September 20, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Neurodiverse Voices, I (Kara) open up about what life is really like living with both dyslexia and autism. From the challenges of school and education, to navigating friendships, relationships, and the workplace, I share an honest and personal look into the ups and downs of being neurodivergent.You’ll hear not only about the obstacles but also the strengths, creativity, and unique perspectives that come with thinking differently. This episode is all about breaking stigma, highlighting resilience, and celebrating the neurodivergent experience.✨ Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, a parent, or an educator, this conversation will help you see the power in difference; because every mind deserves to shine.✨
☟GET YOUR FREE RESOURCES HERE☟❀ Parent's Guide: 5 ways to support a neurodivergent learner at homehttps://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/shop-kindling-minds/p/freebie-parents-guide-5-ways-to-support-a-neurodivergent-learner-at-home❀ Making sense of meltdownshttps://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/shop-kindling-minds/p/making-sense-of-meltdowns-a-free-guide-for-parents-educators🎯CHECK THESE OUT🎯☞ Book 1:1 sessions here:https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/services/booking☞ Living a Neurodiverse Life | BLOG: https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/kindling-minds-blog☞ Kindling Minds Most FAQ's:https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/faqs✨MORE FROM KINDLING MINDS✨☞ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindling.minds/☞ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kindling.minds☞ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578265521724 ☞ Website: www.kindlingminds.co.uk☞ Email: kara@kindlingminds.co.uk
☟GET YOUR FREE RESOURCES HERE☟❀ Parent's Guide: 5 ways to support a neurodivergent learner at homehttps://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/shop-kindling-minds/p/freebie-parents-guide-5-ways-to-support-a-neurodivergent-learner-at-home❀ Making sense of meltdownshttps://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/shop-kindling-minds/p/making-sense-of-meltdowns-a-free-guide-for-parents-educators🎯CHECK THESE OUT🎯☞ Book 1:1 sessions here:https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/services/booking☞ Living a Neurodiverse Life | BLOG: https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/kindling-minds-blog☞ Kindling Minds Most FAQ's:https://www.kindlingminds.co.uk/faqs✨MORE FROM KINDLING MINDS✨☞ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindling.minds/☞ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kindling.minds☞ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578265521724 ☞ Website: www.kindlingminds.co.uk☞ Email: kara@kindlingminds.co.uk
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Neurodiverse Voices, the podcast where we can celebrate difference,
break stigma, and shine a light on the power of
neurodivergent minds. Hi and welcome back to Neurodiverse Voices. If
this is your first time listening, Hi Ankara a qualified teacher,
the founder of Kindlin Minds, and someone who is both
(00:22):
autistic and dyslexic. This podcast is all about celebrating nerdiversity,
sharing real stories, and exploring practical ways to support children,
family and educators. Today, I want to do something a
little different. I want to share a personal story, my
own journey of living with dyslexia and autism. I'll talk
(00:43):
about the pros, challenges, what school was like, how relationships
have been shaped, and why. I think being neurodivergent is
not just about overcoming obstacles or rules, but about discovering
strengths that are often overlooked. So, whether you're a parent,
a teacher, or maybe someone who's nerd a vergent yourself,
(01:04):
I hope this episode gives you encouragement and a reminder
that you're not alone. So when people hear the words
dyslexia or autism, they often picture a neat list of
symptoms dyslexia. They struggle with reading and spelling, Autism struggles
with social interaction. But real life isn't a checklist. It's messy,
(01:27):
it's complicated, and it's really individual. For me, Dyslexia shows
up in ways that made school tough. I read more slowly,
or are used to and mix up spellings. You'll see
any of my videos, I'm sure there's a spelling mistake,
and I often need more time to process information. Autism
(01:49):
shows up in sensory ways. Lights are too bright, noises
are too loud, or a social situation that feels completely
overwhelming when everyone else feels fine. It's not just difficulties.
These traits also come with strengths, and I'll share those today.
My story isn't every autistical dyslexic person's story, but it's mine,
(02:14):
and I hope by sharing it with you, you'll see
the complexity and beauty of being your a divergent. So
let's start with the positives, because really there are so many.
Dyslexia has made me a very creative thinker Because reading
and writing didn't always come naturally, I found other ways
to learn and express myself. I use visuals, color my
(02:37):
maps stories. The creativity is now for what helps me
design resources for klindling minds that actually makes sense to
kids who think differently. Autism gives me deep focus. If
I care about something like building kindling minds or creating
a resource for a learner, I can say I can
(03:00):
stay with it for hours. What some might call an
obsession I see as passion, the kind of focus that
allows me to create meaningful, tailored support. Then there's the resilience.
