))
Escaping the Box Society Built for Our Kids
Manage episode 477204490 series 3657891
Content provided by Liz Evans - The Untypical OT. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Liz Evans - The Untypical OT or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
What happens when we stop trying to fit neurodivergent children into a neurotypical world? In this eye-opening conversation, Helen Daniel—author, late-diagnosed neurodivergent, and sensory expert, —challenges everything we've been taught about "perfect parenting" and reveals how societal expectations create unnecessary struggles for neurodivergent families.
Helen shares her theory of neurosensory divergence, which sees autism not as a deficit but as sensory abundance—a richer way of experiencing the world that brings unique ways of learning and thinking, moving away from stigma and highlighting the strengths of neurodivergent minds.
She dives into the everyday struggles neurodivergent kids face in schools, where traditional methods often don’t work for different sensory styles. Whether a child focuses deeply on one sense or takes in everything at once, both can feel out of place in typical classrooms.
This conversation is full of practical insights for parents, teachers, and professionals alike. By understanding sensory needs, we can create better learning environments, support self-advocacy, and build a world that embraces neurodivergence instead of trying to "fix" it.
Helen's book Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages: A Roadmap To An Equitable Life For Autistic Children, is available to buy.
You can find Helen on her social media platforms:
Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.
To connect with me you'll find all my links on Linktree:
If you would like to contact me about the podcast please email me at:
Chapters
1. Welcome to Untypical OT Talks (00:00:00)
2. Meeting Helen Daniel: Neurodivergent Author and Advocate (00:01:09)
3. Perfection as a Social Construct (00:03:37)
4. Unrealistic Birth and Parenting Expectations (00:06:32)
5. Late-Diagnosis and Finding Alignment (00:12:12)
6. School Trauma and Educational Expectations (00:21:23)
7. Understanding Sensory Profiles and Processing (00:28:51)
8. Building Children's Sensory Self-Advocacy (00:40:09)
9. What's Next for Helen Daniel (00:55:51)
10. Episode Closing and Community Connection (01:01:15)
14 episodes
Share
