SEND parenting isn’t just emotional - it’s bureaucratic. Endless forms, EHCPs, waiting lists, and chasing services become a full-time job. In this cathartic episode, Mark is joined by Jess Meredith to vent about the admin avalanche that comes with parenting neurodivergent children.
They talk about burnout, system failures, and the sheer absurdity of how hard it is to access the help your child needs. Jess brings warmth, wit and insight to a topic that’s rarely discussed but widely felt.
If you’ve ever cried over a DLA form or screamed into a void about CAMHS, this one’s for you. It’s a PDA and autism parenting podcast episode that says what you’re thinking - with humour and solidarity.
And yes, there is swearing. You’ve been warned.
Links to stuff we mention in this episode
Differing Minds - https://www.differingminds.co.uk/
"The Explosive Child" by Dr Ross Greene - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm
SEND Family Instincts - https://www.sendfamilyinstincts.com/
Hibi app - https://hibi.health/
Contact us
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.com
Follow us
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/neuroshambles
Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/neuroshambles/
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles
Credits
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-energetic-hip-hop-8303/
2 years ago
Hi “ymtayhgc” (sorry, I don’t know your real name. Unless of course that is your real name, in which case, sorry for assuming it was made up!). Anyway, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your kind comments. When I devised Neuroshambles, I had no idea if anyone would really want to listen to the persistent grumping of a parent of ND kids, so to receive a lovely comment such as yours makes it all worth it. Thanks for listening and I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thanks, Mark.
2 years ago
It’s a brilliant podcast! I’m a New Zealander navigating the neuroshambolic world of raising my adhd/asd teenager in France. So some of the systems in UK are different, but generally, we are all going through the same stuff. I absolutely loved listening to this podcast from the parents’ perspective. You deal with the serious issues but also in-between we can laugh about ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in. And the swearing is brilliant and necessary! I’m hooked and making my way through all the episodes. Thanks!