TALES with Ola

Danise is the founding member of Panda UK, and their mission is to create a community and support network for Black Families and their friends, who are expecting, raising, or helping to raise a child/children with a Down's syndrome diagnosis. Danise talks about her four-year-old daughter, who is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and is non-verbal, her experiences as a member of the Black DS communi...

Afua discussed planning ahead for families with children living with special educational needs. She talks about the importance of a will and other things to consider.

Ms M delves into selective mutism. We discuss therapy and early intervention that may help alleviate anxiety and other associated disorders when transitioning into high school, adulthood, etc.

Titilayomi is back again and discusses the uniqueness of the autistic brain in very simple terms. Also, she emphasises being solution-oriented rather than problem-focused and that raising a child with special educational needs is not a sprint but a marathon.

Ms T is back, sharing tips and discussing how self-care as a primary carer is very important.

Dare is 15 and the author of LOAD - Living Out an Autism Diagnosis. He wrote about his living experience with his sibling diagnosed with level three autism. Dare's book is precise and simplistic in describing how autism impacts the brain. His book also talks very well about a diagnosis not being a one-size-fits-all. LOAD is free and downloadable from the App Store. He is currently working on a...

Sola discusses and shares her perspective on ways to support family and friends with a diagnosis or going through a difficult time, especially when we are not in the same proximity or vicinity. She touches on open communication and boundaries, offering practical support from afar, being a lifeline, not necessarily having the answers, and even letting them be sometimes. Sola is a pharmacist, a wife...

Adenike is a lawyer by day and a playwright by night. In Hiding is her debut, and it has been described as powerful, relatable, touching and hilarious. Tickets for "In Hiding" at the Tower Theatre were sold out on the opening night. Directed by the award-winning theatre maker - Kanayo Omo. In Hiding is about how maternal love battles with the Nigerian high society tradition. Adenike take...

Marsha Martin is a former Behavioural Therapist and the Founder and CEO of Black SEN Mamas. Black SEN Mamas is a national support group and information hub which aids Black mothers of special educational needs and disabled (SEND) children in sourcing adequate mental health support for themselves and SEND resources and provision for their children. We are currently over 1,000 mums strong and growin...

Niyi and I attended the same high school and waiting to be assessed for ADHD and Autism. He initially moved to the UK for postgraduate study and then returned to the University of Greenwich to study Psychology and Counselling. During this course of study, he understood some of his traits when taking a particular module. While studying for this degree, he had the opportunity to volunteer at a Satur...

Ms M graduated two years ago, and she had never wanted to grow up to become anything else but a teacher. Her teachers recognised she learnt differently despite her being a high achiever academically when she was in school. Years later, she has made it her purpose to make her students feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment. Ms M believes a happy class equates a happy teacher and im...

Mrs T has been a teacher for about 18 years and teaches in a UK secondary school. She founded AfroCari Naturals Ltd, a Herbalist and Health Coach. She shares her experience of being creative with various diagnoses yet maintaining boundaries. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-23/autism-spectrum-disorder-fitness-diet-foodbank/102209662?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=...

Bee is a woman of faith, wife and mom to two lovely boys. She works part-time and is a full-time carer for her younger son, who was diagnosed with level three autism. Listen to Bee's Journey and how after her son's diagnosis of autism, she moved from a state of shock to a state of joy. As a family, they support one another quite gracefully and purposefully. Her support system means a lot t...

Afua's son has walked on his tippy toes for as long as she can remember, and he is comfortable, but It's painful to watch. Afua discusses what the world perceives as normal and acceptable and how important it is to involve siblings when raising a child with a diagnosis because our children would likely outlive us. Afua is a wife and mother of two. One of her children has special needs with...

Mrs O speaks to me about how we could learn to see the world through the eyes of people diagnosed with ADHD or autism. She also explores environmental tips on how to support them. Ivie Okwuegbuna is an experienced assistant headteacher in an outstanding English primary school with over 25 years of experience driving the development of quality teaching and learning. She is the Founder of Learningge...

Mrs O speaks to me about how we could learn to see the world through the eyes of people diagnosed with ADHD or autism. She also explores environmental tips on how to support them. Ivie Okwuegbuna is an experienced assistant headteacher in an outstanding English primary school with over 25 years of experience driving the development of quality teaching and learning. She is the Founder of Learningge...

Gee is a woman of faith, a medic, a wife and a mom to two lovely children. Her daughter recently turned ten and was diagnosed at two. Their journey has been one in which Gee had to learn the art of patience and how her faith waxed stronger as she continues to support her daughter to thrive. Gee's daughter loves animals and is thriving as her person, not someone with a label or another statisti...

Titilayomi's journey and her son's diagnosis of autism. Listen to the second part of her story— the aftermath of her son's diagnosis. Despite Titilayomi's intuition that something was wrong with her son's development, she could not get answers in Nigeria. She travelled to the US for a diagnosis and was nowhere in the world after the diagnosis. Titilayomi is the Head, Special Ed...

Titilayomi's journey and her son's diagnosis of autism. Listen to the first part of her story—a long road but worthwhile. Despite Titilayomi's intuition that something was wrong with her son's development, she could not get answers in Nigeria. She travelled to the US for a diagnosis and was nowhere in the world after the diagnosis. Titilayomi is the Head, Special Educational Needs...