In this episode Laura Gowers talks with Kelly Young, about her journey into neurodiversity advocacy. She discusses the importance of understanding neurodiversity, the need for educational reform, and the significance of early screening and personalised support. Kelly highlights the importance of advocacy in navigating the educational system and offers insights into how parents can better support their children.

More about the guest:

Kelly Young is an ADHD, ASC, and neurodiversity coach, consultant and pre-assessor with over 20 years’ experience across mainstream education, specialist schools, and pupil referral units. She specialises in neurodiversity pre-assessments, SEND advocacy, and EHCP support, combining professional expertise with lived experience as a neurodiverse adult and parent.

You can connect with Kelly:

Instagram- @kelly.neurodiversitysupport
Facebook- @neurodiversity.support.NorthDevon

Website - https://www.neurodiversitysupport.co.uk

More about the host:

Laura Gowers is an award winning dyslexia assessor, neurodivergence coach, former teacher and SENCo with over 23 years of experience in education. She is the founder of This is Dyslexia - Dyslexia assessments & coaching and runs a specialist dyslexia assessment centre in Canterbury, Kent, supporting children and adults locally and across the UK through in person and online assessments.

Her work is strengths based, focusing on clarity, confidence and wellbeing, helping people move beyond labels and understand how their brain truly works.

Website: https://www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk

Instagram: @thisisdyslexiauk

Facebook: @LauraGowersUK

Facebook Page:@this.is.dyslexia.uk

Key Takeaways

Kelly's journey into advocacy began with her son Joshua's neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity is about recognising unique brain wiring and learning styles.

Education systems need to adapt to support neurodiverse children better.

Early screening for neurodiversity can lead to better outcomes for children.

Advocacy involves standing beside families and helping them navigate the system.

Building trust and confidence in children is crucial for their self-esteem.

Technology can be a powerful tool for supporting neurodiverse learners.

Teachers need more training in neurodiversity to better support their students.

Parents should celebrate their children's strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses.

Creating a nurturing environment in schools is essential for all children.

Keywords

neurodiversity, education reform, advocacy, early screening, self-esteem, learning styles, technology in education, parental support, mental health, special educational needs

In this episode Laura Gowers talks with Angie Mays, a mindset coach and disability work coach. The conversation explores the challenges of dyslexia in education, the impact of dyslexia on daily life and the importance of self-compassion and self-advocacy for dyslexic individuals. Angie Mays shares her personal experiences and insights, highlighting the need for understanding and support for dyslexic individuals in various aspects of life.

More about the guest:

Angie Mays is a mindset coach and disability work coach. She works with neurodivergent individuals in her job an exhausted women in her business. Her knowledge of her own dyslexia has allowed her to go from overwhelmed to calm. Supporting other individuals to understand their own needs through one to one coaching enabling to have more clarity and direction in their lives by putting their needs first through her You First method.

You can connect with Angie:

Instagram- @angiemaysmindsetcoach
Facebook- @angiemaysmindsetcoach

More about the host:

Laura Gowers is an award winning dyslexia assessor, neurodivergence coach, former teacher and SENCo with over 23 years of experience in education. She is the founder of This is Dyslexia - Dyslexia assessments & coaching and runs a specialist dyslexia assessment centre in Canterbury, Kent, supporting children and adults locally and across the UK through in person and online assessments.

Her work is strengths based, focusing on clarity, confidence and wellbeing, helping people move beyond labels and understand how their brain truly works.

Website: www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk

Instagram: @thisisdyslexiauk

Facebook: @LauraGowersUK

Facebook Page:@this.is.dyslexia.uk

Takeaways

• Dyslexia challenges in education
• Impact of dyslexia on daily life
• Self-compassion and self-advocacy for dyslexic individuals

In this episode, Laura Gowers speaks with Danielle Cudjoe-Michalski, founder of Thinking Light Coach, about her late identification of dyslexia and ADHD. Danielle shares what it was like growing up without the language to understand her differences, the impact of masking in school and corporate spaces, and how this shaped her confidence and career.

She explores the role of coaching in supporting neurodivergent adults and discusses the need for genuinely neuro-inclusive workplaces, advocating for practical changes that allow people to thrive rather than just cope.

More about the guest:

Danielle Cudjoe-Michalski is the founder of Thinking Light Coach, a practice centred on rest, access and sustainable success for neurodivergent adults, with lived experience of dyslexia and ADHD. After 20 years in corporate STEM roles and co-founding a Neurodiversity Network, she now works as a neurodiverse coach, consultant, trainer and TEDx speaker, supporting people to understand their patterns, ease long-held self-blame and build practical tools into everyday life, while helping organisations take practical steps towards genuine neuro-inclusive cultures.

You can connect with Danielle:

Instagram- @thinkinglightcoach
Facebook- @thinkinglightcoach

LinkedIn - Danielle Cudjoe-Michalski

More about the host:

Laura Gowers is an award winning dyslexia assessor, neurodivergence coach, former teacher and SENCo with over 23 years of experience in education. She is the founder of This is Dyslexia - Dyslexia assessments & coaching and runs a specialist dyslexia assessment centre in Canterbury, Kent, supporting children and adults locally and across the UK through in person and online assessments.

Her work is strengths based, focusing on clarity, confidence and wellbeing, helping people move beyond labels and understand how their brain truly works.

Website: www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk

Instagram: @thisisdyslexiauk

Facebook: @LauraGowersUK

Facebook Page:@this.is.dyslexia.uk