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Have you ever felt completely alone while managing your child's meltdown in public? That moment when all eyes seem to be on you, judging your parenting skills, and you just wish someone would silently acknowledge they understand what you're going through?

The Typically Untypical movement was born from exactly this experience. In this deeply personal episode, I share how witnessing a parent's struggle with their distressed child in a doctor's waiting room sparked an idea that's growing into something much bigger than just merchandise. When parents are in crisis mode—surviving day to day with their central nervous systems in protection mode—they often can't access traditional support resources. What can make a difference is that simple nod of understanding from someone who's been there.

Through t-shirts, bags, pens, travel mugs, and pins bearing the "Typically Untypical" slogan, parents can silently signal to each other: I see you, I get it, and you're not alone. These items aren't just products; they're communication tools creating solidarity among parents raising children with additional needs. Sometimes wearing your t-shirt signals to others that you need help, sometimes it shows others they're not alone, and sometimes it's simply a personal reminder that you belong to a community who understands.

This movement isn't just for parents—siblings, extended family members, friends, and anyone who wants to show support can join. Together, we're creating that backup team we all desperately need, because no parent was ever meant to navigate these challenges in isolation. The question now is: how far can this movement spread? Could your participation be the silent nod that makes all the difference to a struggling parent?

Join us in building this web of understanding. Share where you've worn your Typically Untypical items, connect with others who recognise the signal, and help us show parents everywhere that even in their most difficult moments, they are truly not alone.

You can get yours here:

https://www.something-profound.co.uk/collections/liz-evans-the-untypical-ot-collaboration

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to be the perfect parent? Take a deep breath – you're not alone, and this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

Speech and language therapist Ruth Jones talks with me about the concept of being a "good enough" parent, when I ask her if she is the perfect parent.

We talk about:
• The liberating concept of being a "good enough" parent instead of striving for perfection
• How COVID-19 impacted child development and created challenges in differentiating between pandemic-related delays and neurological differences
• The importance of honouring all forms of communication, not just verbal language
• Why direct autistic communication is often misinterpreted as rudeness rather than a different communication style
• Common misconceptions about speech and language therapy for neurodivergent children
• The value of curiosity when supporting neurodivergent children and understanding behaviours
• Why apologising to your children models important emotional regulation skills
• Ruth's upcoming book on neurodiversity-affirming practice for speech therapists

Whether you're parenting a neurodivergent child, questioning differences in your family, or simply trying to be a more compassionate parent, this conversation will leave you feeling validated and equipped with practical wisdom. Listen now and discover how being "good enough" might actually be the perfect approach to parenting after all.

You can find Ruth here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthJonesSLT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruth_jones_slt/

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Part 2

Ever wondered what it's like navigating complex systems with dyslexia while trying to advocate for your children's needs? The mental gymnastics can be exhausting, yet this challenge remains largely invisible in discussions about parenting.

When a dyslexic parent faces walls of text in emails, dense reports, or complicated forms, what neurotypical brains process effortlessly becomes a cognitive marathon. As I share in this episode, my working memory operates on a "postage stamp" while others enjoy an entire A4 page—meaning information gets displaced quickly, requiring multiple readings and creative workarounds. The constant mental translation from written word to usable information creates an enormous unseen burden.

The emotional toll runs deep too. Many of us hide our dyslexia from professionals due to lifetime fears of being judged or underestimated. I candidly discuss how I went through an entire tribunal process without disclosing my dyslexia—a decision I now question. Could accommodations have made that journey less arduous? Simple changes like bullet-pointed information, clear summaries, and mixed communication formats (both written and verbal) dramatically improve accessibility, not just for dyslexic parents but for everyone navigating additional needs systems.

Despite these challenges, dyslexic thinking brings valuable skills to the table. Our natural problem-solving abilities and outside-the-box thinking become superpowers when advocating for children within rigid systems. We develop creative workarounds that often benefit the whole family.

Whether you're a dyslexic parent seeking validation, a professional wanting to improve accessibility, or simply curious about neurodivergent experiences, this episode offers practical insights into making systems work better for diverse brains. Join me in exploring how dyslexia shapes every aspect of additional needs parenting—and why those postage-stamp brains deserve more recognition and support.

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

What happens when we throw away the parenting rulebook and embrace our authentic, imperfect selves? In this fascinating conversation with Jen Wilson (aka Irregular Jen), we explore the radical idea that perfect parenting is not only impossible—it's not even desirable.

