NDV Podcast: Neurodiverse Voices – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I open the doors to my messy, end of a very busy week looking like living room! :) The final result differs from what I had initially imagined, however it ended up being a very natural and authentic video filmed by my good friend Humberto Mayorga*, who supports local SMEs with content production. Try and error is one of my mottos, lessons learned.

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jiedi Lei, Clinical Psychologist and Principal Investigator at the University of Oxford and Emma Jewitt, also Psychologist and Research Assistant supporting Jiedi's with fellowship. We talked about the study Autism Character Strengths, that have been conducting in the past few months and in which I took part as parent of an autistic girl (you can listen about my experience on the study as a participant) on my solo episode in season 1 Autism Character Strengths.

Our conversation delved into their innovative approach, focusing on identifying and leveraging the unique strengths of autistic young people to support them in their daily lives. We discussed how the strengths-based framework can empower parents, clinicians, and teachers to create more positive and supportive environments. Jiedi and Emma shared their insights on how this approach could transform the future for autistic individuals and their families, shifting the narrative from challenges to possibilities.

I also learned the motivations behind their interest in focusing their research on supporting autistic young people. They shared their lived experience and what has led them to this stage of their career.

Find out more, by watching the episode!

*You can see more of Humberto's work here:

https://www.instagram.com/humberto_mayorga/

In this episode of the NDV Podcast, I sit down with Darren, the lead of the SEND rugby sessions for children at Gosford All Blacks. Darren passionately believes that sports like rugby should be accessible to all children, regardless of their abilities. We discuss how these SEND sessions came to life, the impact they've had, and how other rugby clubs in the county are adopting the same approach. Darren also shares his pride in securing Honda Volunteer Awards for some of the club’s volunteers (May 2024) and reflects on the unique sense of family within the rugby community. When asked what defines him, Darren humorously credits Guinness as an Irishman and, if his heart had a voice, it would simply say, "Give more hugs." He is a fantastic human being that you should all get to know by listening to this episode!

Andreia C. is pro technology, however she is very much aware of the downsides that it brings and defends that technology can induce laziness. She discloses her struggles with the use of screens by her daughter, who seems to use it as a tool for soothing herself, lacking the understanding that time boundaries are needed. Andreia believes that this topic is not limited to parents of neurodivergent children, but that all parents can pretty much relate as advance in technology is a constant and its dependence is inevitable.

My guest superstar Gloria Azcona, Co-Founder and Facilitator at The Harbour, a self-directed learning centre for young people in Oxford told me all about how her teaching background led her to co-found The Harbour. She shared her views on neurodivergence as a mother and a professional. We discussed the current education system and I learned about the multitude of subjects offered by The Harbour, using an innovative teaching approach that proves to be very successful. She also recommends some very useful resources!

Tom is the Lead Mentor at Oxford Creators. On this episode, he shares his experience as mentor of neurodiverse children who attend Oxford Creators. Tom advocates that using alternative methods of education such as using physical exercise as a tool to boost their confidence, can be very effective. He admires the huge amount of energy that his students have, and embraces their unique perspectives , celebrating their unique ways of perceiving the world.

Leandra is a mother of 3 neurodiverse children and the founder of the personal blog SENtipede. She shares her own experience and how much she learns everyday with her sons. Leandra explains why she decided to create SENtipede and shares her hopes for the future, as an advocate for Autism and ADHD.

This episode was recorded at the alternative provision Oxford Creators, while some classes were taking place. Be prepared for some music on the background :)

Veena is the CEO and Founder of Oxford Creators, an alternative provision she created after her son was unlawfully excluded from school at the age of 11. In this episode she takes us through her journey, from a personal and professional point of view and shares her perspective on the current education system in the UK.

In this NDV Podcast episode, I reflect on the challenges of summer holidays, particularly the difficulty of balancing work, childcare, and personal time. I discuss the slow yet fast passage of time during school breaks, the exhaustion from trying to maintain a routine, and the humorous yet demanding moments of parenting.

I share personal experiences, including a recent family trip, a visit to a medieval fair that was much better this year, and the unexpected stomach bug that affected my family. Despite the ups and downs, I focus on the joy of watching my autistic daughter’s small but significant achievements.

The episode concludes with a message of support for parents of neurodivergent children and an announcement about the upcoming "Grab a Cuppa & Chat" sessions for parents/carers, starting on September 20th In Abingdon, Oxfordshire. These sessions aim to provide a supportive environment for parents to connect and share their experiences.