Behind the scenes

"I’m Nicola Musgrove, parent of two autistic children aged 13 and 8 and I have been part of the steering group as part of the parent/carer voice.

I love the 'no wrong answer quiz', it offers a variety of different solutions to challenges which can be adapted and used by neurodivergent children and young people as they see fit, it completely underlines the point of 'your choice, your way'. It provides useful information in the form of options without being patronising or imposing.

Another stand out for me is Lauren’s poem. Written and delivered by an actual autistic young person who articulates the challenges around food so well, will resonate with so many neurodivergent children and young people. (A side note, I think there is a hash-tag around actually autistic which might be useful #actuallyautistic) 

I hope these resources help neurodivergent children and young people in various aspects of their life. These have been designed with the intention of supporting neurodivergent children and young people and helping them feel less isolated. Additionally, neurotypical people can use these resources to educate themselves and gain a better understanding of what it means to be neurodivergent. As a parent of two autistic children, it’s wonderful to see how much more support there is available now than when my first child was diagnosed."

"Hi, my name is Jo and I've been involved in the steering group as I have 21 years lived experience of bringing up my son Ed (who is also in the group) as a single parent. Ed is Autistic and has ADHD. Although it was clear to me from a young age it was highly likely Ed was neurodivergent, he wasn't diagnosed until he was 19, after a long battle to do so. 

This had a huge impact on his mental health throughout his life, partly due to not having a diagnosis but also because I didn't understand the reason why he found life so difficult, he didn't, and the support and understanding through school and every area of his life was sadly lacking. Thankfully there is a lot more publicity, support and understanding now and access to information without a formal diagnosis. 

It has been a privilege to be involved with the steering group. The passion and commitment from everyone involved to develop the best possible resources to improve the lives of neurodivergent children, young people and adults, along with their family and friends has been inspirational. 

I have learned so much from being part of the group. I hope that the resources will give others ideas to try and help them on their journey to compile their own individual 'tool kit' and greater understanding of the little and big things that can make such a difference.

The highlight of the project for me is the line, 'Necessary for some, beneficial for all'. By incorporating this philosophy into the lives of children and young people it can't fail to help."

"I’m Michael Davis, Operations Director at All Star and have project managed the planning and development of the resource series over the last 12 months. This has been a wonderful project to be involved in, a true collaboration with many participants involved across West Yorkshire, who’ve been able to voice and influence the production and development of this resource series.

In particular, I’d like to mention the steering group who have dedicated the last 18 months to this project, meeting for an hour, sometimes more, biweekly, to ensure the resources are inclusive, relevant and interesting - without their dedication and input this project would not have been possible. We hope the resource series will help a lot of children and young people, not just regionally, but also nationally."

Lucy Rushworth, Neurodiversity Project Manager for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.

"What really stands out for me about this work is that the materials were truly co-produced from the very beginning. We listened to and gathered a wide range of voices and experiences, which has helped shape resources that are genuinely useful. Importantly, the topics were chosen by the public, focusing on areas where self-help and guidance are currently lacking.

Our aim is to empower children and young people to feel independent and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. In the episodes on transitions, sleep, and eating, we’ve included a variety of tips and suggestions to help children and young people find what works best for them. I especially appreciate the emphasis on reducing pressure and encouraging them to take their own path.

What I really value is that the information is grounded in lived experience. It’s been created to be beneficial for all—not just for neurodiverse children and young people. We were also committed to making the content fully accessible to different learning needs, which is why it’s available in a range of formats, including videos (with and without subtitles and background audio), booklets (with images and plain text), and audio recordings."