Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat

Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy from Play. Learn. Chat

Welcome to the Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast for adults who support Neurodivergent children. Whether you're an allied health professional, medical professional, education professional or a parent of a Neurodivergent child, you are welcome here. I'm Adina from Play. Learn. Chat. I'm an Autistic ADHDer, a speech therapist, professional educator speaker, and I also support Neurodivergent Business owners in my other business, neurodivergent Business Coaching and Consulting. I'm obsessed with creating a world where Neurodivergent people are understood, embraced, supported, and celebrated. A world where we Neurodivergent people can understand ourselves and thrive in a life aligned with our individual strengths, wants and needs. On the Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast, you'll get my perspectives and conversations with my Neurodivergent friends. All about how adults can best support Neurodivergent children in our lives. I bring a Neurodiversity Affirming approach and indeed a human-affirming approach to the support that we all provide for Neurodivergent kids in our lives.

Episodes

November 25, 2025 13 mins

Daily deals on Neurodiversity Affirming Practice professional education - https://playlearnchat.com/deals-week (Ends 28 Nov 2025)

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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 proactive in putting supports in place, the...

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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 is about belonging and safety once ...

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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 s...
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"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 e...

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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.
 
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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...

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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 ...

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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) ev...
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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 Instagra...
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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 ...
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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 contex...
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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 tim...
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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 the...

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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 trul...

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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 co...

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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 practition...

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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 ...
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November 11, 2024 24 mins

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 kids and adults, and anyone at all...

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In this episode, I had the absolute joy of chatting with Marge Blanc about Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA). Marge has spent over 50 years supporting children's language development, and her openness and curiosity have shap...
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In this episode, I share the results of a recent survey I ran where almost 40 Autistic people shared their perspectives and experiences with eye contact. I created this survey and am sharing the responses to address the question of 'WHY eye contact is no longer an OK goal for Autistic people'.
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