Beyond Attendance: Parenting Through EBSA & Neurodivergence

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text

In this episode I talk with Clare Baker from Restlessminds UK.
Clare and I go deep into the raw realities of parenting, neurodivergence, and the often unseen emotional toll of navigating a broken education system. Clare shares her powerful story of becoming a mum at 19, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and why she chose to remove her daughter from mainstream education to protect her mental health.

We unpack:
💥 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
💥 Advocacy for SEN children and neurodivergent families
💥 Clare’s experience with ADHD, and raising neurodivergent kids
💥 The problem with current attendance policies and the push for punitive "solutions"
💥 How empowerment starts with informed parenting and challenging outdated systems

Clare also opens up about masking, burnout, and the importance of showing up authentically—as a parent, practitioner, and person. Her lived experience and fierce advocacy are a lifeline for families stuck in survival mode.

🔥 If you're a parent, educator, or practitioner walking the line between compassion and bureaucracy—this episode is essential listening.

You can find Clare here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restlessmindsuk
Website: https://restlessmindsuk.org/


I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When we support parents, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please email at:
[e-mail]

Support the show

I'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I work with parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to support them with burnout, mental health and well-being. When parents are supported, everyone benefits.

🔗 To connect with me, you find all my details on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_ot

☕ If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/the.untypical.ot

And if you'd like to contact me about the podcast and join the mailing list please email me at: [e-mail]