In this episode Lou discussed PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) with Dr Theresa Kidd and Dr Miriam Kirby.  What is PDA?  Is it a real diagnosis?  Comparing PDA to ODD.  Helping families to access the right support if they suspect PDA in their child or have had a recent diagnosis.  The discussion then moves to Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS) and how this model works for PDAers, how educators are benefiting from CPS in schools when working with PDA students as well as the upcoming...

Please sign and share this petition to bring Collaborative Proactive Solutions to Australian Schools! https://www.change.org/CPSinAustralianschools Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS (Collaborative Proactive Solutions) be introduced to NSW schools: [email protected]  In this episode, Lou talks to Yenn Purkis.  Yenn Purkis is an author, public servant and passionate advocate for Autistic people and their families. Yenn is the author of...

Please sign and share this petition to bring Collaborative Proactive Solutions to Australian Schools! https://www.change.org/CPSinAustralianschools Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS (Collaborative Proactive Solutions) be introduced to NSW schools: [email protected] Call to Action: Towards the end of this episode, Sarah and Lou make a plea for listeners to contact the Minister for Education in WA.  Here's the contact details so that you...

Please sign and share this petition to bring Collaborative Proactive Solutions to Australian Schools! https://www.change.org/CPSinAustralianschools Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS (Collaborative Proactive Solutions) be introduced to NSW schools: [email protected] This is a long episode but worth every minute of your time!  Whilst this episode focuses on education and will be particularly useful to Queenlanders, there's messages, tips...

Please sign and share this petition to bring Collaborative Proactive Solutions to Australian Schools! https://www.change.org/CPSinAustralianschools Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS (Collaborative Proactive Solutions) be introduced to NSW schools: [email protected] This episode is a conversation between two loving mums.  Lou talks to Jane Hancock, mum to previous guest, Shadia Hancock.  It's an honest, and cathartic chat and reflection...

Please sign and share this petition to bring Collaborative Proactive Solutions to Australian Schools! https://www.change.org/CPSinAustralianschools Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS (Collaborative Proactive Solutions) be introduced to NSW schools: [email protected] Lou has been working towards this interview for a long time and her determination has paid off.  She secured a meeting to introduce Dr Greene to the NSW Department of...

Dr David Roy has lived through the worst trauma possible; knowledge that his son was allegedly abused whilst attending his special school aged 3 years old.  This episode shares shocking details but also the inspirational advocacy that came from it.  Lou and David discuss the events that led to David and his wife's drive for a Parliamentary Inquiry following the alleged abuse and neglect of their son and the ongoing agitation that David has found necessary to force change and reforms in NSW...

Lou interviews Katrina and Kat from the Bridges Learning System.  On the same journey as Lou, moving away from behaviourism and towards neurodiversity affirming practices, these two clever women have created a wonderful curriculum for neurodivergent children.  The "Insight Sprites" take children through an affirming process where they discover neurodiversity and through interactions with the characters, learn to accept and embrace difference.  The curriculum has been developed with input and...

Finally the wonderful Chris Varney is on the podcast!  Lou and Chris talk about the foundation of the I CAN Network, Chris's life growing up, self acceptance and development of Autistic identity and how he learned that it's more important to be proud of what you CAN do than what you CAN'T!  If you haven't checked out the I CAN Network for the Autistic person in your life, you're missing out. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RATE AND REVIEW! Please join the Square Peg Round Whole podcast Facebook private...

If you think you can help the Future Schools Alliance with a financial donation, to create a new education system that will be able to teach our Square Pegs, please go to this link and donate now! https://www.mycause.com.au/p/281370/lets-build-a-new-model-of-schooling?fbclid=IwAR0OUiQWRHjSdhgw4cDbEny3ybz9Cwhi2vRaB98D9sDFbo-Q2ENFpwALYj0 Lou and Peter Hutton energetically discuss Australian education and everything that must change!  Peter Hutton is a rebel with a cause and he passionately...

Lou and Ash Kuchel will be speaking at the "My Spirited Child" Victoria ADHD Conference and what better way to discuss the excitement than to invite the founder and organiser, Rebecca Perkins on to the podcast! In this episode, Lou chats to Rebecca about her journey parenting and leading the way in education of the broader community about ADHD and other neurodivergences.  Rebecca's accomplishments are so impressive and she is another woman on a mission to educate, smash stigma and draw on...

Lou interviews Sarah Humphreys from Inclusive Schools Australia.  Sarah has an uncanny way of just making inclusive education to be so black and white and easy to implement.  She would argue, that's because it is!   She talks about the "50 Shades of Grey" around non-inclusion and how to avoid that. Sarah accurately and simply describes Universal Design for Learning and how universally designing anything will benefit the whole population.  Sarah also explains the problem with alternative...