When you've been underestimated or people think you're not capable.
(03:21):
It crushes you, but it also forces you to develop
grit and determination. Every time I smashed through a barrier,
I proved not just to others but to myself I
could do it. And I want you to feel that too.
One more thing empathy. People often assume autistic individuals lack empathy.
(03:45):
That's not my experience at all. Because I've felt excluded, misunderstood,
and overlooked. I go out of my way to make
sure children and families that I work with fill the opposite.
I want them to feel seen, safe and valued. Now,
of course, there's challenges too. We live in a world
(04:08):
that is just not made for your diverse people. At school.
I dreaded being asked to read out loud. My heart
would race, my palms would swear, and I'd pray the
teacher wouldn't pick me. Of course they always did. Spelling
tests often ended in tears because no matter how hard
(04:29):
I tried, how much I practiced, I just couldn't memorize
those tricky words the same as everyone else could. Masking
was another challenge for those who don't know maskings were artistic.
People hide or suppress their traits to fit in. For me,
that meant smiling when I felt overwhelmed, pretending to follow
(04:50):
conversations when I was completely lost, and forcing myself into
social situations that left me drained. On the outside, I
looked fine inside I was exhausted. Relationships weren't always easy either.
Most understandings happen a lot. Sometimes I needed space or quiet,
(05:13):
and people thought I was being rude or distant. It
wasn't rudeness, it's survival. I needed that quiet to recharge.
Even now, every day task can be difficult, remembering instructions,
organizing my time, or trying to juggle too many things
at once exactly toive functioning, not my strung suit and
(05:37):
since we overload, like shopping centers, public transport, or even
music classrooms can film possible. These are the bits people
don't only see. But I want to be clear. The
challenges are real, but they don't define me and they
don't define you. School deserves its own section because it
(05:59):
shapes so much of who I am and why I
started Kindling Minds. For much of school, I felt like
I didn't belong. I wasn't the ideal student. My work
was messy, I was slow at reading, and I always
fell behind. Teachers didn't always know how to help, and
sometimes I felt invisible. But then there were two teachers
(06:20):
who changed everything for me. They didn't just see the mistakes,
they saw the effort. They gave me tools that worked
for me, like breaking tasks into smaller steps or letting
you know that I could show them what I knew
in creative ways. They believed in me, and that belief
(06:40):
gave me the confidence I didn't know I had. That's
why I created Kindling Minds. I don't want today's children
to go through what I did to feel unsupported, but
I feel like they're not good enough. I want every
child to know that learning can be accessible and that
teachers and resources are out there who meet them where
they are. For me, it was one teacher who took
(07:05):
time out her day to help me. I managed to
get my qualifications. I went on to university twice. I
know twice, but I did it. I qualified as a teacher.
It's possible. You just have to be determined to show
(07:25):
everybody else why they're wrong about you. Now, relationships, friends, families, colleagues,
it's another huge part. The people who made the biggest
difference were the ones who took time to understand. My
dad asked questions, read books, changed the way he spoke
(07:50):
to me, instead of making assumptions like they had done
my entire life. As an adult, I've learned to be
far more open and I say this is what I
need and this is what helps me. And do you
know what That honesty has strengthened my relationships. People are
(08:11):
likely to help you. They want to help you if
you can help yourself, which isn't easy, I know, but
it's so so important. Family support is vital, whether it's patience,
helping with practical tasks, or just listening that that support
system makes navigating life so much easier, and for children,
(08:34):
parents and teachers play that role. That's why I always
stress to the people I support, even with the little things,
listening and understanding makes the world so much easier for
each child. Now, don't and me wrong. I have tense
family relationships, But do you know what, I've found a
(08:58):
partner who's found openly accepts me. They always have. They
don't judge me, They just take me up face value.
They let me be me, and the confidence that has
grown because of that is huge. I urge any parent
(09:19):
of a your diverse child let them try and explain,
and if they can't, find ways to understand the difference
in confidence and resilience that that child will have your
child is huge. They just need somebody fighting in their corner.
(09:41):
So what does life with dyslexia and what isn't mean?
For me? It means carrying both the challenges and the strengths.
