Sensory Matters

This week on the podcast, The Chew Crew go in-depth into everything you need to know about chewing & oral stims. Whether you're curious about what chew is right for you, how to get teachers on board, or how to make sure your child chews the right thing... This podcast is the podcast you need!  They also talk about the best way to deal with the summer heat that is still plaguing the UK and how to cope with sunscreen when you have sensory issues! If you would like to know more about chewing in schools and some great strategies around that why not check out this podcast: https://blog.chewigem.com/chewing-ots-perspective-saskia-grassie/ Don't forget if you need any more support or have any more questions. Why not join our Sensory Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chewigem/

This week Jenny and Lorraine talk about how to deal with the change in the school routine. The end of term can be hard for any child but for people on the spectrum, it's even harder once timetable changes come in. The changes can cause extreme anxiety. Lorraine knows this more than most and gives some great tips to help! Lorraine and Jenny also talk about The Kiss Quotient and the Autism themes that run throughout the book. They also talk about whether listening to songs over and over is an Autism trait.

This week on the podcast, we ask is autism awareness actually harming the community? This came up after an argument Joel made, which said that what we actually need is Autism Knowledge rather than awareness. We also talk about Joseph Redford’s podcast, Lorraine’s big news story and of course, the heat!

This week on the Podcast we ask Joseph Redford "are Autistic Organisations accessible to all autistics?". This leads to a conversation about how to make Autistic organisations accessible to everyone instead of just part of the spectrum. Joseph was diagnosed at 11, before that the doctors thought that he was deaf. But after his diagnosis, he learned to be able to thrive, rather than just survive thanks to the Autism community. Hear all about how Joseph is trying to make an Autistic state and is working on the neurodivergent worker's manifesto. As well as all the other roles he has in the Autism community.

This week on the podcast The Chew Crew ask the question "is the autism community too focused on language?" This comes after a discussion during the SWAN Podcast last week saying how it's ok to admit that you didn't know any better at one point in time. As long as you learn from it. This leads to the discussion of whether it's time to stop worrying so much about the language used around the Autistic Community and focus more on teaching the general public about the nuances of the specific surrounding Autism. As well as this the crew talk about the autism show and what their favourite parts were. 

This week Jenny talks to Catriona from Swan and asks the question, are girls being set up to become self-fulfilling prophecies. SWAN stands for Scottish Women's Autism Network, and as the name suggests, they are a network for Autistic Women based in Scotland but have connections all over the UK and beyond. Catriona talks about how her life was affected by her autism in terms of feeling like her self-esteem was affected when she didn't fit in. One of the areas discussed is the importance placed on making friends in childhood. Catriona says that these efforts could be better placed in honing into autistic people's interests. SWAN has created meetups and online forums for adults and young people on the spectrum that are aimed at support and community. These are run by people on the spectrum themselves.   To find out more about SWAN go here:   Website http://swanscotland.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/swans.scotland/

With cuts to funds. We ask is special education heading towards a cliff edge without a parachute? SEND protests have been happening all over the country over the last few weeks and the chew crew discuss this news story as well as asking is mainstream education really the best option for children? This comes after The Sun published an article about a child being "too autistic for mainstream and not autistic enough for a special school." This is a position Lorraine has found herself in before and gives some great insight too.

This week on the podcast we are talking Autism Pride and what it means to be a proud autistic person. It's an event held across the country during June. This week we talk to Joseph, Kabie and Rachel. They talk about how to be an Autistic Advocate and all about the events. These events are all about inclusion by Autistic people for Autistic people, you are free to do what you like (whether that is to participate or sit further away) and include yourself as much as you want. To find out more about Autistic Pride please follow the link below: Autistic Pride Alliance

This week, the chew crew talk about the 18 weeks parental leave you didn't know you had! Also on the podcast, we discuss the interesting points that came up during last weeks podcast with Sheep Dog Says. Especially how it felt good to hear a dad's perspective on Autism. Find last week's podcast here: https://blog.chewigem.com/autistic-children-and-dealing-with-change/ Our sensory Matter this week surrounds service dogs and whether there is enough being done to regulate service dogs. They also discuss the advantages of having a service dog for people with disabilities. Lastly, we answer our listener question about managing to do things you enjoy without getting overloaded, where Lorraine and Katy have some great tips! Listen to the podcast to find out all about the 18 weeks of extra parental leave you could be missing out on if you have a child under 18.

This week Sheep Dog Says talks about autistic children and dealing with change. Sheep Dog Says is a youtube channel where a family blogs about their journey with their autistic son Ollie. This episode is full of some great anecdotes about literal thinking and all of the other aspects of raising an autistic child. Find out all about Ollie's obsession with Minecraft and Pokemon, as well as autistic children dealing with change in school and how the family have dealt with that. This is a brilliant podcast and you'll really fall in love with the stories about Ollie. Find Sheep Dog Says Here

This week on the podcast, The Chew Crew talk about whether open plan schools are the future of education. Listen to find out about this revolutionary concept and if it could really become a reality. Or is it really just a dream that could never work. Tell us if you think open plan schools are the future of education on facebook! They also talk about last weeks podcast, discussing the great tips that it gave them and why they really enjoyed it. Find The Podcast Here:  https://blog.chewigem.com/culture-competition-harming-your-children/ This episode also has lots of tips and tricks for dealing with exam stress and how to study. As well as posing the question: what's more important, your child's grades, or their happiness? Lastly, find out all about sensory underload, what it is, how it feels and how you can stop it happening!

