Empowering Neurodivergent Artists: Accessibility and Inclusivity with Stephen Bailey
Welcome to Our Weekly Blog!
Empowering Neurodivergent Artists: Inclusivity in the Arts with Stephen Bailey
Dear Neuro Nurturers,
Firstly, apologies for the two weeks of silence; half term conspired against me this year. Hopefully, you had a good break.
As a mother to a wonderfully creative neurodivergent daughter, I have often wondered about the future of inclusivity in spaces where creativity thrives—like theatre and the arts. This week on the SEND Parenting Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Stephen Bailey, an award-winning director and neurodivergent artist who leads Vital Exposure, a Hackney-based theatre company dedicated to amplifying voices from marginalised communities. Stephen’s journey and dedication to inclusivity are nothing short of inspiring, and his insights offer so much hope and guidance for those of us nurturing neurodivergent children with artistic passions.
Challenging Barriers in the Arts
Stephen’s story is a powerful testament to the need for inclusive spaces in the arts. Diagnosed in his twenties, he shared how his early years in the industry were shaped by his experiences navigating a system that was not built to accommodate neurodivergent individuals. In fact, Stephen described the challenge many neurodivergent artists face—needing to advocate constantly for the accommodations that enable them to do their best work. As he explained, asking for adjustments is often met with hesitation or even dismissal. But he has seen firsthand that these small shifts—like captioning, relaxed performance settings, and accessible rehearsals—can make a transformative impact, not only for neurodivergent artists but for everyone involved.
Listening to Stephen discuss his work, I was reminded of my daughter, Alexandra, and her love for creativity. Hearing about the changes he is leading in the arts industry gave me hope that, by the time our children are ready to pursue their dreams, we will have a more understanding, inclusive world ready to embrace their talents.
Tips for Parents of Creative Neurodivergent Kids
Stephen offered practical advice for parents like us, who are raising creative neurodivergent children. Here are a few key takeaways that might help you nurture your child’s artistic journey:
Seek Out Relaxed Performances
Many theaters now offer “relaxed performances,” designed to create a more accommodating environment for neurodivergent individuals and families. However, Stephen pointed out that the standards for these performances can vary greatly. Asking questions and exploring which venues offer the most genuinely inclusive experiences can make a big difference.Encourage Passion
If your child shows an interest in the arts, Stephen encourages letting them dive in. He shared how theater was the one space where he felt fully himself, long before he even knew about his neurodivergent brain. The arts can be a place where neurodivergent individuals flourish, finding joy and connection through expression.Advocate for Accommodations
Whether it is captions, sensory-friendly environments, or understanding facilitators, do not be afraid to ask for what your child needs to thrive. Many arts organizations are increasingly aware of the value of inclusivity and will often work with you to create a supportive space for your child.
Creating an Inclusive Future in the Arts
What stood out most in my conversation with Stephen was his view on the arts as a space where neurodivergent individuals can truly thrive—if only given the right tools and accommodations. He described how organizations like Vital Exposure are not only committed to showcasing neurodivergent stories but also dedicated to making behind-the-scenes spaces welcoming and accessible. Through his work, Stephen is challenging the industry to rethink what it means to be inclusive, and to understand that the benefits of accessibility go far beyond those who need it most.
If your child is anything like my Alexandra—creative, passionate, and looking for a place to shine—Stephen’s journey offers a vision of an arts world that is ready and willing to embrace them. I encourage you to listen to this inspiring episode and to share it with others who might be on a similar journey. Together, we can help create spaces where neurodivergent children feel they belong and where their unique voices are celebrated.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery, empowerment, and growth. Together, as Neuro Nurturers, we are paving the way for a future where all children—neurodivergent and neurotypical alike—can thrive.
If you found this blog post helpful, please feel free to share it with others in your network who may benefit. And do not forget to subscribe to the podcast to stay updated on future episodes!
Warmly,
Dr. Olivia
Please Join the SEND Parenting WhatsApp Private Community by Clicking this Link
Click here to listen to Podcast Episode 96 with Stephen Bailey
Unlocking Your Family’s Genetic Potential: How Personalized Nutrition Can Support Neurodiverse Children
Welcome to Our Weekly Blog!
Unlocking Your Family’s Genetic Potential: How Personalized Nutrition Can Support Neurodiverse Children
As parents navigating the world of neurodiversity, we are constantly seeking better ways to support our children’s unique needs. From managing school challenges to finding the right nutritional and lifestyle support, it can often feel overwhelming. This is why I am so excited to share insights from our latest SEND Parenting podcast episode, featuring Dr. Jill Crowfoot, founder of Renude Health. Dr. Crowfoot is a GP with over 20 years of experience and has pioneered a unique approach that blends medical expertise with cutting-edge genetic testing to offer personalized nutrition solutions.