It means resilience, creativity and deep focus, but also exhaustion,
overwhelm and navigating systems that weren't designed for p people
like me. But most of all, in mean's perspective, my
(10:04):
experiences have shaped me, but they haven't limited me. They
gave me a mission to change the narrative from fixing
to celebrating my differences and the differences of everyone I meet.
That's what Kinslen Minds is all about, creating support that
lasts a lifetime, from childhood to adulthood. No one's left behind.
(10:30):
If you're listening to this and you're more ad virgin,
I want you to hear this. You are not broken,
you are not less, You are different, and those differences
hold so much value. If you're a parent or an educator,
I want you to know that your patience, belief and
(10:51):
support can change the course of someone's life, just like
me with the teachers that supported me. Thanks so much
for listening to this episode of nere Diverse Voices. If
my story resonated with you, or if you think it
might help someone else, share the video, share the episode.
You can also subscribe or leave all of you. It
(11:13):
really helps spread the word and build our community. If
you'd like more resource to support a guidance, you can
head over to Kingling Minds now Ankara and this has
been episode two The Life of Dyslexia and Autism. Remember,
every mind matters, and yours deserves to shine. See you
next week By
Welcome to Neurodiverse Voices, the podcast where we can celebrate difference,
break stigma, and shine a light on the power of
neurodivergent minds. Hi and welcome back to Neurodiverse Voices. If
this is your first time listening, Hi Ankara a qualified teacher,
the founder of Kindlin Minds, and someone who is both
(00:22):
autistic and dyslexic. This podcast is all about celebrating nerdiversity,
sharing real stories, and exploring practical ways to support children,
family and educators. Today, I want to do something a
little different. I want to share a personal story, my
own journey of living with dyslexia and autism. I'll talk
(00:43):
about the pros, challenges, what school was like, how relationships
have been shaped, and why. I think being neurodivergent is
not just about overcoming obstacles or rules, but about discovering
strengths that are often overlooked. So, whether you're a parent,
a teacher, or maybe someone who's nerd a vergent yourself,
(01:04):
I hope this episode gives you encouragement and a reminder
that you're not alone. So when people hear the words
dyslexia or autism, they often picture a neat list of
symptoms dyslexia. They struggle with reading and spelling, Autism struggles
with social interaction. But real life isn't a checklist. It's messy,
(01:27):
it's complicated, and it's really individual. For me, Dyslexia shows
up in ways that made school tough. I read more slowly,
or are used to and mix up spellings. You'll see
any of my videos, I'm sure there's a spelling mistake,
and I often need more time to process information. Autism
(01:49):
shows up in sensory ways. Lights are too bright, noises
are too loud, or a social situation that feels completely
overwhelming when everyone else feels fine. It's not just difficulties.
These traits also come with strengths, and I'll share those today.
My story isn't every autistical dyslexic person's story, but it's mine,
(02:14):
and I hope by sharing it with you, you'll see
the complexity and beauty of being your a divergent. So
let's start with the positives, because really there are so many.
Dyslexia has made me a very creative thinker Because reading
and writing didn't always come naturally, I found other ways
to learn and express myself. I use visuals, color my
(02:37):
maps stories. The creativity is now for what helps me
design resources for klindling minds that actually makes sense to
kids who think differently. Autism gives me deep focus. If
I care about something like building kindling minds or creating
a resource for a learner, I can say I can
(03:00):
stay with it for hours. What some might call an
obsession I see as passion, the kind of focus that
allows me to create meaningful, tailored support. Then there's the resilience.
When you've been underestimated or people think you're not capable.
(03:21):
It crushes you, but it also forces you to develop
grit and determination. Every time I smashed through a barrier,
I proved not just to others but to myself I
could do it. And I want you to feel that too.
One more thing empathy. People often assume autistic individuals lack empathy.
(03:45):
That's not my experience at all. Because I've felt excluded, misunderstood,
and overlooked. I go out of my way to make
sure children and families that I work with fill the opposite.
I want them to feel seen, safe and valued. Now,
of course, there's challenges too. We live in a world
(04:08):
that is just not made for your diverse people. At school.
I dreaded being asked to read out loud. My heart
would race, my palms would swear, and I'd pray the
teacher wouldn't pick me. Of course they always did. Spelling
tests often ended in tears because no matter how hard
(04:29):
I tried, how much I practiced, I just couldn't memorize
those tricky words the same as everyone else could. Masking
was another challenge for those who don't know maskings were artistic.