Jen, founder of the International Day of Consent and self-described "rebel with a cause," challenges conventional parenting wisdom with refreshing honesty. "Anyone who claims they're the perfect anything can get lost," they declare early in our discussion, setting the stage for a liberating conversation about parenting beyond rigid authority.

We discuss consent. Far from the limited understanding of consent as merely sexual permission, Jen reveals how consent touches every aspect of family life, from what we eat to how we communicate boundaries.

It's a must listen for parents feeling trapped in cycles of perfectionism or overwhelmed by societal expectations; this episode offers permission to embrace your wonderfully irregular self. After all, what better gift could we give our children than modelling authentic, imperfect humanity?

You can find Jenn on social media;

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrregularJennPage

Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/irregularjenn/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irregularjenn

Jenn also has a new membership launching 'The Irregular Membership', you can find more information here: https://bemore.irregular.org.uk/membership

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

On this episode of The Untypical Parent, I’m sharing something personal about what it’s really like to parent with dyslexia. This is Part 1 of a two-part deep dive, and it's one I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

What’s in store?

Dyslexia touches so many areas of my life, far beyond reading and writing. As a parent, it shows up in ways that are often invisible—but very real. In this episode, I open up about my own experiences and how I’ve learned to adapt, talk openly with my kids, and build systems that work for us.

I talk about:

The moment my kids’ literacy skills outpaced mine—and how I handled that shift

Why logistics, memory, and planning can feel so overwhelming

How we’ve built a family culture around teamwork, not perfection

The power of being honest with my children

Letting go of shame and finding strength in difference

If you're a dyslexic parent, think you might be, or support families like mine, this episode is for you.

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

If this episode made you laugh out loud or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com.

I love to hear from listeners about the podcast and any ideas for the future.

Take care

Liz

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Ever felt like you're the only parent struggling while everyone else seems to have it all figured out? Then this raw, honest conversation with Mark is exactly what you need.

A self-described "undiagnosed neurotypical" dad raising three neurodivergent children.

Mark candidly shares when he stopped seeing his son's behaviour as defiance and started understanding it as communication. Mark talks about how he learned to meet his children where they are rather than forcing them to meet expectations.

We talk about the complicated emotions that come with diagnosis (both relief and grief), the freedom that comes from creating a home where neurodivergent kids can truly unmask, and why finding your tribe can be the key.

Listen now, and discover how letting go of "perfect parent" ideals might be exactly what your family needs.

You can find Mark on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
And Neuroshambles podcast: https://www.neuroshambles.com

We spoke about the book The Explosive Child by Ross Greene and the support group that Mark found so helpful was mASCot: https://www.facebook.com/ascmascot

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I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

Plans can provide safety, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of control for parents in additional needs families when everything feels chaotic. They help reduce cognitive load and mental demand, giving us space to be more present with our children.

• Plans work best when they're flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances
• Written plans take pressure off our working memory, especially during stressful moments
• Types of plans include burnout recovery, community outings, safety during dysregulation, and exit strategies
• Planning ahead helps manage the constant "what if" thinking that comes with additional needs parenting
• Having plans doesn't mean being rigid - it means being prepared while remaining adaptable
• When we're in stress responses (fight/flight/freeze), our brains can't plan effectively
• Parents are the family linchpin - if we don't take care of ourselves, everyone suffers
• Start small with planning rather than trying to plan everything at once
• Sometimes we need help creating plans when we're overwhelmed, and that's not failure

If this episode had you going "that's so me" or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? Just click the link in the show notes. It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.

https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com. I love to hear from listeners about the podcast and any ideas for the future.

Take care

Liz

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

In this episode I talk with Clare Baker from Restlessminds UK.
Clare and I go deep into the raw realities of parenting, neurodivergence, and the often unseen emotional toll of navigating a broken education system. Clare shares her powerful story of becoming a mum at 19, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and why she chose to remove her daughter from mainstream education to protect her mental health.

We unpack:
💥 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
💥 Advocacy for SEN children and neurodivergent families
💥 Clare’s experience with ADHD, and raising neurodivergent kids
💥 The problem with current attendance policies and the push for punitive "solutions"
💥 How empowerment starts with informed parenting and challenging outdated systems

Clare also opens up about masking, burnout, and the importance of showing up authentically—as a parent, practitioner, and person. Her lived experience and fierce advocacy are a lifeline for families stuck in survival mode.

🔥 If you're a parent, educator, or practitioner walking the line between compassion and bureaucracy—this episode is essential listening.

You can find Clare here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restlessmindsuk
Website: https://restlessmindsuk.org/


I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.com