In Episode 95, titled Understand Your Genetics & Improve Your Nutrition, Dr. Crowfoot introduces us to the fascinating field of nutrigenomics—the study of how our genes interact with our diet and environment. This episode is a must-listen for parents looking to explore how understanding their family's DNA can optimize health, particularly for neurodiverse children.
Personalised Nutrition: No More Guesswork
How many of us have tried countless diets, supplements, or treatments to support our neurodiverse children, only to feel like we are taking shots in the dark? Dr. Crowfoot offers a game-changing solution—personalised nutrition based on your family’s unique genetic blueprint.
With a simple cheek swab, genetic testing can reveal your body’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. Dr. Crowfoot explains that by knowing how our DNA affects nutrient absorption and processing, we can make targeted decisions about what foods and supplements will benefit us most. For neurodiverse children, this can help support their nervous system, reduce anxiety, and improve focus.
Imagine no longer having to guess which supplements your child needs or relying on trial and error. Instead, you can confidently create a personalized nutritional plan that meets your child's exact needs based on their unique genetic profile.
Supporting Hormonal Changes in Neurodiverse Children
Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, can significantly impact neurodiverse children. Dr. Crowfoot explains how understanding genetics can help parents support their children through these changes, ensuring their hormones, such as estrogen and serotonin, are balanced alongside their nutritional needs.
For girls with ADHD or other neurodiverse conditions, these hormonal shifts can often be misunderstood or overlooked. Dr. Crowfoot highlights the importance of personalised genetic insights to help ensure the right nutritional and hormonal support during this critical development time.
Why This Matters for Neurodiverse Families
For families like mine, where neurodiversity is part of daily life, this approach is incredibly empowering. As parents, we want the best for our children but often feel at a loss when it comes to optimising their health. What Dr. Crowfoot brings to the table is a deeper understanding of how DNA influences everything—from mood to energy levels—and how we can actively use this knowledge to enhance our children’s well-being.
Dr. Crowfoot also touched on the power of nutrigenomics to address common challenges like heightened anxiety in neurodiverse children. She explained how certain nutrients, such as zinc, magnesium, and B6, are crucial in supporting the nervous system and how these can be fine-tuned based on a child’s specific genetic makeup.
Practical Steps for Parents
This episode was packed with valuable advice that parents can implement immediately. Here are three key takeaways from my conversation with Dr. Crowfoot:
Consider Nutrigenomics Testing: While genetic testing may not be accessible to everyone due to its cost, it offers invaluable insights that can transform how you approach your child’s nutrition and health. If it is within your means, it is worth exploring.
Focus on Key Nutrients: Even without genetic testing, many neurodiverse children benefit from incorporating essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and B6. You can start with small doses and observe any changes in mood, focus, or anxiety levels.
Understand the Role of Epigenetics: Our genes may determine certain predispositions, but our environment—what we eat, how we manage stress, and even the products we use—can influence how those genes express themselves. Knowledge of epigenetics allows us to take control of our health in ways we never thought possible.
Ready to Learn More?
If this episode piqued your interest, I encourage you to listen to the full conversation with Dr. Jill Crowfoot. She explains the science behind nutrigenomics in an accessible way, and shares practical tips on how parents can start applying this knowledge today. You can listen to the episode here.
Additionally, I invite you to join our private SEND Parenting community on WhatsApp, where parents come together to share experiences and learn from experts. The link to join is in the show notes of the podcast, or you can message me directly at 07-856-915-105 for an invitation.
Thank you for being part of the SEND Parenting community, and I look forward to continuing this journey with you!
Warm wishes,
Dr. Olivia
Please Join the SEND Parenting WhatsApp Private Community by Clicking this Link
Click here to listen to Podcast Episode 95 with Dr Jill Crowfoot
SEND Parenting Weekly Blog Post: Challenging Traditional Parenting: Low Demand Strategies for Neurodivergent Children
Welcome to Our New Weekly Blog!
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our weekly blog, where we’ll be highlighting key takeaways from each SEND Parenting Podcast episode. Our aim is to deepen the conversation, provide insights you can apply in your parenting journey, and build a supportive space for families navigating neurodiversity.
I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on this episode.
Please Join the SEND Parenting WhatsApp Private Community by Clicking this Link
This week’s episode 94 of the SEND Parenting Podcast: Challenging Traditional Parenting: Low Demand Strategies for Neurodivergent Children with Dr. Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker features a deep dive into low-demand parenting strategies with Dr. Naomi Fisher, clinical psychologist and author of Changing Our Minds, and Eliza Fricker, author and illustrator. Together, they have co-authored the highly anticipated book When the Naughty Step Doesn’t Work. If you’ve ever felt that traditional parenting advice backfires with your neurodivergent child, this episode—and their book—will be a breath of fresh air.
