You can do the right hard things! (With the right support, at the right time)
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
Release Date: 05/08/2025
You can do the right hard things! (With the right support, at the right time)
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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.” -...
info_outline
Regulation & Co-Regulation - What we're getting wrong & how to get it right with OT Cheri Strecker
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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...
info_outline
Q&A - How to do an affirming communication assessment?
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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...
info_outline
Q&A - What to do when another therapist isn't ND Affirming (in a client's care team)
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 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...
info_outline
Q&A - PECS & Speech (Articulation) Therapy - Are they ND Affirming?
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 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.” ...
info_outline
Q&A - ND Affirming Play! Goals, progress notes, how I played as an Autistic kid
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 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! In this session I'm answering Qs and sharing thoughts and examples about: •...
info_outline
"Autistic kids should learn to speak, otherwise people won't understand them" and other Myths about ND Affirming Practice
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 why they just don’t hold up • How to rethink structure, evidence, and communication in a way that truly centres the child • Why honouring all forms of communication, not just...
info_outline
Mythbusting ND Affirming practice - "If we just let kids do whatever they want they won’t learn" (That's not it...)
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 children to do whatever they want but rather guide them in extending their abilities in a supportive environment. We'll explore different approaches to challenging situations, like swimming lessons...
info_outline
The Nuance Behind Behavioural Strategies for Supporting Autistic Children
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 these approaches truly serve the best interests of the child. Links and resources mentioned: FREE CHEATSHEET Neurodiversity Affirming Approaches to Supporting Behaviour - Webinar:...
info_outline
Practical Strategies for Gestalt Language Processors (AAC users too!) with Alex Zachos from Meaningful Speech
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat
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 you connect with children who are GLPs, including how to support GLPs who are AAC users. Alex and I would both love to hear your feedback and thoughts, so feel free to email me or get...
info_outlineBeing 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: Shift Your Business from Burnout to Boundless – for neurodivergent business owners, live on 19 May 2025 – https://ndbusiness.co/free-webinar-burnout-to-boundless/
• 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