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21 October 2025• 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...

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Blog

21 October 2025• 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...

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Blog

20 October 2025• 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...

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Blog

15 October 2025• 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...

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8 October 2025• 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...

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Blog

3 October 2025• 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...

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Blog • Projects and Resources

30 September 2025• 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...

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December 4th, 12 pm - 1.30 pm GMT Thank you for being here, Laura Hellfeld RN, MSN, PHN, CNL Connect with me on social media BlueSky, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalised support and care tailored to your specific needs.

Blog

22 September 2025• 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?...

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Blog

29 August 2025• 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...

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Blog

25 August 2025• 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....

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22 July 2025• 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...

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Blog

20 July 2025• 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...

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A photo of inside a classroom. There are no students or staff. There are rows of desks in a classroom with white walls and hanging lights. There is a blank chalk board at the front.

Blog

15 July 2025• 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...

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Blog

10 July 2025• 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...

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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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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.

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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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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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