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Mental health doesn’t always present in the “expected” way when ADHD is involved. An ADHD child can be struggling deeply and still not look how people imagine anxiety, depression or emotional distress are “supposed” to look. This is one of the reasons mental health can be missed, misunderstood or recognised far later than it should be. For many ADHD children, emotional distress shows up through emotional dysregulation. Feelings can come on quickly, intensely and with very lit

Effective autism-informed mental health support often looks different from what people expect. It is not about fitting a child into a traditional therapy model, but about creating an environment and approach that works for them. Support should take place in predictable, low-demand environments where a child feels safe and not overwhelmed. Communication should be clear, explicit and direct, avoiding metaphors or vague language that can cause confusion or anxiety. Therapy shoul

If you’ve been researching communication strategies for your autistic child, you may have come across the term Total Communication (TC). At first, the idea sounds very positive. Total Communication encourages people to use lots of different ways to communicate at the same time — speech, sign language, pictures, gestures, facial expressions and AAC devices. The thinking seems logical: if we give a child more communication options, they will have more chances to understand and

Families navigating SEND often come across terms that can appear complicated or intimidating. Terms such as severe, complex, and profound are commonly used in professional reports and policy documents, whereas autism and ADHD are often described differently, even when support needs are significant. Understanding what these terms mean can help parents tackle the SEND system with more confidence and less anxiety. Severe Needs Within SEND, 'severe' indicates a very high level of

If your child doesn’t have an EHC plan, their needs are still just as important. It just means you’ll share their needs with the school in a different way, and sometimes you have more freedom in how you do this. Begin by writing a short summary of your child’s strengths and challenges. Include what helps them learn and feel comfortable. Focus on practical details. For example, saying your child needs advance notice of changes is more helpful than just saying they get anxious.

If the local authority refuses to name your preferred school in your child’s EHC plan, or names a school you believe cannot meet your child’s needs, you have a legal right to appeal. This isn’t about being difficult. It’s about making sure your child’s needs — as set out in law — are properly met. Appeals are made to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) (often called the SEND Tribunal). This is an independent legal body that reviews whether the l

If you have a teenager who is both ADHD and LGBTQIA+, you might notice that anxiety affects them more than it does other teens. This is real. There are several reasons your teen may feel more stressed than their peers, and understanding these reasons is the first step to helping them. This increased emotional sensitivity comes from the brain, not from choice. Everyday challenges like fitting in, making friends, and keeping up with schoolwork feel even more intense. When you a

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week, a reminder that a lot of struggling children are not “naughty”, “lazy”, or “too emotional.” All too often, neurodevelopmental conditions are misdiagnosed as mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Children and young people (and adults) do display symptoms of these conditions, and many are worthy of a diagnosis. However, what is often missed is the root cause of these symptoms. Maybe your child is prescribed anti-depr

It can be hard when you open that email and see your child wasn’t offered a place at the school you had your heart set on. When your child is autistic or has ADHD, and has an EHCP, choosing a school isn’t just about Ofsted ratings. It’s about safety, understanding, and the right fit. Visiting schools, even when they’re not your first pick, can still reveal possibilities. You might want to visit alone first, especially if your child finds new environments overwhelming. When th