Parenting a neurodiverse child can be challenging, isolating, and physically/mentally exhausting. People don't often see what's happening on the inside.
Teachers often encounter students who appear "difficult." They might be disruptive, emotional, uncooperative, or withdrawn, and it's easy to see them as a challenge to be managed. But what if we're missing something deeper? What if they aren't the problem, but rather the symptom of something else entirely?
Bullying affects many children in schools, but for children with high-functioning autism, the experience can be much more complex. They are often overlooked. They have advanced cognitive skills, a strong academic aptitude, and a range of talents. Despite this, they are especially vulnerable to more subtle, targeted bullying.
Neurodivergent children often have meltdowns after a long day of masking at school. This post discusses this issue and offers some tools to help.