What does an ADHD-friendly classroom really look like and why does it benefit every student, not just neurodivergent ones?In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas is joined by Dr. Neena David, a Clinical Psychologist with over 27 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She also heads the Counselling Services Team at Mallya Aditi International School. Trained at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, with doctoral research from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Dr. David’s work sits at the intersection of psychology, education, culture, and family systems. Her research on ADHD, rooted in Indian classrooms, challenges Western-centric narratives and asks a deeper question: What do children actually need to learn well?This conversation goes beyond diagnoses and labels to explore the lived realities of ADHD, learning disabilities, and neurodivergence, especially within Indian classrooms and family systems.Whether you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, or an adult unpacking your own school experiences, this episode offers insight, empathy, and practical perspectives rooted in real-world experience.📌 You are not alone and there is a tribe waiting for you.00:00 Introduction to the Guest and Topic02:23 Dr. Neena David's Journey into ADHD Research05:09 Cultural Nuances in ADHD Diagnosis10:55 Challenges in Indian Classrooms22:01 ADHD-Friendly Classroom Strategies34:12 Communicating with Parents about ADHD45:49 Family Dynamics and Support Systems48:40 Family Dynamics and Neurodivergence49:23 The Paradox of Stress and Resilience51:10 Coping with Relationship Struggles53:30 Logistics and Emotional Challenges for Single Parents54:59 Building a Support System01:02:37 Balancing Family Dynamics01:05:47 Managing Transitions and Resilience01:15:25 Handling Aggression and Emotional Regulation01:19:56 Parental Self-Reflection and Support01:30:21 Hope and Community Support

What if the way you move through the world, slower, differently, non-linearly, wasn’t something to fix, but something to honour?

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas is joined by Arpita Gaidhane, an artist, facilitator, and creator of Fireplace, a free and intentionally held community space for people seeking emotional safety and belonging.

This conversation explores neurodivergence, neuroqueerness, and what it means to live creatively in a culture obsessed with hustle, productivity, and “normal” life timelines.

Arpita speaks about concepts like crip time and queer time, the emotional cost of masking, and how both neurodivergent and queer lives often resist linear ideas of success, growth, and adulthood.

Together, Ann and Arpita reflect on:

– Neuroqueerness as a creative and resilient way of living

– The pressure to keep up in a fast, productivity-driven world

– Building emotionally safe and brave spaces through Fireplace

– Unlearning shame around difference, disability, and identity

– How community, slowness, and honesty can become acts of care

This episode is an invitation to slow down, to question the rules we’ve inherited, and to imagine gentler, more authentic ways of being with ourselves and each other.

🔥 Watch the full episode to learn more about Arpita and Fireplace.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Spaces

00:42 Arpita's Journey to Self-Discovery

01:32 Understanding Neurodivergence and Masking

02:59 Gender, Neurodivergence, and Societal Norms

10:18 Historical Context of Queerness in India

15:17 Challenges in Therapy and Psychiatry

18:43 The Complexity of Neurodivergent Identities

28:51 Exploring Neuro Queering and Time Concepts

36:15 The Pressure of Modern Life

36:56 The Concept of Spoons and Emotional Taxation

39:36 Introducing Fireplace: A Safe Space

43:09 The Importance of Safety and Bravery

48:05 Navigating Shame and Vulnerability

52:09 Building Authentic Relationships

01:01:58 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Watch the full episode now and share with your friends. You can also stream it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0zv2LWxobts

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas sits down with Pooja Sharma, a neurodivergent adult and founder of the Sarvodya Collective. They discuss Pooja's personal journey of growing up with a sibling with an intellectual disability, discovering her own neurodivergent identity, and her mission to promote neuro-inclusion through her ongoing campaign, Inclusive Duniya. The conversation dives deep into the importance of empathy, identity, and the role of ordinary people in fostering an inclusive society.

Discover the importance of allyship, the challenges of advocacy, and the small actions that can lead to big changes in creating a world where everyone feels seen, supported, and safe.

00:00 Introduction to Just Your Normal Missfit

00:31 Meet Pooja Sharma: Founder of Sarvodya Collective

02:06 Pooja's Personal and Professional Journey

03:11 The Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Inclusion

05:10 The Birth of Inclusive Duniya

07:05 Challenges in the Education Sector

10:44 Sarvodya's Approach to Inclusive Education

14:56 The Role of Allies in Neurodiversity

27:58 Personal Reflections on Being a Special Sibling

31:00 The Simple Joys of Everyday Life

31:30 Challenges of Growing Up with a Neurodivergent Sibling

32:04 Reflections on Childhood and Family Dynamics

33:25 Inclusive Duniya Comic and Reconnecting with Old Friends

34:59 Sibling Relationships and Caregiving Roles

42:05 Navigating Neurodivergent Relationships

44:28 The Importance of Labels and Awareness

50:46 Gender and Neurodivergence

53:45 The Role of Allies in Inclusion

59:05 Advocacy and Emotional Sustainability

01:03:30 Final Thoughts on Inclusion and Advocacy

Watch the full episode here or catch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p1Jti_k0PLM