Heale Collab

As students return to school it seems timely to share resources that have been designed to improve school for neurodivergent kiddos. NeuroWild, Yellow Ladybugs, Autism Level UP & Be Me Speech offer resources designed to educate parents, clinicians and teachers working directly with neurodivergent students. Providing information that addresses issues such as communication between families and school staff, sensory triggers and appropriate accomodations, and explaining key concepts such as executive functioning and emotional regulation.

At a systemic level Autistic Realms has collaborated with Stimpunks Foundation to provide Neuroqueer Learning Spaces (NQLS), which encourages educators, families, and communities to challenge neuronormativity and build something radically different. Reframing Autism is bringing LEANS to Australian schools, this is a free, teacher-delivered curriculum that introduces neurodiversity concepts to primary school children and aims to help students understand and value different ways of processing and learning.

All of these resources have been created by neurodivergent people and many are available free of charge. I encourage you to explore how these resources can help you support the neurodivergent students in your life, while also sharing relevant resources with teachers and school leadership staff.

Here are some tips to help you make the holiday season a bit easier for any neurodivergent people in your life.

Many parents have to bear witness to the after school collapse that is often experienced by neurodivergent kids. This may be crying inconsolably for an extended period of time as soon as they return home, or it might be a lack of capacity to deal with anything unexpected no matter how minor it may seem.

While this can be heartbreaking to see, it is even more heartbreaking knowing that some kids do not feel safe showing these emotions to any adults and are instead having to cope in isolation. These are the kids crying themselves to sleep or finding unhelpful coping mechanisms.

So if you are one of the many parents supporting your child through big emotions, take time to reflect on the special gift you have created for your child. The gift of emotional safety.

Its time for one of my favourite events, the Yellow Ladybugs Conference. Over the next 3 days I will share some of the many insightful moments that always come from such an affirming conference.