You Can Grow Your Own Way

Ep 14 - Understanding the Vestibular, Proprioceptive and Tactile systems - with Lisa Hughes

Have you ever noticed that certain body movements can help your children feel safer in their own skin? Do you have a wriggler or a roller or a bouncer? Do they seek out your touch or shy away from it?
Understanding your child’s vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile systems can be a key to helping them feel grounded and comfortable when other stimuli are overwhelming.
We will be discussing what these systems are, why they are so important to the neurodivergent child and how you can be proactive in introducing ways that help these systems to support your child’s regulation journey.
We're joined by Lisa Hughes of Occupational Therapy Helping Children as she shares more than thirty years experience of helping children feel comfortable in their bodies.

Ep 13 - What is an occupational therapist? With Steph Van Velzen

Occupational Therapists (OTs) can seem like magical “catch-all” wizards for our neurodivergent children. So in this episode we break down what an OT is, what they do and how they do it.
We delve into the many ways an OT can support your neurodivergent child’s growing brain and why are they are fast becoming the essential spoke to your child’s support wheel.
We’ll also answer some of our audience questions about OTs so we can demystify the incredible work that they do.
Speaking with Stephanie Van Velzen, an OT for over `15 years and Practice Director of Uplift Therapy Ballarat, she’ll aim to help us understand how an OT can support your neurodivergent child.

Ep 12 - The common connection between neurodivergence and anxiety - with Laura Addabo

Anxiety and neurodivergence seem to like hanging out together A LOT! Current statistics have approximately half the neurodivergent population also diagnosed with Anxiety.
So why do we think they're such great friends? Let’s delve in to why Anxiety often partners up with a range of neurodivergent disorders. What triggers this pairing? How do we spot it? And how can we help our neurodivergent children navigate the symptoms of anxiety within their brain and body?
Have a listen to this informative and insightful conversation with Laura Addabo, Psychologist at The ASD Clinic to learn more.

Ep 11 - Explaining neurodivergence to family and friends - with Holly Karten

While receiving a diagnosis is incredible for helping to explain why your child may have felt a bit like a fish out of water in a neurotypically organised world, it can be just the beginning of your journey.
It can seem incredibly daunting if you make the decision to tell family and friends about your child’s diagnosis. Where do you start? What do you say? And how do you ensure they see your child as the individual that they are, not just the diagnosis?
We chat to Holly Karten, a disability activist and artist with lived experience, about navigating complex and emotional conversations with positivity and advocacy for your child.

Ep 10 - What is parent or carer regulation? And why is it important? With Diana Silva

The terms Regulation and Co-regulation are used often when discussing how parents and carers can help the emotional state of their neurodivergent children. But what exactly do these terms mean? And what is the difference between them?
If we are to co-regulate our children, how do we look after ourselves to ensure we’re in an emotional state that is healthy for us both? How do we make sure we can access the best parts of our brain and respond in the most appropriate way?
And does regulated equate to calm? Should our children always be calm?
We chat to Diana Silva, founder of the Keywell app that helps parents better understand their neurodivergent child.

Ep 9 - Navigating school for your neurodivergent child with Kristie Miller

As many of our ND kidlets are heading to a brand new year of school, this felt like the perfect time to discuss navigating school for our children. So much of our time with and for our children is spent navigating all things school - teacher meetings, funding applications, independent learning plans, early pick ups, modified timetables... So our first episode for this season and for this year is with the incredible Kristie Miller, former small school principal and now Creative Arts Therapist, discussing the impact of busy classrooms, identifying the individual in the child and what an equitable and fair education should look like for all our children. Buckle up, this is one thought provoking conversation! Be sure to follow and subscribe to not miss an episode.

Ep 8 - How do we understand sensory processing? With Steph Van Velzen

People with a neurodivergence often appear to have aversions and reactions to (or to seek out) certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures. What is this? Why does it happen? And how do we support our children in navigating the world so that they are not overwhelmed by these experiences? What is the difference between Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS)?
 
We chat with Stephanie Van Velzen, Practice Director and Occupational Therapist at Uplift Therapy Ballarat, about all things sensory!

Ep 7 - What is the Hidden Disability Sunflower and how can it help? With Justin Bruce

The Hidden Disability Sunflower Program started in London 8 years ago but has been rapidly gaining momentum in the last few years. What is it? How can it help your ND person? And how do you access it?
We interrupt our Definitions episodes of S1 to bring you this discussion with Justin Bruce, the Director of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Australia and New Zealand to see how the program is changing experiences for people with hidden disabilities.