Neurodiversity

What Masking Costs Kids Over Time

A child can appear calm, compliant, and successful at school while falling apart at home, and both experiences can be real. Explore the hidden cost of masking, signs of neurodivergent burnout, and why quiet or compliant behavior doesn’t always mean a child is thriving.

What Is Masking?

Masking can shape nearly every part of a neurodivergent child’s day, even when the adults around them don’t recognize it. Learn what masking is, why autistic and ADHD children may mask, and the different ways it can show up at school, at home, and in social situations.

From PDA to Masking

Why does a child who appears calm and compliant at school fall apart the moment they get home? Explore the connection between PDA and masking, and why holding it together all day can leave neurodivergent children exhausted and dysregulated in the places they feel safest.

The “Coffee Filter” Brain

For a child with ADHD, “hold that thought” can be much harder than it sounds. Explore why interrupting may be connected to challenges with filtering and holding onto information, plus simple strategies that can help kids feel confident their ideas won’t disappear.

You Cannot Put a Timer on a Nervous System

There’s no timer for dysregulation. Trauma-certified SLP Polina Shkadron shares why a child who looks calm may still be recovering internally and how giving kids more agency can support genuine regulation, trust, and connection.

Understanding PDA

What if “non-compliance” is actually a sign that a student is overwhelmed? Explore the PDA profile and how shifting our understanding of demand avoidance can help SLPs respond with greater curiosity, flexibility, and respect for autonomy.

“I Wouldn’t Even Know They Had Autism”

“You’d never even know” may sound like a compliment, but it can reveal just how much effort a neurodivergent person is putting into masking. Explore what social, behavioral, and communication masking can look like and why creating spaces for authenticity matters.

Late Diagnosis, Autism Advocacy, and Neuroaffirming Practices

Therapist and advocate Dr. Destiny Huff shares her late-diagnosed journey with autism and ADHD, as well as the duality of being neurodivergent and parenting a neurodivergent child. Dr. Huff discusses navigating the special education system to support neurodivergent learners and the intersection of her personal and professional experience. Finally, Dr. Huff offers insights into how educators and families can advocate and embrace neuroaffirming practices to support diverse learners.

Supporting Neurodivergent Kids Through Play & Connection

In this insightful episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones welcomes Polina Shkadron, a trauma-certified Speech-Language Pathologist, to explore the power of play, relationships, and brain-based strategies in supporting neurodivergent children. Polina brings over 15 years of experience working with children with communication challenges, autism, ADHD, feeding difficulties, and more. She breaks down complex ideas in a relatable way, offering practical tools that families and educators can use right away.

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