We are lucky to have each other support each other and know we have a team behind us who truly get it. Although there was a lot in this book I could relate to from the parent’s point of view, there wasn’t a lot in for me to draw on for helping to understand my daughter. And while most of the kids have conformed to this environment, kids with big personalities are supposed to turn themselves off like a light switch. The part about building relationships with other families with neurodivergent children really echoed how lucky I have been to connect with so many wonderful families out there.

Your Child is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Your Child is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child

As a parent of a neurodivergent child this has been a really good read it tells you that you aren't alone. It will crush their souls, and the world will miss out on knowing this individual who has so much potential and so many unique gifts. It tells you that whilst you feel like you are battling and at war with local authorities and professionals you are right to be that parent. Pan Macmillan acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to lands, waters and communities.

If you are further along, have already grown weary with the endless meetings with professionals, are fed up of being fobbed off by people minimising your child’s needs, then this is also the book for you! It can feel like that when others are pointing out the ways your child is not fitting in or the ways your child is failing at school. She has built an online community of over 6000 families, supported by parent professionals and SEN advocates, who want to improve opportunities for autistic learners. For myself, an autistic parent of two autistic children, I appreciate the author putting herself out there, making the effort to say, "You are ok as you are.

YOUR CHILD IS NOT BROKEN: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child YOUR CHILD IS NOT BROKEN: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child

Follow Heidi's irreverent and brutally honest story of her fight to be seen, heard and supported, while swimming against a tide of parent blame, ableist stereotypes and the weight of other people's opinions.

Obviously a lot of people have really enjoyed it but I was just left feeling disappointed and that I hadn't read anything deep enough to qualify as a book. It isn’t going so well and it feels like we are starting all over again as I watch two years of progress fade away into darkness. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. It’s an eye opener to see a different perspective on those well meaning lay persons and professionals that are doing their best to help, but it more often than not ends up being more detrimental. I’ve been ‘that’ parent for nearly ten years now and while I’ve made my peace with how I’m sure I’m perceived by professionals, it never stops being exhausting.

YOUR CHILD IS NOT BROKEN: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without YOUR CHILD IS NOT BROKEN: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child

Prioritising mental health and protecting your relationship with your child is NEVER the wrong decision.They didn’t fit the school’s pictures of a good student, so these highly intelligent students who were bored in school, were deemed defective. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you.

About - Heidi Mavir

Thank you so much Heidi for sharing your story with us, I’ll be recommending “Your Child is not Broken” to all the SEND parents I know! I held back on five stars, only because I felt like it was a great start and I also wanted a few more tools and tips for the stage of parenting I'm in.This would have been so beneficial at the start of the journey likewise where we are now with diagnosis and out of school waiting for specialist school place to become available this has been helpful. To be honest, I don't generally read many books on the subject of neurodiversity because, well, I'm living it everyday anyway, I don't really feel the need to, and sometimes we all need some escapism instead. The part about consent really highlighted to me that me saying no to suggestions is good and shows my child they have the choice they can consent to what they do and don't want to do.