This week on the podcast, Shelley Francis talks about if a culture of competition is harming your children. Shelley Francis is an audiologist turned author. During her time as an audiologist. Shelley found that people with Auditory Processing Difficulties also had other Sensory Processing Difficulties as well. She also found that there was an increase in sensitive children being sent to her practice. This led Shelley to write a book called "No Child Left Unwrapped: Understanding and Honoring The Gifts Every Child Is Born With." Find Out More About Shelley Here: Website Facebook Twitter  LinkedIn Instagram

This week the chew crew talk about how to help autistic people deal with grief. Grief is something that affects everyone in different ways. However, some Autistic people might find it difficult to identify or process grief. During this podcast, we give you effective ways to deal with grief and get through it. The chew crew also discuss some interesting and exciting things going on in our community, including Richie from Awesometistic who has set a parent-led support group for autistic adults and FIGS who have started a petition about making the road to diagnosis easier for girls on the spectrum. They also discuss last weeks podcast where Steph Reed gave us some great tips on how to help your child succeed at school, and the chew crew discuss their time at school and what would have helped them. Find Steph's Podcast Below: https://blog.chewigem.com/tips-child-succeed-school/

This week we have Steph Reed who gives us some top tips to help your special needs child succeed at school. Steph works as a Special Needs Co-ordinator as well as providing outreach for Special Needs children and schools. Steph started her career teaching in mainstream education, while there she set up nurture groups before moving onto teaching in Autism specific schools. One of the main roles in her current job consists of looking at the specific needs of the child and the needs of the school and finding a middle ground. She does this by using different techniques such as visual aids and other strategies. Find out all about Steph's concerns about the current education system and how she feels it could be improved. As well as plenty of great tips and tricks you and your child's school can implement to help them succeed in their education!   Find out more about Steph Here: https://www.autismspectrumteacher.com/ Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin

This week on the Podcast, Jenny and Lorraine discuss the introduction of nappy changers in schools and whether this will leave Autism undiagnosed for longer. As more children enter school not being able to grip a pencil, use cutlery and use the toilet. Will children on the spectrum be undiagnosed for longer? 

Should Autism parents listen to Autistic people's experiences more, since they have been through it first hand? This week we have Kelly on the Podcast. Kelly used to work as a speech therapist. She found that when she told people she was Autistic, they tended not to want to listen to her advice. We also find out how she didn't realise that she was Autistic until her son was born. She then recognised traits from her childhood in him. When she was diagnosed she says she felt a sense of fulfilment and acceptance.  Kelly says that she finds the lack of adult support hard. She argues that even if adults live independently they might still need help with aspects of life such as money management or executive functioning. Kelly sits on the Autism Canada Board and is the founder of Completely Inclusive. Completely Inclusive is a company that works to remove barriers and facilitate full acceptance and participation of diverse people in society by making sure companies employ them for meaningful, fulfilling jobs. K

This week on the podcast we talk about how to deal with illness when you're Autistic and out of routine. This came up because Lorraine has been ill for the last two weeks. She was having a hard time resting and kept having to be reminded. It was also World Autism Awareness week and we talk about the "My Boy Blue" Instagram takeover that Lorraine and Jamie are a part of. We featured My Boy Blue on one of our very first podcasts which you can find here: https://blog.chewigem.com/snapchat-activism-my-boy-blue/ The Chew Crew also discuss a scheme run by Cardiff University called Discovery Summer School.  Where 14-19 year olds on the spectrum can spend two days living independently as university students to get a feel of what it's like. Find out more here We also discuss Indieandy's podcast from last week and the question "How do you take off the mask?" Listen to last week's podcast below: https://blog.chewigem.com/masking-survival-instinct/  

This week Jenny is talking to Andy about masking and whether it's a survival instinct. Andy runs his own youtube channel called Indieandy, which is amazing we highly suggest you check it out! Andy continues discussing his childhood and how he was diagnosed with Autism quite early, therefore, making his life easier. They also discuss why he chose not to disclose his autism to his current employer and how youtube is a great place for Autism Advocacy.

This week on the podcast, The Chew Crew discuss what symbol represents autism awareness best. As many people know the puzzle piece has some negative connotations surrounding it. Over the years, many other symbols have popped up, but does this damage our cause and public recognition of it? In your opinion, what symbol represents Autism Awareness best?    As well as this, The Chew Crew talk about last week's podcast on Independent Living and the Special Housing Facility Revolution. To listen to last weeks podcast please go here: https://blog.chewigem.com/special-facility-housing-revolution/

This week on the Podcast, Jenny is talking to Denise who runs First Place, a special facility housing complex to help autistic people have independent successful lives. Denise tells us all about how she was told that her son should be institutionalised in a special facility housing institution. but when she went to look at the places she didn’t feel they were right for her son. Soon after this, she started developing First Place, a special facility housing complex. It allows them to live independent and successful lives. It considers itself a new type of special housing. Alongside the housing complex, First Place runs a Life Skills Academy that teaches its students how to lead independent lives over 2 years. The Global Leadership Institute is an offshoot of First Place that looks at attaining housing to expand to other communities. It has volunteers who are students at First Place and help out. They have a Symposium in April and if you would like to know more please email info@firstplace.az.org To find ou