Parenting Autism and ADHD Podcast By Cliff Kilmister cover art

Parenting Autism and ADHD

Parenting Autism and ADHD

By: Cliff Kilmister
Listen for free

Parenting Autism and ADHD is a podcast designed to support parents and carers of children with autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and other neurodevelopmental challenges, as well as children struggling with school attendance, even if they haven’t yet been diagnosed. Each episode offers practical guidance on helping your child attend school with less stress, manage meltdowns, and navigate obstacles in the education system. Through expert advice, real-life stories, and actionable strategies, we aim to empower you to overcome school refusal, sensory sensitivities, and behavioural struggles with confidence. Our mission is to build a supportive community where parents and carers can connect, share experiences, and access the tools they need for their child’s success, while fostering collaboration between parents and teachers to create a strong, unified support system. Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • Teaching Your Children Skills They Will Use Later to Thrive in The Workplace with Kirsty Heap

    Teaching Your Children Skills They Will Use Later to Thrive in The Workplace with Kirsty Heap
    Mar 18 2026
    Today, Cliff is joined by Kirsty Heap an HR professional and advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. As someone who has been diagnosed with both dyslexia and ADHD Kirsty brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore what neurodiversity really means inside organisations, how workplaces can better support neurodivergent employees, and why understanding different ways of thinking, communicating, and processing the world isn't just good for people, it's good for business too. They talk about the realities many neurodivergent individuals face at work, from recruitment and disclosure to adjustments, burnout, masking and building environments where people can genuinely thrive. If you're a parent thinking about your child's future in the workplace, an employer wanting to better support your team, or someone navigating work while neurodivergent yourself, this conversation is for you. EPISODE REVEALS Teach your children to be kind to themselves. Develop a toolbox with them that they can use to silence the internal voice that keeps telling them that they are not good enough. It is something they will need to do throughout their lives. Own your neurodivergence in the workplace. That honesty is the best way to improve understanding and unlock support. Neurotypical people genuinely don´t understand what neurodiversity is like. If you need something to change e.g. a clear written follow up after each meeting, you will need to explain the positive difference this will make to your work. Don´t suffer in silence. Get coaching to learn how to work through issues and become stronger in the workplace. Knowing how to calm yourself is an invaluable skill. BEST MOMENTS "Acceptance has been key, it´s changed my whole outlook on life, the way I interact with people, the way I have relationships with friends and with partners, has been down to my acceptance of my condition." "Let nobody dull your shine. Shine bright and own it." “If we feel valued and supported, we naturally are going to be happier and want to kind of do our best as well.” "Slow down to go faster." ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyheap/ https://www.facebook.com/TheDyslexicCoach/ Instagram - @kirstyheapcoaching TikTok - @mindsetelevatorKirsty https://kirstyheap.com/ RESOURCES Cliff´s book “What To Do When Your Child Shuts Down” - ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/3trk6pw CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister Are you feeling overwhelmed with EHCP paperwork or are you stuck? Cliff, who has personally been through the process offers body-doubling and step-by-step support. You can contact him here - https://m.me/cliff.kilmister CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change!
    Show more Show less
    54 mins
  • Raising Neurodivergent Teens in a Sexualised World: Conversations About Consent, Porn, and Identity with Cath Hakanson

