Parenting Autism and ADHD

Cliff Kilmister
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Parenting Autism and ADHD is a podcast designed to support parents and carers of children with autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and other neurodevelopmental challenges, as well as children struggling with school attendance, even if they haven’t yet been diagnosed. Each episode offers practical guidance on helping your child attend school with less stress, manage meltdowns, and navigate obstacles in the education system. Through expert advice, real-life stories, and actionable strategies, we aim to empower you to overcome school refusal, sensory sensitivities, and behavioural struggles with confidence.  Our mission is to build a supportive community where parents and carers can connect, share experiences, and access the tools they need for their child’s success, while fostering collaboration between parents and teachers to create a strong, unified support system.

  1. 1d ago

    Why Traditional Sleep Advice Fails ADHD & Autistic Children with Michelle Cyril

    For neurodivergent families sleep problems are common, but most traditional sleep strategies simply don't work. Today, a paediatric sleep specialist, Michelle Cyril joins me, to explore why sleep can be particularly challenging for autistic and ADHD children, who become adults that struggle with it too. Michelle shares how her own experience led her to combine evidence-based sleep practice with a neuro affirming approach. We explore calming busy brains at bedtime, meeting nighttime sensory needs, demand stacking, bedtime routines, screens, nutrition, and body clocks. Most importantly, we look at ways to make bedtime more predictable, less pressured, and more suited to the individual child. EPISODE REVEALS Identifying a sleep window that works for your child is more useful than following a fixed number, e.g. 8 hours. Compressing your sleep block, so you stay asleep for longer, then, gradually stretching that  block out is effective. Bringing joy, laughter, sensory support, and connection into bedtime can help both parent and child become more regulated.  Laughter disengages the fight or flight response. Complicated nighttime sleep routines create a sensory nightmare. Simplifying things e.g. showering in the morning, cleaning teeth after eating tea instead of just before bed reduces that burden. Processing the day and planning for tomorrow before bedtime helps to switch the brain off. Screen time is not necessarily a bad thing. But keep screens out of the bedroom. Sleep becomes easier when children learn to recognise tiredness. Consistent wake times and exposure to daylight in the morning helps support the body clock.  BEST MOMENTS “Why do so many neurodivergent brains seem to treat bedtime as merely a suggestion, I go to bed and my head hits the pillow, and I'm awake.” “It's about getting into a rhythm rather than a routine.” “Sleep deprivation just ripples and affects so many other things,” “Sometimes just trusting your own instincts as a parent isn't such a bad thing after all.” ABOUT THE GUEST  https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk Book a FREE call  - https://bit.ly/FREE-Call-MichelleCyril FREE Facebook group -  https://bit.ly/NeurodivergentSleepHelp FREE Guide  - HELP your autistic and ADHD child switch off their busy brain at bedtime  -  https://welcome.familysleepspecialist.co.uk/busy-brains-guide RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR   CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    Why Traditional Sleep Advice Fails ADHD & Autistic Children with Michelle Cyril

  2. Aug 12

    You Can’t Ignore the Senses: Understanding the Hidden Triggers Behind Some ADHD or Autism Meltdowns with Jacki Edry

    Today, I am joined by Jacki Edry, an autism and neurodiversity advocate with more than 40 years of experience. Jacki shares her journey from volunteering with autistic children as a teenager to supporting her own son, whom she recognised as potentially autistic at a very young age. In 2013, Jacki discovered she had a massive brain stem tumour. Her recovery gave her a unique firsthand understanding of sensory processing challenges and how they can affect the way we interpret the world around us. We explore how sensory processing difficulties can affect learning, behaviour, meltdowns and shutdowns - and why these should be understood as communication rather than simply as misbehaviour. Jacki also shares practical ways to support children and adults experiencing sensory and processing challenges, including environmental adjustments, assistive technology and sensory-friendly approaches that can significantly improve quality of life. EPISODE REVEALS ·      Sometimes what looks like overwhelm is actually a processing problem. If you can´t see or hear properly, the brain can’t take in, filter, organise or make sense of what is going on around you. Making everyday environments confusing, frightening and exhausting. ·      Visual and auditory processing differences can profoundly change how you experience the world. Lights, movement, background noise and competing voices can make it difficult to understand what’s happening. ·      Check for visual, auditory and interpretation issues. Many of these issues can be corrected or diminished. Look beyond the diagnosis. ·      Don´t just stick with the regular tests. A regular hearing test will only pick up whether you can hear the beeps and totally miss the fact there is a delay in the words reaching your brain for interpretation or the inability to pick one voice out from background noise. BEST MOMENTS “You can't argue with the senses.” “A meltdown always always has a reason.” “It doesn't get better just because you know it - because you've been through that situation 1000 times.” “Stimming is not a behaviour. It looks like a behaviour. It's a symptom of a dysregulated system.” “Don't  give it a label. Let's figure out how to help.” ABOUT THE GUESTS https://www.jackiedry.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacki-edry-7583346/ Facebook @jackisbooks Irlen syndrome: https://irlen.com/ RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change!   This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    You Can’t Ignore the Senses: Understanding the Hidden Triggers Behind Some ADHD or Autism Meltdowns with Jacki Edry

