Beyond Attendance: Parenting Through EBSA & Neurodivergence
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In 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💥 How empowerment starts with informed parenting and challenging outdated systems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:
[email protected]
I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.
If this episode made you laugh out loud or feel a little less alone, why not buy me a coffee? It's a small way to show your support and keep this podcast going.
Support the Show: https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot
Connect with Liz: https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot
🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot
And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:
[email protected].
Chapters
1. Welcome to Untypical Parent Talks (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to Claire Baker (00:01:59)
3. Are You the Perfect Parent? (00:04:11)
4. Claire's Professional Journey (00:17:12)
5. Understanding Emotional-Based School Avoidance (00:22:46)
6. Claire's Daughter's School Experience (00:33:31)
7. Alternative Education Choices (00:45:26)
8. Claire's ADHD Diagnosis Journey (00:53:04)
9. ADHD Impact on Parenting (01:01:18)
10. Top Tips for Struggling Parents (01:07:31)
11. Closing Thoughts and Support Resources (01:15:04)
31 episodes