Emotional safety is the embodied experience of being protected and believed within a relationship. It is not simply the absence of physical harm; it is the absence of relational and environmental threat alongside the consistent presence of protective connection with another person. It is the felt sense that: I'm not under relational or sensory threat I will not be shamed or dismissed My distress signals won't be punished or escalated My sensory needs won't be minimised or overridden I can...

What are we really being asked? We recently delivered neurodiversity-affirming training with an NHS Speech and Language Therapy team. During conversation, a familiar question surfaced - one that we wanted to pause on: “What do we do when an autistic young person asks for social skills training so they can make more friends?” At first glance, it can feel like a straightforward request. It invites action. It pulls us towards teaching, equipping, offering strategies - and this can feel not only...

The Neurodiversity Paradigm is taking root in clinical practice, emboldened by a wealth of research and many disabled voices