  3. Aug 5

    From Anxiety and Depression to a Monk Sandwich and Himalayan Meditation

    Is your child (or you) living with invisible pain - anxiety, overwhelm, thoughts of not wanting to be here? Do you minimise it because “others have it worse,” are you quietly worried what might happen if things keep going as they are? Today I’m joined by Piers Day, anxiety, and suicide‑prevention specialist, who’s spent nearly 30 years working with teens, young adults, and their families. We talk suicidal thinking, ADHD and rejection sensitivity, anxiety loops, labels, medication, Reiki, monks, and Piers shares one tiny daily practice that can literally change everything. This episode could change the way you see anxiety. EPISODE REVEALS ·      Anxiety is often your mind trying to protect you. But it is easy for it to get stuck in that groove, like a vinyl record, which leaves you very vulnerable. ·      Suicide leaves a grief that takes far, far longer to heal.   ·      Labels like anxious, depressed, non‑compliant or challenging don’t stay neutral. They can easily turn into negative programmes that your child starts to live up to, instead of a passing state they, like everyone else, occasionally move through.   ·      Swapping the term “he has anxiety” for specific, here‑and‑now language helps to keep things in context e.g. "he’s really worried about his maths test right now" instead of “he has anxiety” That better reflects reality an experience that can change, not a fixed identity.   ·      You can’t change past events, but you can change the way you think about them, what it means to you and, therefore, how it affects you, now.   ·      Simple daily tools are transformative. Examples include finger breathing and creating the perfect affirmation for you. They help to calm overwhelm in virtually any real-world situation.   ·      Asking for help isn’t weakness; it’s the moment things can start to get better. BEST MOMENTS “Your mind has one thing to do, and that is to protect you.”  “Anxiety isn't weakness; it's our mind trying to protect us.”  “Ask for help.”  "We are so immature as human beings when it comes to the power of our mind." ABOUT THE GUEST https://piersday.com/ https://www.suffolkhypnotherapy.co.uk/ Life Talks with Piers Day - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-talks-with-piers-day/id1746173210 https://www.thelivinggame.co.uk/ RESOURCES Evas channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/vX4xOtMG95w?si=uqWJ-TF8zzWrRMIS Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change!   This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    From Anxiety and Depression to a Monk Sandwich and Himalayan Meditation

  4. Jul 29

    Magpie Minds: Collecting, Obsessing and Regulating in Neurodivergent Kids with OCD

    Today we are talking about OCD. For so many of us in neurodivergent families, “OCD” doesn’t look like a TV stereotype. It looks like dishwashers that have to be stacked just so, teddies arranged in invisible themes, and kids who can’t settle until every collection is complete.  In this episode I sit down with my daughter Eva to explore our shared “operating system”: my dishwasher rules and Star Trek comic sets, her Builder Bears, dinosaurs and engine-obsessed brain, our two-week Minecraft phases, and the painful lessons of Roblox scams. I unpack what’s really going on underneath these quirks, and how you can start working with, not against, your child’s systems – protecting them online without shame, honouring their rituals without letting them run the house, and using shared special interests as one of the strongest bridges to connection in a neurodivergent family. EPISODE REVEALS Often, OCD acts as a regulating tool; it helps to bring order and control. It is a regulation tool rather than your child being difficult. Joining your child´s world instead of dismissing things as phases can help to bring you closer and gives you a chance to have fun collecting or playing together. Creative outlets are a good way for young people to express themselves, process experiences and regulate their emotions.  A calm, peaceful home is not created by “fixing” behaviours, understanding what is going on in your child´s brain and adapting where needed works better, overall. BEST MOMENTS "If that is not done correctly, I can't even look in that drawer, which is weird because I'm quite messy person."   "Our family hasn't been trying to fix each other. It's been taking the time to understand, adapt, to empathise, and to connect." "That deeper understanding has strengthened the bond between us, and I genuinely believe it's one of the biggest reasons we're as close as we are today." "It helps me regulate my emotions if I post something sad." RESOURCES Evas channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/vX4xOtMG95w?si=uqWJ-TF8zzWrRMIS Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR   CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

