You can do the right hard things! (With the right support, at the right time)
Being neurodiversity affirming doesn’t mean avoiding challenge. It doesn’t mean staying where you are, only doing what’s easy or comfortable. We can do hard things. We can learn new stuff, try new stuff, stretch ourselves – and we absolutely should. The key is doing the right hard things, for the right reasons, with the right support, at the right time. That’s how growth happens without stress, burnout, or disconnection from who we really are. “You get to define what the hard thing is in any one moment. If it feels hard, it is hard. That’s a valid, real experience.” - Adina Levy In this crossover episode with my Differently Aligned Podcast, I share: • Why doing hard things is not at odds with a neurodiversity affirming approach • My powerful framework to help neurodivergent folks of all ages to take on the right hard things with less stress and more support • Examples of how my framework looks for an Autistic boy learning to read, and for an ADHDer business owner working on changing up her chaotic non-systems. LINKS & MORE SUPPORT • FREE WEBINAR: Build your Business without Burnout – for neurodivergent business owners, live on 16th June 2025 – https://ndbusiness.co/free-webinar-business-without-burnout/ • Neurodivergent Business Collective – my membership for neurodivergent service-based business owners – https://ndbusiness.co/neurodivergent-business-collective/ • New webinar for Allied Health Practice Owners (including and especially for sole traders!) - Diversifying Revenue Streams – webinar on innovative business models – https://playlearnchat.com/webinar-diversifying-revenue-streams/ • Blog post + visual model of my “You can do hard things” framework – https://playlearnchat.com/podcast-56 Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932 Website: www.playlearnchat.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat
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21:35
Regulation & Co-Regulation - What we're getting wrong & how to get it right with OT Cheri Strecker
What looks like “bad behaviour” is usually a nervous system asking for help. In this episode, we explore what regulation really is, why it’s really, really hard for kids to self-regulate, and what adults can do instead. From brain development to fidgets, co-regulation to Disney characters, we cover the real stuff that helps kids feel safe and supported. “A caregiver’s regulation is the very first exposure a child has to what regulation is.” - Cheri Strecker, Occupational Therapist from Learn and Grow OT Cheri and I would both love to hear your feedback and thoughts, so feel free to email me hi@playlearnchat.com or get in touch with us on Instagram – @learn.grow.ot and @play.learn.chat CONNECT WITH CHERI • @learn.grow.ot – Cheri’s Instagram account • @chargeyourmindprogram – updates and resources for Charge Your Mind Program • Learn and Grow OT – Cheri’s website, including her parent programs – https://www.learnandgrowot.com.au/programs • Regulation Rescue & other free downloadable guides and tools – https://www.learnandgrowot.com.au/free-resources LINKS • Watch this chat on YouTube: https://youtu.be/54HUN0lo7kw • The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson – book recommendation – https://www.amazon.com.au/Whole-Brain-Child-Revolutionary-Strategies-Developing/dp/0553386697 • Neurodivergent Business Coaching & Consulting – my other business supporting neurodivergent business owners – https://ndbusiness.co Podcast Link: https://pod.link/1625478932 Website: www.playlearnchat.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/play.learn.chat
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1:15:09
Q&A - How to do an affirming communication assessment?
If your gut says “this test isn’t showing the full story,” trust it – especially when working with Autistic children. I'm sharing a live Q&A on Instagram (@play.learn.chat) every day Mon–Fri this week (31st March–4th April) – share a Q by DM or email me! Ask Qs about Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy support for Autistic Children, or Qs about my course Affirming Communication for Autistic Children! “We communicate in a different way. It’s not wrong. But standardised assessments will often make it seem like it is.” – Adina Levy Answering Qs and sharing thoughts about: • why standardised assessments often fail to capture an Autistic child's communication • what to do instead: connection-first approaches and the CPIE assessment framework • how a custom AI tool can help reframe your report language to be more affirming To get deeper and more actionable support around these topics and more, join me in my course! The Affirming Communication for Autistic Children Course is NOW OPEN for enrolments! Doors close on Friday 4th April, 1pm Sydney time (AEDT) All the info is here: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/
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16:21
Q&A - What to do when another therapist isn't ND Affirming (in a client's care team)
This Q&A chat is all about how to work alongside other professionals when your approaches to supporting an Autistic child don’t quite align. I'm sharing a live Q&A on Instagram (@play.learn.chat) every day Mon-Fri this week (31st March - 4th April) - share a Q by DM or email me! Ask Qs about Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy support for Autistic Children, or Qs about my course Affirming Communication for Autistic Children! “There is no point just telling people stuff, talking at them, when you know you're disagreeing... You may not actually be meeting them where they are or answering the questions or the fears that they actually have, or teaching them in the way that they actually learn.” - Adina Levy Answering Qs and sharing thoughts about: • What to do when another therapist on the child's team isn’t affirming • How to approach sticky collaboration conversations with curiosity, not judgement • My PLAN framework for preparing, listening, adding your insights and finding next steps To get deeper and more actionable support around these topics and more, join me in my course! The Affirming Communication for Autistic Children Course is NOW OPEN for enrollments! Doors close on Friday 4th April, 1pm Sydney time (AEDT) All the info is here: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/
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15:41
Q&A - PECS & Speech (Articulation) Therapy - Are they ND Affirming?
Today's Q&As are on the topic of ALL COMMUNICATION IS VALID! Talking about PECS, and Artic therapy considerations I'm sharing a live Q&A on Instagram (@play.learn.chat) every day Mon-Fri this week (31st March - 4th April) - share a Q by DM or email me! Ask Qs about Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy support for Autistic Children, or Qs about my course Affirming Communication for Autistic Children! “Speech, mouth words, are not the only valid way to communicate. If it’s not that person’s best form of communication in that moment, it’s not the best form of communication, full stop.” Answering Qs and sharing thoughts about: • When speech sound/artic therapy fits a ND approach (and when it really doesn’t) • Why PECS is not ND affirming, but using visuals as a communication method or support IS ND affirming • How my custom AI tools help busy Speech Therapist take affirming concepts into practice, fast! To get deeper and more actionable support around these topics and more, join me in my course! The Affirming Communication for Autistic Children Course is NOW OPEN for enrollments! Doors close on Friday 4th April, 1pm Sydney time (AEDT) All the info is here: https://playlearnchat.com/acac-course/
About Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
Welcome to the Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast for adults who support Neurodivergent children. Whether you're an allied health professional, medical professional, education professional or a parent of a Neurodivergent child, you are welcome here.
I'm Adina from Play. Learn. Chat. I'm an Autistic ADHDer, a speech therapist, professional educator speaker, and I also support Neurodivergent Business owners in my other business, neurodivergent Business Coaching and Consulting.
I'm obsessed with creating a world where Neurodivergent people are understood, embraced, supported, and celebrated. A world where we Neurodivergent people can understand ourselves and thrive in a life aligned with our individual strengths, wants and needs.
On the Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast, you'll get my perspectives and conversations with my Neurodivergent friends. All about how adults can best support Neurodivergent children in our lives.
I bring a Neurodiversity Affirming approach and indeed a human-affirming approach to the support that we all provide for Neurodivergent kids in our lives.
Listen to Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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