by

Protecting Relationships When Sleep is Hard for PDAers

When sleep is hard, it’s very easy for everything to become about fixing sleep. Bedtime routines tighten, strategies multiply, and nights begin to feel like...

Read More →

by

Why Waking Up in the Morning Is Hard (It’s Hormones, Not Behaviour)

If mornings in your house feel hard - slow, emotional, chaotic, or like everything goes wrong before 8 am - you’re not alone. One of the most helpful...

Read More →

by

Levelling Behaviour: When Students Try to Even the Playing Field

In every classroom, there are moments when a student suddenly pushes back - hard. They might snap, mock, refuse, storm off, or say something that sounds deeply...

Read More →

by

When the Holidays Feel Heavy: Why Young People Are Turning to AI and Where to Find Real Support

As winter holidays approach, there’s a familiar story we tell ourselves: rest, joy, connection, and relief from routine. For many young people, the reality...

Read More →

by

Bumpy vs Spiky Learning Profiles: Why the Difference Matters More Than You Think

In education, we talk a lot about ‘meeting learners where they are.’ But too often, we imagine that learning differences fall along a straight line with...

Read More →

by

Rethinking Behaviour Controls for PDA: Why Sticker Charts and Tokens Don’t Work

If you’ve tried using sticker charts, token systems, or traffic light behaviour charts with a PDAer, you may have noticed they don’t usually work and...

Read More →

by

Neurodivergence, PANS & PANDAS Conference: Free Access to Webinar Recording and Resources

Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms and I spoke at the October 2025 PANS/PANDAS UK Conference, hosted by the PANS/PANDAS UK charity. Our...

Read More →

by

Podcast Episode: PDA, Self-Care & the Importance of Neuroscience-Affirming Support

I was recently invited onto Josie Maskell’s podcast Acronym Minds and our chat is now live on Spotify. Join us as we explore the unique challenges...

Read More →

by

Hidden Health: Judging Labels That Miss the Real Story

At the Nurture Programme Trauma Conference, October 2025, I shared my talk Hidden Health: How Unrecognised Needs Add to Trauma. One of the areas I explored...

Read More →

by

Starting the Conversation About Neurodiversity at Work: Practical strategies for raising awareness

Before our Neurokindred webinar, Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic People: Everyday Practices for Individuals and Organisations, attendants were invited to...

Read More →

by

Equality of Access Through Equity: A Snapshot of our Safe Spaces Presentations

At the start of October, Scott Neilson and I were invited to share more about the ideas behind our book Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic...

Read More →

by

When the Doctor Says “Let’s Wait and See…”: Practical scripts for parents and carers

At the Nurture Programme Trauma Conference, October 2025, I shared a talk called Hidden Health: How Unrecognised Needs Add to Trauma. One of the themes we...

Read More →

by

Information Gathering Templates: For PANS/PANDAS Conference 2025

As part of our preparation for the conference, I also developed three information-gathering templates (a huge thank you to Helen for her feedback and...

Read More →

by

What Is Diagnostic Overshadowing and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever gone to the doctor with a concern, only to have it dismissed as ‘part of’ your disability, neurodivergence, or mental health diagnosis?...

Read More →

by

Podcast Episode: Making Hygiene Accessible for Neurodivergent Kids

In this episode of From Burnout to Balance, Tanya is joined again by Laura Hellfeld, a neurodivergent nurse and parent educator, to explore the layered...

Read More →

by

New School Year, Same Lunch Every Day

The new school year is here - new shoes, new teachers, new pencil case… and maybe, the exact same lunchbox as last year. Every. Single. Day....

Read More →

by

Understanding Food Choices Beyond ‘Picky Eating’: Medical Conditions and Their Impact on Eating Habits

Food choices and eating habits are often viewed through a behavioural lens, with labels like 'picky eating' commonly used to explain them. In my work, it’s...

Read More →

by

‘Slow Eaters’: Understanding and Supporting Different Paces

Eating slowly can sometimes be misunderstood. We live in a culture that often values speed and efficiency, even at mealtimes.  If you or someone you care for...

Read More →

by

“Who Decided This?” Listening to PDA Young People About School Disconnection

I recently spent time with a group of older primary and early secondary-aged young people and their parents. We were gathering to talk about self-care tasks in...

Read More →

by

Play First, Hygiene Later: Getting Comfortable with Washing

Let’s be honest: hygiene products can be weird. They bubble. They squirt. They smell like ‘mountain rain or ‘moonflower’. Some of them fizz, foam, or...

Read More →

Close Search Window