Beyond Attendance: Parenting Through EBSA & Neurodivergence

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode I talk with Clare Baker from Restlessminds UK. Clare and I go deep into the raw realities of parenting, neurodivergence, and the often unseen emotional toll of navigating a broken education system. Clare shares her powerful story of becoming a mum at 19, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and why she chose to remove her daughter from mainstream education to protect her mental health. We unpack: 💥 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) 💥 Advocacy for SEN children and neurodivergent families 💥 Clare’s experience with ADHD, and raising neurodivergent kids 💥 The problem with current attendance policies and the push for punitive "solutions" 💥 How empowerment starts with informed parenting and challenging outdated systems Clare also opens up about masking, burnout, and the importance of showing up authentically—as a parent, practitioner, and person. Her lived experience and fierce advocacy are a lifeline for families stuck in survival mode. 🔥 If you're a parent, educator, or practitioner walking the line between compassion and bureaucracy—this episode is essential listening. You can find Clare here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restlessmindsuk Website: https://restlessmindsuk.org/ I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits. 🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot ☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here: https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at: contact@untypicalparentpodcast.comSupport the show