We are marking Autism Awareness Month, and today we wanted to have a thoughtful conversation about neurodivergency, family life, and how we can better support children and parents with more understanding and less judgment.
On the MIX Morning Show, Sean Kelly and Mariam Serkal sat down with Dr Julie Gowthorpe and therapist Lee Kellogg to discuss neurodivergency, and why that language matters.
We have to remember that behaviour is communication. A child may be overloaded, anxious, confused, sensory overwhelmed, exhausted, or struggling with a transition they cannot yet manage. That does not mean there should be no boundaries. It means the boundary should be paired with understanding.
People should remember that neurodivergent children are not a list of deficits. They are whole people. Many are creative, deeply observant, honest, funny, persistent, and intensely interested in the things they love. When we meet them with respect, their strengths become easier to see.
