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"This is the book l wish l'd had when my daughter was diagnosed autistic. The book l wish l'd had when l was parenting any of my children as they faced challenges or didn't fit the 'norm.' I've written it for every parent who wants to encourage and affirm their children for who they are, not who they're meant to be."Parenting can be hard. Parenting a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical world can be even harder. But know you are not alone – all the reassurance, guidance and support you need is right here.
Sarah Hayden, social worker, mother and neurodivergent human herself, helps you unlearn everything you thought you needed to know about parenting neurodivergent kids. Covering everything from autism presentation, diagnosis, family life, siblings, schooling and puberty to therapy, food and everything in between, Sarah provides new ideas and practical tools on how to support your child to be their best and authentic self. She also shares the story of her daughter Chloé Hayden's journey to receiving an autism diagnosis, how that transformed her own expectations and parenting, and how a family's love ensured their child had a place in the world where the spotlight was on their strengths rather than their perceived "deficits."
With warmth, humor and just a little bit of sparkle,
Parenting Different shows you how to help your neurodivergent child not just survive but thrive in a neurotypical world."
About the author
Sarah Hayden is a qualified social worker and equine-assisted psychotherapist, and Mayor of Golden Plains Shire. Sarah's professional expertise focuses on autism, neurodivergence, adoption, fostering and complex family dynamics. She is also mum to five amazing kids, including world-renowned actor, author and autism advocate Chloé Hayden, and her youngest two were adopted through intercountry adoption from Taiwan. Sarah and her husband have also fostered 55 children and, as a dedicated volunteer, Sarah has counselled refugees and asylum seekers. She also provides emotional support and psychological first aid to disaster-affected people particularly during bushfire seasons. Sarah is neurodivergent herself, having finally (and not surprisingly) been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 48.
Summary
Everything you've ever wanted to know about parenting (and celebrating!) your neurodivergent child from parenting expert, social worker and mother of five Sarah Hayden.