People hide or suppress their traits to fit in. For me,
that meant smiling when I felt overwhelmed, pretending to follow
(04:50):
conversations when I was completely lost, and forcing myself into
social situations that left me drained. On the outside, I
looked fine inside I was exhausted. Relationships weren't always easy either.
Most understandings happen a lot. Sometimes I needed space or quiet,
(05:13):
and people thought I was being rude or distant. It
wasn't rudeness, it's survival. I needed that quiet to recharge.
Even now, every day task can be difficult, remembering instructions,
organizing my time, or trying to juggle too many things
at once exactly toive functioning, not my strung suit and
(05:37):
since we overload, like shopping centers, public transport, or even
music classrooms can film possible. These are the bits people
don't only see. But I want to be clear. The
challenges are real, but they don't define me and they
don't define you. School deserves its own section because it
(05:59):
shapes so much of who I am and why I
started Kindling Minds. For much of school, I felt like
I didn't belong. I wasn't the ideal student. My work
was messy, I was slow at reading, and I always
fell behind. Teachers didn't always know how to help, and
sometimes I felt invisible. But then there were two teachers
(06:20):
who changed everything for me. They didn't just see the mistakes,
they saw the effort. They gave me tools that worked
for me, like breaking tasks into smaller steps or letting
you know that I could show them what I knew
in creative ways. They believed in me, and that belief
(06:40):
gave me the confidence I didn't know I had. That's
why I created Kindling Minds. I don't want today's children
to go through what I did to feel unsupported, but
I feel like they're not good enough. I want every
child to know that learning can be accessible and that
teachers and resources are out there who meet them where
they are. For me, it was one teacher who took
(07:05):
time out her day to help me. I managed to
get my qualifications. I went on to university twice. I
know twice, but I did it. I qualified as a teacher.
It's possible. You just have to be determined to show
(07:25):
everybody else why they're wrong about you. Now, relationships, friends, families, colleagues,
it's another huge part. The people who made the biggest
difference were the ones who took time to understand. My
dad asked questions, read books, changed the way he spoke
(07:50):
to me, instead of making assumptions like they had done
my entire life. As an adult, I've learned to be
far more open and I say this is what I
need and this is what helps me. And do you
know what That honesty has strengthened my relationships. People are
(08:11):
likely to help you. They want to help you if
you can help yourself, which isn't easy, I know, but
it's so so important. Family support is vital, whether it's patience,
helping with practical tasks, or just listening that that support
system makes navigating life so much easier, and for children,
(08:34):
parents and teachers play that role. That's why I always
stress to the people I support, even with the little things,
listening and understanding makes the world so much easier for
each child. Now, don't and me wrong. I have tense
family relationships, But do you know what, I've found a
(08:58):
partner who's found openly accepts me. They always have. They
don't judge me, They just take me up face value.
They let me be me, and the confidence that has
grown because of that is huge. I urge any parent
(09:19):
of a your diverse child let them try and explain,
and if they can't, find ways to understand the difference
in confidence and resilience that that child will have your
child is huge. They just need somebody fighting in their corner.
(09:41):
So what does life with dyslexia and what isn't mean?
For me? It means carrying both the challenges and the strengths.
It means resilience, creativity and deep focus, but also exhaustion,
overwhelm and navigating systems that weren't designed for p people
like me. But most of all, in mean's perspective, my
(10:04):
experiences have shaped me, but they haven't limited me. They
gave me a mission to change the narrative from fixing
to celebrating my differences and the differences of everyone I meet.
That's what Kinslen Minds is all about, creating support that
lasts a lifetime, from childhood to adulthood. No one's left behind.
(10:30):
If you're listening to this and you're more ad virgin,
I want you to hear this. You are not broken,
you are not less, You are different, and those differences
hold so much value. If you're a parent or an educator,
I want you to know that your patience, belief and
(10:51):
support can change the course of someone's life, just like
me with the teachers that supported me. Thanks so much
for listening to this episode of nere Diverse Voices. If
my story resonated with you, or if you think it
might help someone else, share the video, share the episode.
You can also subscribe or leave all of you. It
(11:13):
really helps spread the word and build our community. If
you'd like more resource to support a guidance, you can
head over to Kingling Minds now Ankara and this has
been episode two The Life of Dyslexia and Autism. Remember,
every mind matters, and yours deserves to shine. See you
next week By
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