Tag: autismassessment

‘Supporting your Neurodiverse Child’ Digital Book…

Takiwatanga Autism Support Services got in touch with me a while back to ask if they could use my graphics in their digital book with Essex Family Forum called ‘Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child’ which is for parents, written by parents from Send The Right Message alongside professionals from across health, education and social care.

It includes over 200 pages of hints, tips and useful information for example: information about the diagnosis process, how to get support for your child at school, health and wellbeing and much more. The team have shared their own experiences and hints and tips, along with those of parents, carers and young people from across Essex, Southend and Thurrock.

There are also signposts to useful books, blogs and online resources which are all tried and tested resources that the team have used and found helpful.

Click here to have a look at the book!

My latest podcast episode with Special Guest…My Brother!🎙

Episode 53 of my 21andsensory podcast has a very Special Guest on…My Brother! 

We chat about his FASD and Autism diagnoses and a bit about his life and growing up (including being adopted). We also chat about his special interests and hobbies.

If you haven’t heard of FASD it stands for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It is a term used to describe the permanent impacts on the brain and body of individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol during pregnancy resulting in a spectrum of physical, emotional, behavioural and neurological characteristics.

Some great FASD resources / Twitter accounts to follow are: 

More info on FASD: nationalfasd.org.uk/about-fasd

I was also a guest on the @SpotlightonFASD podcast. We chatted about my brother who is adopted and has diagnoses of FASD and is Autistic. I also spoke about my Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism. Listen here: https://youtu.be/TcQNRbq7FdM

My episode with my brother can be heard wherever you usually listen to your podcasts:

Autistic and trying my best.

Hello. I am Autistic and trying my best.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve felt this statement a lot. I am trying my best each day to muddle on through life in general. I feel like a lot of my life has involved ‘muddling on through’ things that seem to come naturally to other people. 

But: I always try my best. I am super dedicated and hyper focused when it comes to producing the best output I can. However…trying my best takes a hell of a lot of effort as an autistic person. It’s keeping up a constant ‘mask’ or ‘act’ in most social situations. It’s suffering from sensory overwhelm and autistic burnout on the regular. But you’d never know it from looking at me. And you’d never know it when looking at others. I think we all just need to be aware that everyone in life is muddling through things and nobody really has it figured out.

That was a ramble but the short of it is: I’m going to keep muddling through. And so should you.

(Also sorry if muddling is a British sort of word to use but it resonates with me! It means to think or act in a confused or aimless way).

New 21andsensory Podcast Episode with Amy Chrissy (@amuwamu)

On today’s episode I have special guest Amy Chrissy.

Amy is a 21 year old autistic homous enthusiast (which I’ll definitely be asking her more about!) she is an Autism advocate who creates amazing and really informative educational videos on her TikTok @amuwamu where she has over 42,000 followers!

We chat about:

  • Amy’s autism diagnosis and other diagnoses she has
  • Her experiences with ABA therapy as a child
  • Her journey through primary and secondary school
  • Amy studying sociology and psychology at university and how her first year on the course has been
  • Her special interests and creative hobbies a
  • Amy’s TikTok journey
  • Getting back out in the world, socialising and the struggles of eye contact!
  • …and Homous!

Here is a link to all of Amy’s social media pages make sure to follow her! She has also recently started up her own YouTube channel which is super exciting.

Apple Podcasts   Google Play Music  Overcast   Pocket Casts  Spotify

New 21andsensory Podcast Episode with Special Guest…My Sister! 🎙

My special guest on today’s episode is…my sister! Subscribe here or listen below!

We chat about:

  • My sisters career as primary school teacher and what Masters course she is studying
  • Her heart condition and how she manages it
  • GCSE’s and ALevels and the stresses of exams
  • Special needs and mental health within Schools
  • Understanding the role of School’s SEN departments and the process that it takes to become a Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
  • What it was like growing up with me…
  • Questions from my listeners (taken from my Instagram Stories) for my sister
  • And some bloopers to look forward to at the end!

I was a guest on the BBC Podcast ‘1800 Seconds on Autism’ 🎙

Hi everyone! Exciting news…I was on the @bbcsounds podcast 1800 Seconds on Autism! I chatted to Jamie and Robyn who are the hosts.

Listen here

Here are the show notes:

We chat about “scripting”, the rules of eating that no one tells you about, and avoiding crunchy food. This all comes before an email from a postman sparks lots of happy stimming.

Emily from @21andsensory explains how her autism diagnosis was given to her in a really positive way and on what occasions she uses the sunflower lanyard to show she has a hidden impairment.

We finish with tips for how to do Christmas in a helpful way for the autistic person in your life. 

Presented by Robyn Steward and Henry, Jamie Knight and Lion. Produced by Emma Tracey.

Listen via your smart speaker by saying “Ask the BBC for 1800 Seconds on Autism” or subscribe on BBC Sounds or wherever you usually get your podcasts!

A new 21andsensory podcast episode!

In this month’s episode I had a chance to speak to the very lovely Emily (find her @autie__eevee on Instagram). We spoke about a whole range of things such as her self diagnosis of Autism and her journey to be formally assessed, her first year studying Fine Art at university, her special interests and hobbies and about her amazing Instagram account!

Search for the 21andsensory podcast wherever you get your podcasts from!

Apple Podcasts   Google Play Music  Overcast   Pocket Casts  Spotify

21andsensory Colouring Sheets

 

✨ LITTLE ANNOUNCEMENT  ✨

Something a bit different, I’ve decided to make some colouring sheets from my illustrations! Every week I am going to be putting a downloadable colouring sheet of one of my illustrations live on this dedicated page on my website. The first one that is live right now is the ‘Self Isolation Achievements’ (Autistic / Sensory Edition) please let me know if you colour them in and I’d LOVE to see photos – feel free to send to me / tag me and I’ll be sure to share! Pop them up as posters to remind yourself of your fab achievements.

I would super appreciate a small donation if you would like to download the printable PDF’s (I appreciate we are in a pandemic currently and totally understand if you are not able to donate – the PDF is still downloadable) there is a link to my newly created kofi account on the page.