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Neurodiversity Podcast

Neurodiversity Podcast

Neurodivergent Capacity: Why Can They Do It Sometimes But Not Every Time?

Aug 19, 2026 · 41m

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About this episode

When supporting neurodivergent kids, adults often struggle to balance when to gently challenge a child and when to pull back to prevent nervous system overload. Pushing too hard risks chronic distress and shutdown, but overprotecting can unintentionally create learned helplessness and limit opportunities for growth. Emily welcomes Dr. Emily King, a child psychologist, former school psychologist, and author of The Neurodivergent Learner, to talk about how parents and educators can work together to read a child's true capacity and build authentic engagement in school and at home. TAKEAWAYS Determining whether to challenge or accommodate a student depends on reading their real-time nervous…