46: Who cares for the caregiver? Embracing neurodivergent parenting, disability and sustainable care with Hollie-Ann Newman

Who cares for the caregiver when the person holding everything together has needs of their own?

In this deeply validating episode, Laetitia is joined by Hollie-Ann Newman, disability and neurodiversity advocate and the voice behind Neuroinclusive Education, to explore the realities of neurodivergent parenting, caregiver capacity and sustainable care.

Together, they challenge the neuronormative expectations placed on parents, from what a “good parent” should look like to the idea that parents should always have a regulated nervous system available for co-regulation.

Hollie-Ann shares what it has meant to understand her own neurodivergence alongside her children’s, why different sensory and support needs within one family can create a constant push-pull, and how parenting can become more sustainable when we stop trying to meet standards that were never designed for our families.

They also unpack why conventional advice to “slow down” or “make time for self-care” can miss the reality of disabled and neurodivergent caregivers, and why sometimes sustainable care looks more like lowering demands, simplifying family life, finding micro-moments of restoration and remembering that the caregiver’s needs belong in the family too.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇

🧠 Neurodivergent parenting doesn’t need to look like neuronormative parenting

🧠 Different nervous systems and sensory needs can coexist within the same family

🧠 Co-regulation does not require parents to be perfectly regulated

🧠 Self-care can become another demand when it ignores capacity, disability, finances and access to support

🧠 Sustainable care can mean simplifying life and lowering unnecessary demands

🧠 Understanding our children can become a pathway towards understanding and accommodating ourselves

🧠 A caregiver’s needs matter too, accommodations, boundaries and asking for support can coexist with deeply loving our children

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ABOUT THE GUEST 👇

Hollie-Ann Newman is a queer, 32-year-old late-diagnosed AuDHDer with Dyscalculia, a wife and mother to two young boys aged five and two. She is a full-time carer for her eldest son, who was diagnosed with AuDHD, PDA, ODD, and ARFID.Hollie-Ann’s lived experiences of being misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression, survivor of domestic abuse, alongside navigating pre- and post-natal trauma, have shaped her resilience and deepened her commitment to advocacy and support within the neurodivergent community.In true ADHD style, her career journey spans diverse industries, however she is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science with the carer goal of becoming a Psychologist specialising in neurodivergence and assessments, as well as a leading advocate for our neurodivergent community. Her academic and lived personal experiences fuel her drive to create meaningful change.

📸 Instagram: @neuroinclusiveeducation

ABOUT THE HOST 👇

Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.

She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.

Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.

Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.