In this episode, Lou an Mel discuss Mel's early life and how her passion that led to a PhD in medieval studies soon changed to a brand new world of Autism once her children were born and  four members of the family were identified as Autistic.  The discussion continues as Mel shares her experiences from behaviourism to neurodiversity affirming approaches, peaceful parenting, home schooling and the birth of the organisation she founded, Reframing Autism.  Mel is now studying a second PhD but...

With a neurodivergent lens over the whole conversation, Paul and Lou explore the risk taking behaviour of our teens.  They discuss alcohol, weed, vaping and cocaine in detail and then go on to focus on the Year 9s, sleep overs and the inevitable driving risks and drug testing that can get, especially those taking ADHD medications in hot water.  Finally they finish with an often neglected topic around drug interactions, especially relevant to youth taking ADHD medications, anti-depressants and...

Today is a discussion between the two Lous!!  Lou Kuchel speaks to Lou Brown about ADHD.  When Lou B was a child, she was misunderstood.  That led to shame and a poor self image.  After discovering her son was ADHD, she realised she's also neurodivergent and that led to a re-birth of sorts.  Lou realised that everything she had experienced in her earlier years, now has an explanation.  The world opened up and Lou became an ADHD coach and is now a PhD candidate!  More doors have opened and Lou...

In this final episode for the 2021 season, Lou and Will discuss Will's lived experience as a young neurodivergent person living with Dyslexia and probable ADHD.  Will explains the rollercoaster ride of his younger years and the experience of being misunderstood by everyone around him, struggling with drugs and alcohol and finding his strengths.  It's a discussion of self-discovery and self acceptance.  Will is also super creative and clever and has founded a new organisation called The...

This is a long episode but it is well worth it and packed with a huge amount of resources and helpful and practical advice and information.  There's quite a few light bulb moments where Lou connects the dots such as a realisation that you can't apply Collaborative Proactive Solutions if you don't have a trusting relationship with the child first.  Christina Keeble is a complex and authentic neurodivergent educator.  She has a deep understanding from personal experience, parenting experience,...

Lou and George talk about "the human right to read, write and numerate" as George put it.  They discuss the correct language used to describe learning disorders Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia.  The diagnosis and school experiences, teachers' approaches,  George explains some key messages for parents and teachers, where to get help and access supportive resources, reasonable adjustments, assistive technology and more.  George dispels myths associated with learning disorders, and there...

This really is "A Special Understanding".  It's an understanding of Treacy and everything she's been through in her life from years of mis-diagnosis and all that comes with that, of the trauma, fear and challenges of single parenting a neurodivergent child when you don't understand your own neurology.  It's the revelation when the penny drops.  It's fierce advocacy at school and in the world in general.  It's the special understanding and special relationship between a son and his mum.  A...

Samantha Nuttall is The Neurodivergent Coach and she talks to Lou about life as a neurodivergent mum to two neurodivergent sons and the interesting lightbulb moment she had that led her to develop her business as The Neurodivergent Coach.  Sam is passionate about helping neurodivergent people to overcome disability discrimination barriers with employment.  She's on a mission to change the life and employment outcomes for all Neurodivergent individuals, at an individual, organisational and...

Tania is a lawyer and psychology student.  Other accomplishments are her three sons. Tania and Lou discuss the challenges of being parents to neurodivergent children but they also focus on strategies to understand our square pegs, their journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance.  They also discuss Tania's approach to school to avoid the inability to attend school by building self-esteem and confidence via their special interests such as horse riding and her youngest son's interest in...

Another very special episode.  This time, Lou chats to Australia's national treasure, Maggie Dent!  Lou learns that  Maggie's key early intuitions led her to a deep understanding for our neurodivergent youth, their strengths, challenges and their need for our support and understanding, especially when they are at school.  Maggie shares some very moving and heartfelt stories of her experiences as a teacher and parent over the years and the connections she's been able to form with young...

This week we are talking Tourette Syndrome.  Lou talks to Lydia Roberts, mum to Ruari and her twin daughters.  Ruari is neurodivergent.  He has ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome.  Lydia is a brilliant parent advocate and actively works to educate the community about Tourette Syndrome.  The episode opens with a sound bit from an ABC Perth radio segment where Lydia and Ruari articulate the world of Tourette.  Ruari's words are absolutely imperative listening.  He describes his tics, how they feel,...