Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat

Steph Robertson and I are doing something very exciting together: Outside the Lines, a free mini neurodiversity affirming practice training for OTs and Speech Pathologists, and a one-day online workshop for when you're keen to go further. Keep learning with us! Outside the Lines free mini course - four short audio and video episodes, each about 10 to 15 minutes, questioning some of what we've been...

A year after the very dangerous act of sleep left me with chronic nerve pain, I'm reflecting on internalised ableism, the accommodations that help, and the fears that have held me back from doing big, scary things, plus I'm sharing the big scary exciting ways I'm not letting them stop me! "There's no one right way to be human. There's no one right ideal of productivity or capacity. There's no one...

Come on a whirlwind tour through my first Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference , with something I learned from every one of the 18 Neurodivergent speakers. "It was a whole mix of reflecting and connecting and creating and unthinking and thinking sideways and existing and being, and feeling." In this episode I share: The whole mission of the (Un)Conference: moving away from the pedestal types of...

Stephanie Robertson is back on the podcast! Steph is a multiply Neurodivergent OT, speaker and founder of SGR Occupational Therapy , and she's presenting her Autistic Joy workshop on day two of the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference this August. In this episode we explore why Autistic joy isn't just a nice to have, what the research now tells us about centring joy, and how you can make yourse...

Meet Kaishawna Fleming, a Black DeafBlind Autistic advocate, clarinettist and writer who communicates through AAC, sign language and speech, sharing what it really takes to support AAC users, especially Black and Brown AAC users, and why cultural difference has to be part of the conversation. This conversation is a taste of what Kaishawna brings as one of the speakers at the Neurodiversity Affirmi...

This episode is a cross-release from the Neurodivergent Pulse Podcast , hosted by Laetitia Andrac from Understanding Zoe. In this chat I shared big shifts to how we think about what 'communication support' should really look like for Autistic kids. "We need to ensure that if somebody has a different way of communicating, we are supporting them to find their best way to communicate in that moment f...

In this joyful chat, AuDHDer and delightful clinical psychologist Brianna Thomas shares insightful, creative and practical strategies for building affirming spaces where neurodivergent and LGBTQI+ young people can explore their identities. We discuss the powerful intersection of neurodivergence and gender/sexual identity, why curiosity beats assumptions every time, and how creativity and parallel...

Daily deals on Neurodiversity Affirming Practice professional education - https://playlearnchat.com/deals-week (Ends 28 Nov 2025) ----- As we head into the busiest part of the year with changes, unpredictable off-routine things, and maybe extreme weather, here's how to proactively regulate and prepare for difficult days. This helps the children you support,  and yourself! "When you're very proacti...

Creating truly inclusive, accessible events is possible, practical and powerful... and not optional! In this incredibly insightful and delightful chat with Katie Koullas from Yellow Ladybugs, she shares the non-negotiables of creating inclusive events, and big ideas around building your unique event that is just what your community needs.   "Accessibility is about removing barriers, but inclusion...

Government-promoted resources aren't always safe or supportive. In this episode, I take you inside the Autistics Guide to Adulthood, a resource promoted by NDIS, and show you why it misses the mark and what to look for instead.   "Just because something has a big shiny seal of approval from a big government body, it may or may not actually be a quality resource." – Adina Levy   In this episode I c...

"Don't give up and prove everyone wrong" - Kayla Ireland shares how horses, AAC, and a fierce sense of self-advocacy help her chase her dreams and redefine what's possible for herself and others.   There are intentional silences left in this recording. Normally I edit out long pauses, but when speaking with an AAC user like Kayla, it's important to honour the natural pace of her communication and...

If you're an Allied Health business owner facing the NDIS pricing chaos, this episode gives you the practical steps you can take right now (today!) to steady your business, support your clients, and stop spinning in uncertainty.   "When you strengthen your business with a solid, sustainable model, your clients and community are the ones that are going to benefit, as well as you, as well as your te...

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, b...

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...

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...

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 Co...

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 Ch...

Curious how to support autistic kids in speech therapy without trying to change how they play? This 17 min episode is for you!   "Play and genuine playfulness—that is the context where learning, engagement and all the other things happen."   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 Neurod...

Want to better support the Neurodivergent kids in your life, without falling for outdated myths? This episode is a must-listen.   "When a child is in distress, it is not the time to try and enforce boundaries and teach them a lesson... it's only going to lead to trauma, shame, and withdrawal." Adina Levy   In this episode I cover: • Three common myths about neurodiversity affirming practice, and w...

In this episode, we are mythbusting ND affirming practice. I hear too often phrases from people who don't quite get what neurodiversity affirming practice is, like 'If we just let kids do whatever they want and don't extend them, they won't learn essential life skills'. Join me as I discuss what it means to support neurodivergent children and explore how affirming practices don't just allow childr...

In this episode, we're unpacking some of the nuances behind behavioural strategies when supporting autistic children. I discuss how neurodiversity-affirming approaches can look in practice, focusing on connection over compliance and the need to find the deep reason behind a behaviour. I also touch on how behavioural approaches show up in our work and why it's crucial to think deeply about whether...

In today's episode, I chat with the fabulous Alex Zachos from Meaningful Speech, a senior speech language pathologist with 20 years of experience. Alex specialises in Gestalt Language Processing and has revolutionised how we understand and support language development using Marge Blanc's Natural Language Acquisition framework.  Alex shares practical tips for putting these theories into action when...

In this episode, I want to thank you for listening to the podcast over the last year or however long you've been here. It has been such a joy, delivering these thoughts and ideas to your magical ears. I'm always open to feedback, questions, suggestions, what you'd like me to cover in the next year. As we wrap up the year, I invite you to revisit earlier episodes and if you are an allied health pra...

  In this episode, we're redefining what 'evidence' means in the context of disability support and questioning who gets to decide what counts as valid. I'll also share updates about Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including changes related to art and music therapy. The NDIS is meant to fund and support disabled people to access what they need for a decent quality of life,...

With the end of the year coming in fast, many of us are experiencing a lot of change at the moment. For my family, this is a house move, and my daughter starting school soon. We're all about saying "yes" as much as possible, to help us feel okay and connected during this busy and potentially tricky time. In this episode, I share the 5 types of "yes" that you can consider, to support neurodivergent...