Different Is Normal

Is it okay to feel grief as the parent of a neurodivergent child? Dave and Emily turn up in their pyjamas, coffee in hand, to talk honestly about the quiet grief that creeps in when you compare your kids' lives to other families'. This isn't grief for our kids. We adore them exactly as they are. It's the micro disappointments: friendships that happen online instead of at the park, the birthday par...

What does an Education Support Worker actually do? Dave works in a secondary school. Emily works across a primary school. In this episode of Different Is Normal, we take you inside the real day-to-day work of Education Support — and it’s a lot more than simply “helping kids in class”. We talk about academic, social, emotional and medical support, building relationships, school avoidance, modifying...

48% of women with disabilities have experienced physical violence. Women with Disabilities Victoria reports this compared with 28% of women without disabilities. It also reports that 33% of women with disabilities have experienced sexual violence. Those numbers are confronting. But this episode of Different Is Normal asks a different question: What do men need to change? Dave and Emily discuss vio...

What happens when a person’s disability hasn’t changed… but their NDIS funding is cut by more than half? In the first episode of Season 2 of Different Is Normal , Dave and Emily share a deeply personal story after Emily’s sister-in-law received an NDIS plan with a 56% reduction in funding . This isn’t a discussion about politics. It’s a conversation about people. We explore what these funding cuts...

This is the part people don’t always see. Growing up… coping… doing “fine”. Until one day, you realise you weren’t. In this episode of Different Is Normal , Emily shares what it was like growing up without a diagnosis — and what happens when the expectations increase but the support disappears. We talk about: • growing up alongside a sibling with significant needs • being the “capable one” — and w...

This episode is different. We’re not breaking down behaviour. We’re not talking about strategies. We’re answering a question we’ve been asked a lot: Why does this matter so much to us? In this episode of Different Is Normal , we share the story behind the podcast. From a life-changing accident… to an autism diagnosis… to completely rethinking what matters. This is where everything started. We talk...

Travelling with neurodivergent kids can feel overwhelming. Airports. Queues. Noise. Delays. And the pressure of trying to keep everything calm while everything keeps moving. It is hard. But there are things that actually help. In this episode of Different Is Normal, we break down what is really happening during travel and what makes the biggest difference in real situations. No theory. No vague ad...

You walk into a room. People are laughing. And you don’t know why. No one explains the rules. But everyone notices when you miss them. In this episode, we break down what “reading the room” actually means, why it’s so hard for neurodivergent people, and what we can do instead. We talk about: • Hidden social rules no one teaches • Why humour and timing are hard to read • What it actually feels like...

In this episode of Different Is Normal , Dave and Emily explore a question that sits at the centre of many neurodivergent experiences. Why do we spend so much time teaching neurodivergent people how to navigate the world, but spend so little time teaching the world how to understand them? From classrooms to supermarkets, public spaces to government policy, many everyday environments are built arou...

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the biggest decisions parents make. But many families choose schools for familiar reasons: • that’s where friends from kinder are going • the school has the best reputation • it’s the closest school The reality is that different schools are better for different children. The best school isn’t necessarily the most popular one or the one with the lo...

Why does a child look “fine” at school… then fall apart the second they get home? In this episode of Different Is Normal , Dave and Emily unpack masking (trying to behave like someone you’re not) and the very real cost it can have on a child’s brain and nervous system. Masking often looks like compliance : the quiet kid, the “good” kid, the student who’s sitting still and appearing to listen. But...

In this episode of Different Is Normal, Dave and Emily unpack a powerful idea: all behaviour is communication . We talk about autism and ADHD behaviours in kids and teens, why meltdowns and “refusal” are often a sign of unmet needs, and how capacity, environment, and curiosity can change the way parents and educators respond. If you’re a parent, teacher, or education support worker supporting neur...

Stimming, autism, ADHD, emotional regulation — what if the behaviour we’re trying to stop is actually what helps kids learn? In this episode of Different Is Normal , we unpack what stimming really is, why it matters, and how classrooms often misunderstand it. Stimming is not misbehaviour. It’s not disrespect. It’s not something to eliminate. It’s a nervous system regulating itself. We explore: • W...

Sensory overload isn’t being “picky”, “defiant”, or “difficult” — it’s a nervous system under pressure. In this episode of Different Is Normal , we unpack what sensory overload actually feels like for neurodivergent kids and adults, and why everyday things like food, clothing, noise, routines, and school environments can become overwhelming. As parents and education support workers, we share real-...

In this episode of Different Is Normal , Dave and Emily unpack why “normal” is a social construct — and how it quietly harms neurodivergent kids in schools, families, and friendships. They explore how ideas of normal are shaped by environment, why compliance gets rewarded over wellbeing, and how small accommodations can radically improve learning and engagement for all students — not just neurodiv...

The conversation delves into the experiences of parents navigating the journey to diagnosis for their neurodivergent children. It explores the emotional impact of diagnosis, the importance of community and support, and the role of advocacy and understanding in the process. Takeaways Diagnosis Day: A Culmination of Experiences The Importance of Community and Support Chapters 00:13 The Journey to Di...