  5. Jul 22

    What the F*ck Do You Do Next? Non‑Violent Resistance (NVR) for Aggression, School Refusal and Violence with Tyler Baldwin

    Is your kid aggressive, disruptive, always getting into trouble? Are they labelled defiant, non-compliant, challenging? Do you dread another phone call from school? Wondering what happened this time. But what if those behaviours aren't the problem at all?  Today I'm joined by Tyler Baldwin, a trauma-informed NVR practitioner. We're talking about aggression, school refusal, violence, boundaries, and one simple question: What the f**k do you do if you've ever felt like nothing you've tried is working?  This episode could change the way you see your child. EPISODE REVEALS  Non‑Violent Resistance (NVR) helps parents, teachers and carers de‑escalate when kids get frustrated and aggressive, without becoming aggressive or violent themselves. You can't control a child's behaviour, but you can control your own presence, your consistency, and your own response. For many neurodivergent kids, the punish‑punish‑punish approach doesn’t work and often makes things worse. Small daily habits change brains. The 1% tweaks you make under pressure in tone, posture, body language and that pause before reacting gradually rewire your patterns and shift your child’s behaviour. Boundaries work when they’re calm, pre‑decided, and consistently followed through, not when they’re shouted in the heat of the moment. Explain things. If someone doesn't understand a rule, they are going to push back. You don’t have to deal with every issue in the moment. Your first job is safety and regulation be that through breathing, stepping away or calming your body. Teaching or consequences can wait until you’re both calm. It’s okay to say, “We’re going to talk about this later,” and come back hours or even days afterwards. The behaviour is still addressed, just at a time when your child is calm enough to really learn. BEST MOMENTS “My role was running an intervention, hopefully getting parents to de-escalate situations as opposed to escalate them, build the relationship, and keep those kids at home as opposed to sending them into care." "If there's one thing that you go into with any interaction, what is the unmet need here, and what can I do about it?" "Regulate yourself first, connect before you correct. Look beyond the behaviour because behaviour is communication. " ABOUT THE GUEST http://www.stay-grounded.co.uk/ RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR   CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08  ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    What the F*ck Do You Do Next? Non‑Violent Resistance (NVR) for Aggression, School Refusal and Violence with Tyler Baldwin

  6. Jul 15

    10 Seemingly Small Things That Drive Autism & ADHD Families Absolutely Mad

    In this light-hearted episode, Eva and me swap our top 10 annoyances: from phones getting blamed for everything and being talked over, to school rules that don’t make sense, “you’re so lazy” comments, and being told off in PE when you’re actually in pain. Along the way we unpack PDA, selective hearing, unclear instructions, bullying over teddy bears, and why drawing in class might be the only way some kids can actually listen. Hopefully, you will find this episode to be a light-hearted and relatable look at life inside a neurodiverse family - where everyone’s a bit annoying, everyone’s a bit sensitive, and love lives right alongside all the eye-rolls. EPISODE REVEALS In a neurodiverse family it is super easy to drive each other crazy loud chewing might drive your autistic son mad because it overwhelms him, while the fact he doesn´t appear to be paying attention when you talk to him is exasperating you. Neurodiverse children often need a bit more of an explanation or to be told something more than once.    Vague directions like “just sort it out” and rules that don’t make sense can trigger PDA responses; clarity, detail and collaboration reduce friction.   One person drifting off mid conversation can make communication more challenging.  Drawing, fidgeting, and looking away can be powerful tools for focus; not making eye contact doesn’t mean a child isn’t listening.   A bit of extra understanding and patience really helps to keep the peace and turn home into a safe and nurturing place for everyone.  Humour always helps. BEST MOMENTS "Please don´t cancel me for this episode - I felt like I should cut more of this than I actually did." "Selective hearing - If I don't hear the full word, my brain fills in the gaps and makes stuff up." "We're all a little bit annoying. We're all a little bit quirky, and somehow we still love each other, anyway." RESOURCES Eva’s channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/vX4xOtMG95w?si=uqWJ-TF8zzWrRMIS Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR   CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    10 Seemingly Small Things That Drive Autism & ADHD Families Absolutely Mad

