through it all•Seizure first aid and how to support someone with FND•The emotional toll and how she found joy again through music and new opportunities.This episode is about resilience, awareness, and breaking stigma around invisible and poorly understood conditions. Whether you live with FND, know someone who does, or just want to learn, this one’s for you.FND resources: Neurosymptomshttps://www.neurosymptoms.orgFND Hopehttps://fndhope.org/about-fnd-hope/fnd-hope-uk/Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091912503740

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!

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.

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.

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.

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/

Change is something we all experience throughout life, however if your autistic like me then change can be extremely challenging. It's a common autistic trate but I feel our difficulties and experiences with change are offen misunderstood and belittled. I really want people to understand why change is so very hard, and the feelings it can cause. I also give some practical and emotional tips for supporting someone who struggles with change and tips that you yourself can use to help yourself.

In this episode I discuss song repetition in autistic people. I explain what it feels like and why I do it, as well as the potential reasons behind it.