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Kathy Wassell, CEO and founder of the Autistic Girls Network Charity, talks with me about her journey creating supportive spaces for neurodivergent individuals, particularly women and girls who are often missed in traditional diagnostic pathways.

What began as a simple online community has blossomed into a charity serving over 32,000 members, providing training to schools, and offering vital support to neurodivergent girls and non binary people across the UK in a variety of ways.

We dive into a range of topics, such as diagnosis and why recognition matters. The launch of the Haven online school designed specifically for neurodivergent girls and non-binary young people who struggle in traditional educational settings. And of course, we talk about autistic girls, women and non-binary people.

You can find more information about the Autistic Girls Network here:

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Cathy's book:

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I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

If this episode made you laugh out loud or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

Support the Show: https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

Connect with Liz: https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com.

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What actually is PDA?

Speech and language therapist Libby Hill cuts through the confusion with clarity and compassion, drawing on decades of clinical experience and her work with leading PDA researchers.

"There's demand avoidance, and then there's PDA," Libby explains, highlighting the crucial differences that parents and professionals often miss. While many children resist external demands for logical reasons—sensory discomfort, lack of interest, or burnout—true PDA involves an illogical resistance even to things the person wants to do. This distinction isn't just academic; it fundamentally changes how we should support these children.


Libby and I discuss the struggles parents face when it comes to PDA. The shame, isolation, and burnout experienced when supporting a child or young person with a PDA profile. "Who do you confide in?" she asks, highlighting how parents frequently suffer in silence, afraid to share their reality even with close family.

Whether you're a parent seeking answers, a professional enhancing your knowledge, or someone who suspects they might have a PDA profile themselves, this conversation provides invaluable insights.

People and support that were discussed in the episode:

Sally Cat: https://www.facebook.com/SallyCatPDA

PDA Society website: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ and helpline: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support-and-training/

Libby mentions the PDA practice guidelines which you can find here: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/research-professional-practice/identification-and-diagnosis-process/

You can find Libby here:

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

And her new book "Born Naughty"

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

If this episode made you laugh out loud or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

Support the Show: https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

Connect with Liz: https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com.

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

In this episode, Jodie talks about her journey from unconsciously trying to be the “perfect yummy mummy” to showing up as her real, neurodivergent self in parenting. A big turning point was her eldest daughter’s autism diagnosis, which set her on a path of self-discovery and completely shifted how she saw both herself and her role as a parent.

She shares openly about the tough stuff too — battling the education system, being on the receiving end of parent blame, and going through gruelling tribunal hearings to fight for her kids’ needs.

But what really comes through is Jodie’s belief in the strengths neurodivergent parents bring. As she puts it, “We are epic parents to our kids because we get it... We’ve got that hyper empathy on a deeper level because we feel everything so deeply.” It’s a powerful reminder that our differences can actually be our strengths.

If you’re parenting neurodivergent kids, exploring your own identity, or just looking for a more honest take on parenting outside the box, you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

You can follow Jodie’s work through her books and social channels to keep learning from her lived experience.

https://jodieclarke.co.uk/

Facebook, Insta, LinkedIn

Jodie's books that we spoke about are:

• Stop The World I Want To Get Off
• The Secret Life of Rose
• Young, Autistic and Burnt Out

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

If this episode made you laugh out loud or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

Support the Show: https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

Connect with Liz: https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com.