When We Remove Support from Autistic Children, We Risk Creating Burnt-Out Autistic Adults
What happens to autistic kids when we remove their support? The NDIS is removing thousands of autistic Australians from the scheme without understanding the significant risks that poses for their futures. This post is about what that can cost, from someone already paying the price. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 minutes
Just Being in the Room Isn't Enough - Participation Without Belonging
Attendance and compliance don't tell you whether a child belongs. This post explores what participation without belonging looks like in schools and community programs, what genuine belonging looks like instead, and where educators and program leaders can start. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
Returnability: The Measure of Inclusion That Actually Matters
Attendance tells you a child showed up, but attendance isn’t belonging. For neurodivergent children, the most honest measure of belonging is Returnability, and most of us aren't measuring it yet. Here’s what it is, what it looks like in compulsory and non-compulsory settings, and why it matters. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 minutes
Co-Regulation: Sharing the Work of Calming Down
Telling someone to "calm down" rarely works, especially if that someone is a neurodivergent child. Co-regulation is the process of calming down with someone else, and it's how self-regulation is learned. This post explores the Regulation Wave, what co-regulation looks like at each stage, and how educators, program leaders, and parents can put it into practice. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 minutes
The Joy That Keeps Us Teaching (Even When It Costs So Much)
After writing about the hidden costs of teaching, I wanted to share what makes it worth it. The same AuDHD brain that makes teaching expensive also makes it extraordinary. For me, the joy of special interests, connection, creativity, advocating for kids who need someone in their corner, and the deep satisfaction of belonging is what makes the Participation Tax affordable. This post is a celebration of neurodivergent joy, and what schools can do to welcome it. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
The Hidden Cost of Teaching (Even When You're Brilliant at It)
I'm an AuDHD teacher. I love my job, and I'm brilliant at it - but the Participation Tax of casual teaching (and even contract or permanent roles) is rarely talked about. Here's what it looks like, what helps, and why supporting neurodivergent teachers keeps passionate educators in the classroom. 💙
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
The Regulation Wave: A Reasonable Neurodivergent Crash Out.
Every child moves through regulation states - Underwhelmed, Engaged, Overwhelmed. Noticing quiet signs before a crash or slump helps educators and leaders respond with curiosity, not control. A reasonable crash out is information, not defiance. Discover how to support neurodivergent children through underwhelmed, engaged, and overwhelmed states, with practical tips for classrooms and programs.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
Hidden Expectations & Hidden Barriers: The Rules No One Tells You & The Challenges No One Sees.
Despite the very best intentions, sometimes it can seem impossible to make inclusion work. Two invisible forces might be at play: Hidden Expectations (rules no one teaches) and Hidden Barriers (effort no one sees).Here's what educators, program leaders and parents need to know.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
The Participation Pathway: Why Some Children Check Out Before Participation Begins
Participation happens in three stages: Access (getting in safely), Engage (staying involved), and Belong (coming back over time). Here's what educators and program leaders need to know.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
Making Participation Impossible: When NDIS Supports Are Removed, The Participation Tax Skyrockets
When NDIS supports are cut, the hidden cost of participating (sensory, cognitive, social, emotional, transition and recovery) rises dramatically for neurodivergent children and adults. Here's what that looks like.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
That Hidden Cost of Joining In (And Why Some Kids Pay More)
The Participation Tax is the hidden cost of taking part – sensory, cognitive, social, emotional, transition, and recovery. Here’s what organisations and parents need to know.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
The Truth About Community Programs: What Parents of Neurodivergent Kids Want You to Know
A recent parent survey reveals why neurodivergent children are withdrawing from community programs and what helps them feel included. Read the insights and practical tips for program leaders.
Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes
Small Changes, Big Access: What Our Adaptive Karate Tournament Taught Us About Inclusion
A recent karate tournament showed how small adjustments can help children with disabilities participate fully in mainstream programs. This post explores practical ways community organisations can make inclusion more achievable.
Estimated Reading Time: 2-3 minutes
What Neurodivergent Inclusion Really Means in Community Organisations.
Many community organisations want to be inclusive but feel unsure what that looks like in practice. This post explains neurodivergent inclusion as a systems-based, practical approach, and where small changes can make a big difference.
Estimated Reading Time: 2-3 minutes