Traditional parenting advice often falls flat for many of us navigating neurodivergence. As I shared with Naomi and Eliza, I’ve been through the guilt, frustration, and isolation that come from following the well-meaning manuals that simply don’t apply to our children. The "naughty step," time-outs, or sticker charts—none of it worked for my daughter, and I know many of you feel the same. This episode breaks down why that is and offers a different way forward.
Low-Demand Parenting: A New Approach
One of the key themes of our conversation is that neurodivergent children experience the world differently. Naomi and Eliza advocate for low-demand parenting, a strategy that is neither passive nor permissive, but instead recognizes that some children have very limited windows of tolerance. When we place too many demands on them, they become overwhelmed, and instead of learning, they simply go into survival mode. This approach encourages us to reduce demands so that children can stay within their window of tolerance and learn in a way that works for them.
As Naomi pointed out, “What happens when the child doesn’t comply? Most parenting books don’t have an answer for that.” With low-demand parenting, the focus shifts from trying to control our children to getting alongside them and helping them develop skills at their own pace, without the pressure of rigid expectations.
Breaking the Cycle of Judgment and Guilt
A powerful part of our discussion was around the judgment we often face as parents—both from ourselves and others. We are constantly bombarded with societal expectations of what “good parenting” should look like, but when our children don’t fit into that mold, it’s easy to internalize guilt and blame. Naomi put it perfectly: “Good parenting TM,” as she calls it, sets parents up to feel like failures if our children don’t behave in line with societal norms. But the reality is, our children are not failures, and neither are we.
Instead of focusing on how others perceive us as parents, we need to shift our attention to what our children need in the here and now, even if that means stepping away from conventional wisdom.
The Power of Connection and Humor
Eliza’s illustrations and humor bring much-needed lightness to the heavy reality of parenting neurodivergent children. Whether it’s a cartoon of a child refusing to apologize after six hours on the "naughty step" or one reminding parents that sometimes we need to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, her work reminds us not to take everything so seriously. Humor and connection are vital tools for getting through the tough days and building a stronger bond with our children.
Practical Tips for Implementing Low-Demand Parenting
Start Where Your Child Is: Rather than pushing them to meet milestones or expectations that aren’t realistic, meet your child where they are and work with them from that point.
Reduce Demands: Lower the emotional and behavioral demands placed on your child to keep them within their window of tolerance. This is where they can learn and thrive.
Celebrate the Small Wins: It’s easy to overlook the invisible work you’re doing as a parent. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back—you’re doing an incredible job, even if others don’t always see it.
Final Thoughts
Low-demand parenting is about flexibility, compassion, and understanding that our children’s needs are different. It’s a long-term approach that fosters emotional security and trust, rather than relying on quick fixes or control. As both Naomi and Eliza remind us, when we step away from the rigid expectations of traditional parenting, we create the space for our children to grow and thrive in their own way.
Demystifying Independent Specialist Schools a Must Read for Parents with Kids who are Struggling at School.
Introduction
If you think a specialist school is only for children with severe disabilities and that it will stigmatize and derail your child’s future then have I got news for you: that pre-conception is completely wrong.
In this blog post I would like to demystify the stigma of the specialist school with the help of Mr. Day who is the Head teacher at the Unicorn School in Abingdon. The Unicorn, https://www.unicornoxford.co.uk/, is an independent specialist school focused on helping students with dyslexia and related learning difficulties.
At the end of this post you will be armed with the right facts about whether an independent specialist schools is worth exploring for your child.
Are independent specialist schools for neurodiversity only for severely disabled children?
Personally I was guilty of this mis-conception that a specialist school is only for the severely disabled.
Perhaps that view point got its roots in the fact that government sponsored specialist schools are in fact only for the severely disabled with an Educational Health Care Plan. Mr Day explained it well in the SEND Parenting podcast episode 2: There are great government sponsored specialist schools out there for children with real severe learning difficulties, you know, global difficulties. Then there is mainstream school and there is this huge gap that goes between this real specialist provision and mainstream. Local authorities and government’s view is that everybody’s needs can be met in mainstream apart from this tiny percentage who need the real specialist care. This is just not the case. We know as we have had children who have come to us, who have been off school for the last 6 - 12 months because they cannot cope in a large mainstream class with 25-30 children.
How do parents know if a specialist school is the right environment for their child?
This is a tough question for parents especially when there is a pre-conceived notion that a specialist school is for those children who are severely impacted by global learning disabilities.
Mr. Day illustrates this point by recounting a visit from prospective parents who asked him: “ How do I know that my child needs to come here?” “Does my child actually need everything that you are offering in this school like speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and art therapy”.
Mr. Day’s answer is quite simple, can you picture your child here? As he took the parents around the school they began to realise, well, it’s a terrible term to use, but the reality is these children are normal and my child is normal and yes I could picture them here.
