Dungeons and Dragons and Differently Brained (oh my!): Tabletop Roleplaying Games with Jess C Wheatley & Declan Nathan

You must listen to this podcast episode before venturing forth! Gather one and all and listen as Lachlan interviews Jess C. Wheatley and Declan Nathan about a hobby that is growing seemingly exponentially in popularity and accessibility - Dungeons and Dragons (or, more broadly, tabletop roleplaying games). We discuss how these games have helped people to express their creativity, explore their personalities, develop social skills and provide a safe space for many neurodivergent folks. BIOGRAPHIES:

Declan Nathan Declan has been dealing with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD for his entire life. However, in the last ten years he got involved with his local tabletop role playing game community, and it has changed how he approaches stress and social anxiety. Jess C Wheatley Jess was raised in the Hinterland behind Byron Bay. She is a regional writer and director who revels in rip roaring stories with supernatural twists and heart. Her award-winning short script, The Call Out, led to a spot in 2023’s WeScreenplay’s Shorts Lab, while her TV pilot Alternate was awarded an Ian Potter Emerging Artist Grant to attend the 2024 Stowe Lab Writers Retreat in Connemara, Co. Galway. In 2020 Wheatley was selected for Screenworks Career Pathway Program ‘Inside The Writers Room’ and the ‘Write From Home’ initiative run by Screenworks and the AISF. A production designer, illustrator and storyboardist, Jess also holds 1st class honours in her Masters of Screenwriting. When not writing, she works in disability education support and runs D&D on weekends for kids through an NDIS social hub.

Check out Jess's Portfolio here! Also check out her Instagram!

RESOURCES: AusCare Social Clubs

A brief primer if you want to know more about D&D