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If there's one thing I hear most often from families raising a child with a disability, it's this:
“I'm tired. I'm overwhelmed. I don't know if I’m doing enough.”

That fatigue — physical, emotional, and mental — is not something we can continue to shove under the r...

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So much of what we’ve been told about autism is shaped by fear, outdated thinking, or a lack of real understanding. As parents, caregivers, or even professionals, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing things that seem “normal” to say—but in reality, may be li...

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In this personal episode, I sit down with my younger sister, Yasmine Smadi, to reflect on our shared experience growing up with our autistic brother, Milo. Yasmine joins me during her visit from Dubai, where she works as a preschool teacher and is pursuing her Maste...

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 When raising a neurodivergent child, it’s easy to wonder: Am I teaching them, or am I trying to change them? In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Dr Lynette Louise, founding member of All Brains Grow, neurotherapist and creator of BioPlay, to explore this ...

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When working with neurodivergent children, we often focus on structure, routines, and clear expectations—because that’s what we’ve been taught will create stability. But what if flexibility is just as important?

In my latest podcast episode of All Brains Grow, I sa...

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Parents of autistic and dyspraxic kids face some of the highest levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout—yet their well-being is often overlooked. In this episode of All Brains Grow, clinical psychologist Lea Chawki shares what research reveals about parental burnout ...

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As parents, we want to teach our kids everything—how to navigate the world, how to grow, how to thrive. But when does teaching become too much? When does guiding turn into pushing? And how do we strike the balance between structure and freedom?

Jessy is the perfect...

The placebo effect can have an outsized impact on your child’s development.

A placebo is where individuals experience real changes in their conditions solely due to their expectations of treatment rather than the treatment itself. 

This phenomenon makes a big difference in special educatio...

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In today’s fast-paced world of constant external influences, how do you help your children stay rooted in their identity, culture, and values—without feeling like they’re being left behind? That’s the question at the heart of this episode of All Brains Grow, where I...

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What do you do when you meet someone with a different level of independence than you? 

I know how easy it is to treat people who look and act differently as if they’re not “normal” human beings. As if they don’t need the same respect and consideration as others.

I...

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In this episode of All Brains Grow, I step into The Developing Child Center in Dubai to meet the inspiring neuro-pediatric occupational therapist, Dr Raghida Ashkar. From her beginnings in post-war Lebanon to her work with neurodiverse children in Dubai, Raghida’s ...

One moment your child is happy and the next moment something triggered their autism meltdown. It doesn’t matter where you are or when, it can be impossible to predict. And once your child becomes so overwhelmed there’s no going back. They’re no longer in control of their behavior, parts of their b...