Autism and learning can look different from one skill to the next, even for the same person. Serena Thompson offers a parent’s and educator’s perspective on recognising those differences when choosing support. Her son Daniel’s abilities raise a question about what an academic level can actually tell a family.
Being in the same classroom also leaves a question open: what makes inclusion work for the child? Serena challenges assumptions about shared learning environments, drawing on Daniel’s experience. What would it mean to build the approach around his needs?
At home, attention has to stretch across siblings, daily support and plans for adulthood. Serena speaks candidly about the gap between the guidance she gives families and her own experience. Where does the parent fit into that picture?
Topics: autism and learning, classroom inclusion, individualised education, sibling needs, caregiver guilt
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Originally aired on2026-10-06
