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A photo of makeup items. There is a multi-coloured make up palate, red lipstick, blush brush, eye makeup and pin nail polish coming from the bottom left side of the photo.

Blog

3 July 2025• by

Inside and Out: Rethinking Hygiene, Autonomy and Expression

In my work supporting parents and carers of young people with hygiene, I’ve noticed something that keeps coming up. It's something that sits under the...

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A photo taken looking down at a desk. The desk has a white notebook with 'information' written on a page, multi-coloured pens and thumbtacks, green highlighter and an orange juice.

Blog

28 June 2025• by

Finding the Balance: Supporting PDAers Without Overloading Our Young People

We know that step-by-step charts, checklists and routines can feel especially tough for PDAers. These kinds of supports can come across as boring, overly rigid...

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A photo of a young person with cat face painting. They have shoulder-length, light brown hair, are pale skinned and are smiling at the camera.

Blog

24 June 2025• by

PDA and Play: Power, Pretend, and Pushing Back Against Norms

Play for PDAers is a powerful, meaningful way to connect with the world on their own terms. It's a space where demands reduce, control returns to them, and...

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A round shaped, pale pink alarm clock is to the right of the photo and at a tilted angle. The alarm clock is against a pink background.

Blog

11 June 2025• by

Waking Up Can Be Hard: Understanding Sleep Inertia and Easing Into the Day

Waking up sounds like it should be simple. You just open your eyes and start the day, right? But for many people, especially those with specific sleep...

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Blog

5 June 2025• by

How do I get my young person not to hold their bladder? with downloadable guide

Wee withholding, when someone avoids or delays urinating, can feel puzzling and frustrating. This is especially true if it starts after what has been toileting...

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Blog

4 June 2025• by

What is Same Food? Why Familiar Foods Matter

Being Autistic is an all-encompassing experience and way of being. This means that we bring our ways of thinking, needs and abilities to all activities that we...

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A photo of inside a classroom with no people. There are rows of blue seats with wooden top desks all facing the same direction. There are windows in the back that look onto greenery.

Blog

28 May 2025• by

Demanding Respect from PDAers in the School Setting: Why Hierarchy Backfires & What Builds True Connection Instead

It’s a phrase many of us have heard, or even said in the school setting: "They need to learn to respect adults." "They have to follow instructions, it’s...

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A photo of a silver fork and butter knife at an angle to a white plate. All are on a pink background.

Blog

26 May 2025• by

Hypermobility & Ehlers Danlos & How They Affect Food & Eating

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the body’s ability to produce or process collagen, a protein...

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A photo of multiple rows of matchsticks and one match has been burned. The matchsticks have red tops and are lined up on a pink ground.

Blog

12 May 2025• by

Believing Teens: What We Say Matters, A blog inspired by the 2025 Autistic Burnout Conference

As part of my presentation at the 2025 Autistic Burnout Conference, titled Believing Teens: Beyond Exhaustion, I’ve been exploring how the words we use when...

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A photo of a shower head with running water. The shower head is silver in colour and water is coming out quickly. There are blue tiles in the shower.

Blog

10 May 2025• by

“How Do I Get Them to Shower?” Rethinking Hygiene Support in Care Roles

After running workshops in various care settings with staff who support disabled young people and adults, I noticed a common theme emerging - questions about...

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Photo of a jam sandwich. The sandwich has white bread and the strawberry jam is coming down the sides of the crust.

Blog

27 April 2025• by

‘Same Food’ or ‘Safe Food’ and When Our Language Matters

When people use terms like same food or safe food, they’re often referring to someone’s favourite food—a food they have a strong emotional or sensory...

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Blog

25 April 2025• by

More on Eating in Context: Understanding Food Preferences Without Pushing for Change

In a previous post 'Context Eating: Why We Prefer Specific Foods in Specific Settings', we explored how some young people and adults alike tend to eat certain...

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A person napping on their couch under a white blanket and wearing leather moccasin slippers.

Blog

4 April 2025• by

The Power of a Tiny Nap: Why Even a Few Minutes Can Make a Difference

Sleep can feel like a luxury, especially if you’re caring for little ones who need support overnight, working unpredictable shifts, or simply balancing too...

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Photo of someone adding a sticker to a behaviour chart. The chart is on a wall and there are green, yellow and orange rows that stickers can be added to. A pale hand is adding a blue sticker.

Blog

2 April 2025• by

PDAers and Compliance: Understanding the Real Challenge

For those who do not yet understand the neurotype, PDAers are often described as defiant and always pushing back. This misconception can lead to frustration...

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Blog

29 March 2025• by

Situational Mutism: A Compassionate Approach

The term Situational Mutism is much preferred to Selective Mutism. The word ‘selective’ implies choice, but in reality, someone experiencing situational...

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A young person who appears upset in a bedroom. They are sat on the ground, bent over their knees and head in their arms. They are wearing a green hoodie and jeans and have short, brown hair.

Blog

20 March 2025• by

Autistic Burnout and the Mismatch of Support

Autistic burnout is a state of extreme exhaustion—physical, emotional, and cognitive—resulting from prolonged masking, sensory overload, and navigating a...

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A photo of 3 crackers lined up on a white background. The crackers are orange and square shaped.

Blog

19 March 2025• by

Context Eating: Why We Prefer Specific Foods in Specific Situations

Some kids and adults may eat specific foods and in very specific contexts. This can be confusing and and even feel frustrating for parents and carers who see a...

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Blog

6 March 2025• by

Rethinking Praise: Practical Strategies for Toileting Support

Every young person is different, and what feels supportive for one might not work for another. The following ideas offer a range of approaches so you can find...

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Blog

4 March 2025• by

Going to Bed for Any Other Reason Than Sleep: Taking the Pressure Off

Going to sleep is quite the transition — and for many, it’s a huge demand or pressure....

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Blog

4 March 2025• by

Supporting PDAers with Hygiene: A Compassionate Approach

Navigating hygiene can be challenging for any young person. For PDAers, these transitions can feel especially overwhelming. Traditional approaches to personal...

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