Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat

A year after the very dangerous act of sleep left me with chronic nerve pain, I'm reflecting on internalised ableism, the accommodations that help, and the fears that have held me back from doing big, scary things, plus I'm sharing the big scary exciting ways I'm not letting them stop me!
"There's no one right way to be human. There's no one right ideal of productivity or capacity. There's no one right way to do anything at all."
In this episode I share:
How internalised ableism shows up in the shoulds I say to myself, and the standards we hold ourselves to that we'd never hold anyone else to
The accommodations that help when my body doesn't body very reliably, and why pain can still suck with all of them in place
Why any support you offer needs to be visible and easy to reach, so no one has to beg for it
Links:
I'm doing a one-day training in Wollongong with The Thrive Spot and I'm so, so excited! I'd absolutely love to train your team too: speaking and training
Save the date for Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st January 2027: Outside the Lines Workshop! A two-day training in Sydney for Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists, co-produced with the fabulous Steph Robertson. We've been mumbling and mulling over this for, well, actually years, and now it's happening! Join the waitlist here to get more info!
The Aligned Business Summer Series from my other business Differently Aligned Business Coaching: three live online workshops on business, systems and AI (the Aligned Business Workshop, the Aligned Systems Workshop and the Aligned AI Workshop). I'm buzzing with excitement! Head here for more info
Connect with Adina - Play. Learn. Chat.:
Podcast: Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast
Website: Play. Learn. Chat.
Instagram: @play.learn.chat

Come on a whirlwind tour through my first Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference, with something I learned from every one of the 18 Neurodivergent speakers.
"It was a whole mix of reflecting and connecting and creating and unthinking and thinking sideways and existing and being, and feeling."
In this episode I share:
The whole mission of the (Un)Conference: moving away from the pedestal types of learning we usually hear at a conference, and why every single speaker had lived experience of being Neurodivergent
From Day 1: the Neurodiversity Paradigm as an autonomy model, restoring occupation rather than productivity, and why it's on the world to ask and adjust rather than leaving Neurodivergent people to do all the self-advocating
How Day 2 got into my body, and why joy, rage and belonging that shouldn't have to be earned are changing how I live (sticker books included)
Announcements:
From September 2026, I'm adding a paid guest speaker every month to the Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Learning Hub. Podcast listeners can use POD20 for 20% off every month for as long as you're a member. Join by Friday 4th September 2026 to keep the current lower membership price before it increases.
The Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference is coming back in 2027. You can join the email list for 2027 updates, and you can still get three months' access to the Day 1 recordings with 20% off using POD20.
Links:
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Learning Hub - keep learning from Neurodivergent people and developing your Neurodiversity Affirming Practice. Use code POD20 for 20% off every month. Join by Friday 4th September 2026 to keep the current lower membership price before it increases.
Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference - Get the Day 1 recordings (Use code POD20 for 20% off - available immediately!) and get 2027 event updates!
Differently Aligned Podcast, Episode 47: I ran my first (Un)Conference. Here's what worked (and what I'll never do again) - Listen to the business half of this Double Up episode, where I share how I set it up, the systems, how I made decisions, and which ones played out
Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast, Episode 64: Supporting AAC Users and Understanding Cultural Differences with Kaishawna Fleming - Hear a little of my (Un)Conference chat with Kaishawna Fleming on supporting AAC users and understanding cultural differences
The speakers I learned from at the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference:
Day 1
Sonny Jane Wise (they/them) - Website - Instagram
Hibak Hassan (she/her) - Website - Instagram
Kelsie "Mick" Olds (they/them) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Yenn Purkis (they/them) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Lumen Gorrie (they/them) - Website - Instagram - Appetite for Change Project - Appetite for Change Project on Instagram - LinkedIn
Lorena Slade (she/her)
Hayden Moon (he/they) - Instagram - Email
Erin Tee (she/they) - Website - Instagram
Kaishawna Fleming (they/them) - YouTube - Instagram - Email
Laetitia Andrac (she/her) - Website - Instagram - LinkedIn
Jessica Otter (she/her) - Instagram - Instagram - Aussie Autism Family - Facebook
Michael Coles (he/him) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Sharen Lui (she/her) - Website - Instagram
Day 2
Stephanie Robertson (she/they) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Christina Schmidt (she/her/hers) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Allison Davies (she/her) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Sarah Middleton (she/her) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Chenai Mupotsa-Russell (she/her) - Website - Facebook - Instagram
Connect with Adina - Play. Learn. Chat.:
Podcast: Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast
Website: Play. Learn. Chat.
Instagram: @play.learn.chat