    Raising Neurodivergent Teens in a Sexualised World: Conversations About Consent, Porn, and Identity with Cath Hakanson
    Mar 11 2026
    When you’re parenting an autistic or ADHD tween through puberty, sex education can feel like one more overwhelming thing you’re supposed to “get right” - without ever having been shown how. Today, Cliff talks with sexologist and late‑diagnosed autistic mum Cath Hakanson about what real‑world sex ed looks like in neurodivergent families: awkward, imperfect, and built from dozens of tiny, everyday moments. Cath shares how to be approachable, why neuro diverse kids often miss the unspoken rules around dating, consent, and boundaries, and how to use TV shows, music, and video games to gently teach about bodies, relationships, and porn. They explore the push‑pull of wanting to protect your child from hurt while knowing you have to loosen control and why your own uncomfortable history of “the talk” can actually make you a better guide. EPISODE REVEALS Giving your children information about sex is not going to be seen by them as giving them permission to have sex or make them over sexualised. Neurodivergent kids often miss the in‑between social cues, so sex ed must spell out subtext, boundaries, and body signals explicitly. Most teens will roll their eyes and shut you down when you talk about sex -that’s normal. You need to be gently persistent. Lots of everyday chats slowly sink in, so that when it really matters, they know they can come to you. Spending time having fun, enjoying the same shows, music and video games creates more opportunities to talk about, love, sex, and relationships e.g. a relationship in a show. Talking openly about porn and sexualised media, before and after kids see it, reduces shame and helps them make informed choices. Gradually loosening tech controls and life boundaries, rather than suddenly removing them, supports safer independence. BEST MOMENTS "As a parent, we have to be persistent. We've got to keep trying." "You would then think that talking about sex would make kids be more sexualized, but it actually sort of has a reverse effect, if anything, it sort of protects kids ." "Be askable. You're letting kids know, even though they're not responding half the time they still know you are willing and able to talk about this stuff." ABOUT THE GUEST https://sexedrescue.com RESOURCES Cliff´s book What To Do When Your Child Shuts Down - ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/3trk6pw CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister Are you feeling overwhelmed with EHCP paperwork or are you stuck? Cliff, who has personally been through the process offers body-doubling and step-by-step support. You can contact him here - https://m.me/cliff.kilmister CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Creating a More Peaceful Home: How to Set The Tone and Gently Calm Things Down

    Creating a More Peaceful Home: How to Set The Tone and Gently Calm Things Down
    Mar 4 2026
    How do you respond when your child’s behaviour feels like pure chaos—defiance, aggression, shutdowns—and nothing you try seems to work? In this solo episode, Cliff unpacks a powerful reframe of that situation explaining why what you are seeing is not likely to be down to disobedience or bad parenting. Cliff shares practical ways to reduce flashpoints, calm things down and teach your children to improve their ability to regulate their emotions. If you've ever felt disconnected from your neurodivergent child, like everything always turns to chaos and it feels so hard to connect with them, this conversation is for you. EPISODE REVEALS Parents set the tone in the home. If they are calm, it becomes far easier for their children to remain calm and co-operative too. Be patient, wait for your child to calm down rather than trying to discuss issues immediately. This gives their nervous system time to re-regulate which makes it easier for them to listen, understand and be more receptive. Be mindful of how sensitive your child is. Use language that reassures them, this avoids triggering anxiety or defensiveness. Create space for conversation, e.g. device free dinner times when everyone can talk. Learn to understand your child´s nervous system - the load, the capacity, and how to recognise the signs of distress. This makes it easier for you to stop situations from spiralling out of control. BEST MOMENTS "Sometimes what looks like disobedience isn't disobedience, it's dysregulation." "You can't control your child, but what you can control your own emotions. When you become that resonance of calm and peace that eventually seeps in and helps with your connection with your child." "All these connections with your child can be fixed. But it doesn't start with the child. It starts with us." "Give them options. So, it's not a command." EPISODE RESOURCES ADHD and Autism Pre - Assessment Mini Course Pt 1 of 3 with Connor Johnson - https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/adhd-and-autism-pre-assessment-mini-course-pt-1-of/id1810681675?i=1000725797148 – then listen to the next two episodes to complete this short course. RESOURCES Cliff´s book “What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down”- https://amzn.eu/d/00b6M7LQ CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister Are you feeling overwhelmed with EHCP paperwork or are you stuck? Cliff, who has personally been through the process offers body-doubling and step-by-step support. You can contact him here - https://m.me/cliff.kilmister CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
No reviews yet