In Part 2, we zoom out from personal experience to the broader ecosystem around neurodivergent children. Laetitia shares insights from her work with Understanding Zoe and what over 1,000 families have revealed about the realities of raising and supporting neurodivergent kids.

We take a deeper look at the Understanding Zoe platform itself—a tool designed to help families better understand their child’s unique profile, bridge the gap between home and school, and provide practical, personalised strategies grounded in real data from families. It’s about moving beyond labels and toward meaningful, day-to-day support.

This episode is all about community—what it looks like, why it matters, and how we build it.

We also unpack some of the key ideas and resources Laetitia references throughout the episode—helping to reframe how we think about behaviour, connection, and support for neurodivergent children in a way that feels both practical and achievable for families.

We explore the idea that challenges often don’t come from the child themselves, but from a mismatch between the child and their environment. This aligns with the social model of disability, which suggests that greater understanding, flexibility, and acceptance in society can significantly improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Key findings from Understanding Zoe’s research with families
• How the Understanding Zoe platform supports families and schools
• Why support systems—not just strategies—are critical
• The role of schools, parents, and community in shaping outcomes
• Influential ideas and resources for supporting neurodivergent children
• The “double empathy problem” and mutual understanding
• Practical ways to better support neurodivergent children

Resources & Links:

• Understanding Zoe White Paper:
  https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
• The Rainbow Brain by Sandhya Menon

• The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon

• Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health
• Understanding Zoe - https://understandingzoe.com/
• Understanding Zoe Instagram (@understanding.zoe)

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Music Credits:

• Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
• Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this powerful first episode, we sit down with Understanding Zoe co-founder Laetitia Andrac to explore her late diagnosis of ADHD and autism—and the moment everything finally clicked.

Laetitia shares her personal journey of growing up feeling different, navigating life without answers, and the profound clarity that came with diagnosis later in life. This conversation unpacks identity, self-understanding, and what it really means to view neurodivergence through a strengths-based lens.

We also dive into the concept of autism acceptance—and why it matters so deeply for mental health. Research highlights that a lack of acceptance is strongly linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress for autistic individuals, while self-acceptance and community connection can act as protective factors.

🔑 In this episode, we cover:

• The experience of a late ADHD and autism diagnosis
• Why so many people—especially women—are missed early
• The emotional impact of finally understanding yourself
• The shift from deficit thinking to neurodiversity
• The importance of identity, language, and self-acceptance

📚 Resources & Links:

• Understanding Zoe White Paper (1,091 Australian families):
  https://understandingzoe.com/white-paper
• Research reference: Autism Acceptance and Mental Health

🎵 Music Credits:

• Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
• Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)

In this episode of Parent Teacher Interview, I sit down with Emma from Preparing Minds to explore what really sits underneath student learning.

Emma is a former science teacher who now works with students and families to build stronger study habits, confidence, and independence. Her work focuses on helping young people understand why they think and act the way they do—and how small shifts in mindset can make a big difference.

We cover learners from later primary through to high school and university, with a strong focus on values, self-belief, and becoming more self-directed.

🔑 Key Topics We Discuss

• Emma’s journey from science teacher to working with students and families through Preparing Minds
• Why values are such a powerful tool in shaping decision-making
• How low self-belief shows up in students (and what to do about it)
• The real reasons students avoid homework and challenging tasks
• Helping students become more independent, self-directed learners
• The impact of distractions and how to build better focus
• Supporting students through transitions (primary → high school → beyond)
• The importance of relationships, both in classrooms and at home

💡 Key Takeaways

• Asking “why?” is often the most powerful starting point for understanding behaviour
• Avoidance is often linked to discomfort, not ability
• Building self-belief takes time, reflection, and the right support
• Students benefit from having clear values to guide their decisions
• Independence isn’t automatic—it needs to be modelled and developed over time

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Indistractable by Nir Eyal (book on focus and managing distraction)

🔗 Connect with Emma & Preparing Minds

• Website: Preparing Minds: https://preparingminds.com.au/
• Instagram: preparing_minds