  7. Jul 8

    When ADHD Meets Addiction: Learning to Step Back from the Edge with Hamish Niven

    An ADHD brain that’s always on the go can easily push you into a life lived on the edge. You work harder, say yes to more and keep sprinting long after your nervous system is done. Trying to slow down naturally fails so you start relying on something else that will put the brakes on for you, something to take the edge off. For my guest Hamish Niven, the host of The Brave Man Project podcast, that was alcohol.  Over time, that crutch stop feeling dangerous to him and start feeling normal. Eventually, he found himself doing things like drink driving and thinking that was OK. Together, we explore how neurodivergent brains slide from burnout into self-medication, how masking and late diagnosis feed that cycle, and why shame and judgement only drive it deeper underground.  This is a conversation about understanding your wiring, reclaiming your story from shame, and discovering that kindness and self-compassion can be the start of real change. EPISODE REVEALS Your brain is different, not defective.  It is not unusual for people with ADHD to experience addiction. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, overworking etc, can all act as a crutch. But…eventually that crutch breaks. To address your addiction, you need to recognise you have it, understand why you are leaning on it and make lifestyle changes, so you no longer need it. Hamish shares practical ways to do this in the episode. Work with your energy, not against it. Shame and self‑attack keep you stuck; curiosity and self‑compassion help you thrive. You’re allowed to design a life, work rhythm, relationships, and support system that actually fits the way you are wired. You are doing all right and change is possible without hating yourself into it. BEST MOMENTS " You cannot solve addiction, you have to change your lifestyle … when you do that, the need for the alcohol, the drugs, the gambling, the overworking, whatever dissipates because you don't need it." "I'm a star trying to fit into a circle. You can't do it. You can bend the pointy bits in, but it doesn't work. It doesn't keep you thriving." “It works, alcohol works. Full stop. It f**ng does. It numbs. It protects you. However, you're leaning on something … it's a crutch, it will break.” ABOUT THE GUEST Podcast: The Brave Man Project - goes live 15th July 2026 https://beacons.ai/hamishniven The Samaritans – Call free – 116 123 RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR   CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    When ADHD Meets Addiction: Learning to Step Back from the Edge with Hamish Niven

  8. Jul 1

    5 Things Autistic People Do That Others Don’t

    Neurodiverse people aren’t “too sensitive.” Our brains are processing far more than most people´s. In this episode I explore five everyday behaviours often seen in autistic and ADHD people but rarely seen in others - rehearsing conversations, crashing after socialising, being overwhelmed by background noise, forgetting basic needs like food and water, and only realising what was really going on hours or days later. I share how each of these shows up in ADHD vs autism, why they’re often misread as laziness, rudeness, or drama and what’s really happening in your brain and nervous system. This episode will help you to swap shame and self‑blame for understanding and kinder ways of supporting yourself and your children. EPISODE REVEALS Whether you suffer from ADHD, Autism, or both, which is far more common than you think, learning to be kind yourself is the key to coping with the extra issues you have to deal with Replaying conversations in your head is common with ADHD because you are working hard not to forget, blurt or go off track. With autism it is a symptom of carefully using scripting to decode social rules and avoid getting it wrong.   Looking fine but crashing immediately after interacting with others is often means ADHD brains have been forcing focus and inhibition, while autistic brains have been masking and analysing every interaction.   Background noise wrecks focus. For ADHD minds, attention is drawn to every single sound. That creates full‑body overload. With autism all sounds arrive at once. There is no background noise, every sound has to be processed simultaneously. Forgetting self‑care, eating or drinking is rarely laziness. In ADHD hyperfocus and time blindness pull attention away from the body. While for autistic people interoception often mutes hunger and thirst.   Blanking in the moment but suddenly understanding what someone is telling you hours or days later shows up in both ADHD and Autism. BEST MOMENTS "The more you know yourself, the more you understand why you're different, the easier … it gives you another tool in your toolbox to understand who you are." "Replaying conversations afterwards, and the fear of judgement over and over again in your mind. It goes round and round. What could I have done differently. You beat yourself up. This is where the kindness comes in play.” RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR https://www.newmetherapy.com CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister   CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

    5 Things Autistic People Do That Others Don’t
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Parenting Autism and ADHD is a podcast designed to support parents and carers of children with autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and other neurodevelopmental challenges, as well as children struggling with school attendance, even if they haven’t yet been diagnosed. Each episode offers practical guidance on helping your child attend school with less stress, manage meltdowns, and navigate obstacles in the education system. Through expert advice, real-life stories, and actionable strategies, we aim to empower you to overcome school refusal, sensory sensitivities, and behavioural struggles with confidence.  Our mission is to build a supportive community where parents and carers can connect, share experiences, and access the tools they need for their child’s success, while fostering collaboration between parents and teachers to create a strong, unified support system.

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