Our next guest on the podcast is Melissa Monteiro, a Bangalore-bred teacher and personal tutor specializing in neurodivergent children, to discuss why she shifted from classrooms to one-on-one teaching after seeing students left out by standardized systems. Melissa explains how labels like “lazy” or “disrespectful” often miss the real challenges of ADHD, dysgraphia, and emotional regulation, and emphasizes separating the child from the behavior and keeping the “issue” as the shared problem. Drawing on her own anxiety, she describes supporting students through overwhelm, reframing success beyond marks, and using strengths-based approaches. Together, Ann and Melissa cover negative self-talk, rejection sensitivity, and alarming suicide risk, sharing tools like asking “where is the evidence?” and speaking to oneself like a friend. Melissa also discusses family pressures, affordability of support, balancing push vs pressure, the value of love and specific appreciation, physical activity and social connection, and the importance of parent self-care and “pressing pause.”📌 Timestamps:00:00 Meet Melissa Monteiro00:40 Why Melissa Chose Teaching01:52 Leaving the Classroom06:07 Proving One-on-One Tutoring Works08:58 Beyond Labels and Behaviour12:42 Same Team Mindset16:17 Empathy and Anxiety Tools19:04 Teaching Neurodivergent Learners24:57 Families Expectations and Support29:45 Building Confidence Stories32:52 Anxiety Behind The Talk33:56 Real Student Voices36:11 Tunnel Vision Spiral38:45 RSD And Moving Goals41:35 Evidence And Self Compassion44:31 Parent Strategies That Help48:01 Motivation And Loneliness52:02 Parent Burnout And Pause55:54 Complex Family Dynamics59:54 Love And Closing Thoughts

Inclusion isn’t a checklist. It’s a way of life.In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, I speak with Anjena Raghuram, special educator and founder of Saksham Centre for the Specially Abled @sakshambyanjena From autism to ADHD to learning disabilities, Anjena has worked with children who often get overlooked in classrooms and communities. Together, we explore:What a special educator really does (and doesn’t do)How parents can set realistic expectations and ask the right questionsThe role of IEPs, skills over syllabus, and early interventionWhy creating safe spaces and focusing on strengths—not “fixing”—mattersThis is a conversation full of heart, practical wisdom, and hope for families navigating a world not designed for neurodivergent children.👉 Watch, listen, and share if you believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.🔗 Follow Just Your Normal Missfit:Instagram: @justyournormalmissfitYouTube: https://youtu.be/3R-o131252A00:00 Introduction to Just Your Normal Missfit00:15 Meet Anjena Raghuram: Special Educator and Founder of Saksham01:38 Anjena's Journey: From Voice Trainer to Special Educator02:49 Realisation of Purpose02:59 A Call to Teach Special Needs Children05:13 Understanding the Role of a Special Educator10:53 The Importance of Visual and Auditory Perception15:26 Managing Expectations and Building Confidence23:39 Challenges in the Education System27:03 Impact of Screen Time on Children's Learning32:55 Recognizing Early Signs and Interventions33:44 Importance of Early Intervention36:00 Challenges in Early Diagnosis37:42 Parental Awareness and Responsibility39:30 Professional Support and Training41:55 Building Trust and Safe Spaces42:20 Understanding Special Educators54:06 Future Plans and Final Thoughts54:49 Therapeutic Interventions Explained59:05 Sensory Integration and Its Importance

Accommodation is not an advantage, it is access.

In our latest episode, Ann Thomas speaks with Chandana Singh — lawyer, special educator, dyslexia advocate, and founder of Advocacy for Dyslexia. Chandana also helped establish the Office of Learning Support at Ashoka University, where she has worked extensively with neurodivergent students navigating higher education.

Together, they unpack:

•⁠ ⁠🧠 what dyslexia actually is

•⁠ ⁠📚 the myths people still believe

•⁠ ⁠💔 how shame impacts neurodivergent students

•⁠ ⁠🏫 why accommodations are not “special treatment”

•⁠ ⁠✨ and how different ways of thinking deserve support, not stigma

This conversation is for:

Parents trying to understand their child better, educators looking to build supportive classrooms, and neurodivergent individuals navigating school, college, work, and self-worth.

📌Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and guest intro

01:30 Chandana’s advocacy journey

02:51 What dyslexia really is

05:59 Stigma and common myths

09:32 Why stigma persists

13:26 Teachers and support pillars

14:54 Accommodations vs remediation

20:43 Different dyslexia experiences

22:25 Real student stories

25:25 Pressure and perfectionism

30:46 How parents seek support

31:51 School steps and accommodations

34:52 Bridging support in college

35:26 College Self Advocacy

36:50 Building Support Centers

39:07 Hiring Empathetic Staff

41:58 Parents As Allies

45:18 Disclosure And Accommodations

49:04 ACT For Parents

54:34 Spotting Real Inclusion

58:59 Strength-Based Mindset

01:02:36 Myth Busting Dyslexia

01:05:06 Final Takeaways

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a parent, teacher, student, or anyone trying to better understand neurodivergence and learning differences.