Stephanie Robertson is back on the podcast! Steph is a multiply Neurodivergent OT, speaker and founder of SGR Occupational Therapy, and she's presenting her Autistic Joy workshop on day two of the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference this August. In this episode we explore why Autistic joy isn't just a nice to have, what the research now tells us about centring joy, and how you can make yourself a joy menu, rebuild your joy filter and go on a joy treasure hunt.
"Your play and your engagement with children, the laughter, the joy seeking, it is all evidence-based now. So you can do those things that feel good in your interactions with children, and know that you are achieving so many wonderful things and helping facilitate their development." - Stephanie Robertson
You'll hear:
What Autistic joy feels like in Steph's whole body, and why the neuronormative expectation that adults don't flap, bounce or squeal is just custard
What the research now shows when we centre joy in therapy, from better regulation and stronger sense of identity to reduced masking and burnout
How to make yourself a joy menu, rebuild your joy filter and go on a joy treasure hunt, plus a taste of Steph's Autistic Joy workshop on day two of the (Un)Conference
Steph's joy menu prompts:
Reflect back on the last week and ask yourself:
What's something that made me smile?
What made me curious?
What made me lose track of time?
What sensory experiences feel good, or do I tend to seek out?
What made my shoulders soften? What made me laugh?
LINKS
Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference - 19th and 20th August 2026, all online. 19 incredible Neurodivergent speakers, with Steph's Autistic Joy workshop on day two. Recording-only tickets available (day one is recorded, day two is live only)
Connect with Stephanie Robertson - SGR Occupational Therapy:
Podcast: Alphabet Soup - Exploring Complex Neurodiversity
Website: SGR Occupational Therapy
Instagram: @sgroccupationaltherapy
Facebook: SGR Holistic and Family Focused Occupational Therapy
Facebook group: The Neurodiversity Empowerment Movement
YouTube: The Spiritual OT

Meet Kaishawna Fleming, a Black DeafBlind Autistic advocate, clarinettist and writer who communicates through AAC, sign language and speech, sharing what it really takes to support AAC users, especially Black and Brown AAC users, and why cultural difference has to be part of the conversation.
This conversation is a taste of what Kaishawna brings as one of the speakers at the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference, a two-day online event centring lived experience and neurodiversity affirming practice for the people who support neurodivergent kids.
"Listening and active engagement serves to help and improve the understanding of cultural significance when it comes to autism. When we actively listen, we allow their lived experiences to guide us through their journey." Kaishawna Fleming
You'll hear about:
How Kaishawna communicates through AAC, sign language and speech, and why the mode shifts with mood, energy and cognitive load
Why autism can present differently for Black, Indigenous and Brown learners, and what real listening asks of families and educators
What professionals need to unlearn, from white privilege and fragility to the way words like woke get taken and distorted
Life's Moments, the novel Kaishawna is writing about a couple navigating disability, race and ableism together, and their call for beta readers
LINKS
Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference: two-day online event on 19th and 20th August 2026, where Kaishawna is one of the speakers, with Day 1 available as recordings: neurodiversityunconference.com
Connect with Kaishawna:
Instagram: @kaishawna_music
YouTube: youtube.com/@kaishawna
Email: flemingkaishawna@gmail.com
Support Kaishawna: if you have benefited from Kaishawna's insights, connection and understanding, please consider supporting them with funds, via Venmo or PayPal

This episode is a cross-release from the Neurodivergent Pulse Podcast, hosted by Laetitia Andrac from Understanding Zoe. In this chat I shared big shifts to how we think about what 'communication support' should really look like for Autistic kids.
"We need to ensure that if somebody has a different way of communicating, we are supporting them to find their best way to communicate in that moment for that person, not for what the world around them is asking." - Adina Levy
We cover:
Why the word "speech" in speech therapy is part of the problem, and what communication support should actually prioritise
How to question goals and expectations for autistic children, including the difference between safety-based compliance and neurotypical conformity
Reframing "use your words" and table-sitting compliance goals into child-led, interest-based approaches
A beautiful moment where a five-year-old made her own AAC board because she just didn't feel like talking
A call to action for professional bodies and policymakers to actually live the inclusive values they claim to uphold
Connect with Laetitia, Understanding Zoe and the Neurodivergent Pulse Podcast:
Neurodivergent Pulse Podcast (hosted by Laetitia Andrac) - listen and subscribe - https://understandingzoe.com/podcast/
Understanding Zoe - Laetitia's incredible platform for parents of neurodivergent kids - https://understandingzoe.com/
Laetitia on Instagram - @understanding.zoe - https://www.instagram.com/understanding.zoe
Connect with Adina, Play. Learn. Chat:
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Learning Hub Membership for professionals who support neurodivergent children - https://playlearnchat.com/learning-hub/
2026 Neurodiversity (Un)Conference - August 2026 - https://playlearnchat.com/neurodiversity-affirming-unconference/
Play. Learn. Chat. freebies (free webinars, resources, and parent checklist) - https://playlearnchat.com/freebies/
Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast - https://playlearnchat.com/exploring-neurodiversity-podcast/
Connect with me on Instagram - @play.learn.chat - https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat/
Differently Aligned Business Coaching - https://differentlyaligned.com/
Differently Aligned Podcast - https://pod.link/1729123916