We're Not Your Typical Podcast

What happens when children with ADHD and other neurodivergent needs are expected to fit into an education system that doesn't fully understand how their brains work?

In this episode of We're Not Your Typical, we sit down with Jamie Gilbert, a former assistant head teacher who spent 18 years working with children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, around 95% of whom were neurodivergent.

Jamie shares his experience working with children with ADHD, autism and other additional needs, and explains why he believes emotional regulation needs to come before academic achievement.

We discuss the challenges children can face in mainstream and specialist education, the impact of masking, why children may release their emotions at home after holding everything together at school, and how working memory and executive function can affect everyday life.

Jamie also opens up about his own experience growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, including the importance of understanding yourself, building confidence and finding the right tools to regulate your emotions.

He explains how movement, sport, positive relationships and dynamic learning can help children engage, and why he believes ADHD should be understood as more than either a "superpower" or a deficit.

We also talk about ADHD medication, diagnosis, rejection sensitivity, hyperfocus, working memory, parenting ADHD children, and how parents can adapt communication to better support their children.

Jamie also shares more about ADHD School, his virtual educational programme designed to help children understand their ADHD brain, develop executive functioning skills and build their own ADHD toolkit.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Understanding ADHD and the ADHD brain
• ADHD and emotional regulation
• ADHD, autism and neurodivergence in education
• Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs
• Why emotional regulation can affect learning
• Understanding masking in children
• Why children may release emotions at home
• ADHD and executive functioning
• Working memory and communication
• Supporting children with ADHD at home
• Movement breaks and ADHD regulation
• Hyperfocus and the strengths of ADHD
• ADHD diagnosis and understanding the diagnosis
• ADHD medication and individual choices
• Avoiding the "ADHD superpower" narrative
• Helping children understand themselves
• Jamie's experience of growing up with undiagnosed ADHD
• ADHD School and supporting neurodivergent children

📚 Find out more about Jamie's ADHD School:
https://adhdschool.com/

👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content:

https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, ADHD, SEND parenting and real family stories.

Sponsored by B&W
https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/

#ADHD #ADHDParenting #ADHDSupport #NeurodivergentChildren #ADHDAwareness #SENDParenting #AutismAndADHD #EmotionalRegulation #NeurodivergentFamily #SpecialNeedsParenting Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

Finding the right childcare for an autistic or neurodivergent child can feel incredibly difficult especially when trust, safety and understanding are so important.

In this episode, we sit down with Josh, also known as Jossy.cares, an experienced childcare professional who has spent 18 years working with children and families, including children with autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent needs.

Josh shares what it is really like to care for neurodivergent children, from supporting non-verbal children and understanding different forms of communication to creating a safe environment where children can be themselves.

We also discuss why male carers and male nannies are still relatively uncommon, how parents can build trust with a new carer, the importance of introducing carers gradually, and the challenges parents face when leaving their children in someone else’s care.

Josh also opens up about supporting neurodivergent adults at inclusive events and why he believes care should never be seen as a gender-based role.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Finding trusted childcare for autistic and neurodivergent children
• Caring for non-verbal children
• Autism, ADHD and additional needs
• How carers can support overwhelmed parents
• Building trust between parents, children and carers
• Why male childcare workers are important
• Supporting neurodivergent adults in social spaces
• Creating more inclusive environments
• Understanding children through their behaviour and communication

📍 Follow Josh / Jossy Cares on social media to find out more about his childcare services.

👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content:

https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, SEND parenting and real family stories.

Sponsored by B and W
https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/

#Autism #SENDParenting #AutismDad #EHCP #HomeEducation #NeurodivergentFamily #AutismAwareness #SpecialNeeds #ParentingJourney Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

What is it really like raising a child with complex autism and high support needs?

In this episode of We’re Not Your Typical, we sit down with Lucy, mum to 16-year-old Jacob, to hear her honest story of raising a child with autism, ADHD, developmental delay and significant care needs.

Lucy shares the realities of parenting Jacob from his early diagnosis through to his teenage years, including non-verbal autism, sensory challenges, self-injurious behaviour, toileting, sleep, medication, education and accessing support.

She also opens up about the challenges of being a full-time carer, the importance of respite care, supporting siblings and the difficult questions that come with thinking about an autistic child's future and adulthood.

This is an honest and emotional conversation about autism parenting, complex autism, high support needs, disability support, respite care and life beyond childhood.

If you're a parent of an autistic child, caring for someone with additional needs, or simply want to better understand the realities many families face, this episode is for you.

👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content:

https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, SEND parenting and real family stories.

Sponsored by B and W
https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/

#Autism #SENDParenting #AutismDad #EHCP #HomeEducation #NeurodivergentFamily #AutismAwareness #SpecialNeeds #ParentingJourney Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

When Eri's son Rio was born, she immediately knew something wasn't right. Having seen her brother live with Craniosynostosis, she recognised the signs that others missed. What followed was a journey of multiple brain surgeries, months of uncertainty, and learning to trust her instincts when medical professionals weren't convinced.

In this emotional episode of We're Not Your Typical, Eri shares Rio's story, from his diagnosis at birth to undergoing life-changing surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and why parents should never ignore their gut feeling.

In this episode:

🧠 What Craniosynostosis is and how it affects brain development
🏥 Rio's first surgery at just four months old
⚠️ How routine eye tests revealed dangerous pressure on his brain
💙 The emotional reality of watching your child undergo brain surgery twice
👶 The signs every parent should know to look out for
🙏 Why trusting your instincts can save your child's life
✨ Life after surgery and Rio's recovery journey

If you're a parent worried about your child's development, head shape, or you've experienced a rare diagnosis, this episode is filled with hope, awareness, and practical advice.

💬 Have you experienced something similar? Share your story in the comments to help raise awareness for other families.

👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content:

https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, SEND parenting and real family stories.

Sponsored by B and W
https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/

#Autism #SENDParenting #AutismDad #EHCP #HomeEducation #NeurodivergentFamily #AutismAwareness #SpecialNeeds #ParentingJourney Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.

What happens when your child's autism and ADHD diagnosis changes your entire life? In this episode of We're Not Your Typical, Ben shares his family's powerful journey through school refusal, late autism and ADHD diagnoses, parenting challenges, and how those experiences inspired him to build an AI-powered app designed specifically for neurodivergent families.

Ben opens up about navigating mainstream education, masking, therapy, marriage, late diagnosis as an adult, ADHD medication, and the realities of raising neurodivergent children. He also explains how his app, SYLVA, aims to support families with personalised parenting advice, emotional support, and practical tools for everyday life.

In this episode we discuss:

- Autism and ADHD diagnosis in children and adults
- School refusal and masking
- Parenting neurodivergent children
- Marriage and relationships under pressure
- Late autism and ADHD diagnosis
- ADHD medication myths and realities
- AI support for neurodivergent families
- DLA forms, NHS waiting lists and family support
- Emotional wellbeing for parents
- Building technology to help SEND families

Whether you're parenting an autistic child, navigating ADHD, waiting for a diagnosis, or simply looking for support, this conversation offers practical advice, reassurance, and hope.

👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content:

https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, SEND parenting and real family stories.

Sponsored by B and W
https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/

#Autism #SENDParenting #AutismDad #EHCP #HomeEducation #NeurodivergentFamily #AutismAwareness #SpecialNeeds #ParentingJourney Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.