Every parent wants their child to go to a mainstream school to go to the local primary or prep school and then the local secondary school, that is their goal. That is all they want for their child. And it is hard for them to accept and understand that their child might not be able to cope in that environment. It is only when they come and actually meet the children and realize, wow, these kids are great.
Hearing the children’s voice is really important and I do ask the children to tell the prospective parents what is different between their old school and the Unicorn? What do they think has improved the most? Why? The power of the child’s voice in expressing how they are happier, more confident are doing better at their subjects and feel accepted by their peers shines out. It is that child’s voice that resonates with prospective parents hearing some of the challenges faced currently by their son or daughter being met and overcome by the specialist school. It is more powerful than anything I can say to them or they can read on the website.
Below are the voices from the pupils at The Unicorn:
“Before The Unicorn I had no confidence in myself. It helped to bring out who I truly was”
“I understand all the work, I feel confident and alive!”
“I love The Unicorn, it’s allowed my bells to ring”
“The Unicorn was the only place I enjoyed going to school”
The younger you move a child into a specialist school the better their chance at better outcomes. Mr Day believes through his 16 years of experience that when children come a little bit later, the gap just gets wider and wider and it’s harder for us to close those gaps. Also, their own self-esteem starts to go through the floor and their own belief in who they are. We have to try and work on that side, as well. So the younger the child the better.
Over subscription of specialist schools- when is the right time to move your child?
I was lucky to get a place for my daughter at The Unicorn mid-year 3 just before COVID broke out. Mr. Day informed me if was to bring her to the school now looking for a placement in year 7, I would have a year or more wait to get her a place. The Unicorn has around 20 places a year with around 10 of those being students leaving for sixth form and around 10 going back into mainstream school. For the past three years there have been 250 enquiries per year for those 20 places, this school year from September to November we have had 110 enquiries.
Ethos of the Unicorn to close the gap and have kids move back into mainstream
At the Unicorn the goal is to get those who are able back into mainstream and to that affect about 10% of the school go back into mainstream each year. Unfortunately their specialist provision in the majority of cases is not continued in mainstream due to oversubscription and the belief they have benefitted from a year or two at The Unicorn and so should give the opportunity to another student.
Secondary School at the Unicorn
This is one of the more popular times for parents to enrol their children as the thought of sending them to a large secondary school of 1200-1500 pupils is daunting or they have started in such an environment and things have spiralled out of control.
Giving your child the best possible chance at their GCSEs
GCSEs are a stressful time in all pupils life, at the Unicorn the GCSEs are undertaken over a three year period from year 9-11. The students are completely competent on their laptops utilizing skill like dictation, typing and immersive reader. They are able to translate these skills to the GCSE and take their exams utilizing technology.
Mr Day describes the process: we actually use six different examination boards because we can find the best ones for our children. In mathematics that might be the Cambridge GCSE because instead of doing three papers, one of which is a non-calculated paper, they do two papers, both of which are calculated papers. And for our children who are dyscalculia who have been trying to learn their tables since they were six and now they’re 16 and they still don’t know their tables, they know they have a huge crutch with them in that they’ve got a calculator. Now they don’t realize that because there’s two calculated papers, the questions are actually much harder, but actually give them the calculator and all of a sudden they have the confidence to fly through it.
In the Food and Nutrition GCSE we use the Welsh Joint Education Board paper because 60% of that is coursework. And for our children, that means they're not relying on one exam at the end of a three year course. You know, they can actually work throughout the whole period to be able to give themselves the best chance of success. Celebrating success at the Unicorn whether you get a 5 or 9 on your GSCE they are equally celebrated by teachers, parents and students!
It may sound bizarre, but the GCSEs are the hardest set of exams to get through because it’s such a wide range that you to focus on. Once you can choose your A level subjects or you can choose your vocational course that is a real passion for, and then you can fly with it.
Conclusion:
As a parent if your child is not thriving in school even after you have put in extra measures both at home and within the school, it may be time to consider a specialist school. Lacking a confirmed SEND diagnosis should not be a barrier to exploring a specialist school. Currently waiting lists for a neurodiverse diagnosis are 2-3 years, this void can cause parents to wait leaving their children in a holding pattern. This has a ripple effect where children fall further behind, get more disengaged with school and have increased anxiety. The gap continues widening as time goes on and the ability to claw back their potential gets harder to realize.
You know your child and you know if they are not thriving in mainstream school. Hopefully this blog has dispelled some myths about specialist schools and maybe even got you excited about what your child could achieve in the right environment.
Please leave a comment! Has this blog changed your perception of a specialist schools as a potential
option for your child’s future?
For a more in depth look at this topic please listen to SEND Parenting Podcast Episode 2
Resources:
https://absolutely-education.co.uk/top-sen-schools-uk/
https://www.talkeducation.com/news/the-best-schools-in-the-uk-for-send-