Jodie Clarke, Children's Well-being Practitioner & Autism Specialist

11/09/2026

Exciting day in my head……treated myself! Part of my colder weather transition…….

I really cannot go into shoes without my feet getting very upset with me and sending me into panic, especially when driving……

So these are my new ‘smart’ footwear for work or anything that requires something other than my battered old all terrain crocs! Love a bit of student discount too!

I really wish schools would bring crocs into their uniform policies…. You can get plain black or navy ones and for some of us they are an absolute must!

11/09/2026

Is your child masking in school?

Getting your child’s needs recognised when they mask is a battle I know very well personally!

Masking is absolutely linked to neurodivergent burnout and school attendance issues.

If you need research or resources to support you on the journey to having your child supported, I have a full page on my website.

All of my MA essays and research are downloadable and/or shareable.

Jodie x

10/09/2026

Please take note of the words that sit within the images of Stephan. We must do better!

10/09/2026

I had a wonderful afternoon at Swindon Hub today where Swindon Mind and SEND Community Connected put on a special event for World Su***de Prevention Day.

We cannot talk about neurodivergence, burnout and SEN without acknowledging that disabled people are statistically more likely to die by su***de than non-neurodivergent people.

Ensuring identification of needs and suitable support from a young age aids better mental health.

It was fantastic to meet Kwesi and Henrietta from Family Enrichment Services CIC who have set up a fantastic service for black and ethnic minority SEN families & the team from BSL Education Swindon who have invited myself and Danielle Brown-Kelly - Advocate for a visit to their alternative provision next week!

Thank you Jenny for inviting me ♥️

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

STAK.life CIC xx

WORLD SU***DE PREVENTION DAY

For many people, su***de is something they read about. For our family, it has a name.

Stefan.

Our beautiful, funny, kind and deeply loved boy was Autistic. He died by su***de aged just 15.

Not because he was Autistic, but because the world around him did not understand him, support him or keep him safe when he needed it most.

In 2024, 6,190 deaths by su***de were registered in England and Wales. That is nearly 17 lives every day.

Research involving more than 48,000 Autistic and possibly Autistic people without a co-occurring learning disability found that:

• More than one in three had experienced suicidal thoughts
• More than one in five had made a su***de plan
• Nearly one in four had attempted su***de or experienced suicidal behaviour

These figures are horrifying, but they are not inevitable.

We must stop asking what is “wrong” with Autistic people and start looking at what is happening around them.

Bullying. Isolation. Masking. Sensory overwhelm. Unmet needs. Inaccessible services. Being disbelieved. Being blamed. Being expected to cope in environments that cause distress and then being treated as the problem when they cannot.

We are often told that people must ask for help. Stefan did ask for help. We asked for help.

Su***de prevention cannot simply mean telling people to reach out. The help must actually be there. It must come before crisis. It must be timely, accessible and informed by a real understanding of Autism.

Behind every statistic is somebody’s child, parent, partner, sibling or friend. A person with a name, a story and a future that should still be here.

For us, that person will always be Stefan.

We will continue to speak his name. We will continue to challenge the systems that failed him. And we will continue working towards a world in which Autistic people are understood, valued and supported to live, not simply expected to survive.

Awareness matters, but awareness without action will not save lives.

Difference Not Deficit.

If you are struggling, please tell someone now:

Samaritans: 116 123
Text SHOUT to 85258
NHS 111
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

10/09/2026

EDIT: This webinar is now fully booked. You can watch the recording post-event by signing up for an Autism Central account: https://www.autismcentral.nhs.uk/login-or-register?fbclid=IwVERDUAUQAHBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUOKO6C4IUL8sw_wsjlk0L9Bb06D4vmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR56P52mWj7VXsTsLSS9oBr9CdeRFaFLc1YosVmTl0xBYwWE80IyZli-j0yHtg_aem_w9potgo1ZTrhw1Ip8O9KGw

Join our neurodivergence expert Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou and Pete Wharmby, Autistic Author for a free, NHS-funded webinar exploring the hidden emotional burden school can place on autistic, ADHD and AuDHD children and young people.

Together, they’ll explore the emotional toll of getting through the school day, and discuss masking, sensory and social demands, exhaustion, distress and practical ways families and schools can support recovery and regulation.

This session is for parents and carers of autistic children in England who may be diagnosed, awaiting assessment, or finding school increasingly hard to recover from.

· On Zoom

· Free, NHS England-commissioned session delivered by Anna Freud

· Rooted in lived experience and research

Places are limited and we’ll update this post once the webinar is full. Book your place: https://orlo.uk/kG5RY

NHS England Workforce, Training and Education

10/09/2026

Su***de Prevention Day
Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind have various support points around the town today. Xx

09/09/2026

Cold feet but not enjoying the feeling of socks again!! My feet always feel like they can’t breathe!!

Hate transitioning to colder times!

09/09/2026

“There is story, after story, after story, of Autistic people young and old, who have Burnout repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals who do not understand what it is, have no clue and seem to think that the answer to everything is depression and anti-depressants.”

This reflects something I hear again and again from Autistic people and families! Experiences of burnout being misunderstood, mislabelled, or dismissed entirely.

When professionals don’t recognise Autistic Burnout, the conversation often shifts quickly toward depression, medication, or individual pathology, rather than understanding the context that led to the exhaustion in the first place.

But burnout is not simply depression, and it cannot be understood without recognising the cumulative impact of masking, overwhelm and sustained demand.

Until Autistic Burnout is properly understood, many Autistic people will continue to struggle without the recognition or support they need.

This quote is from ‘An Autistic Burnout’, my most read article, which is one of the essays contained in my new book, ‘Autism: A Collection of Essays’ (link to both the article and book in the comments).