Last week, I received my ADHD identification.
I already knew I was Autistic, dyspraxic and hypermobile… so no, this didn’t change who I am. But it did change how clearly I can see myself.
It’s another piece of the puzzle. Another layer of context. Another permission slip to meet myself with compassion instead of criticism.
For years, I worked twice as hard to make things look effortless. Now, I understand why.
This isn’t about labels.It’s about language. Language that helps us understand our nervous system, our energy, our needs… and our strengths.
And if you’re somewhere on this path too
questioning, exploring, or quietly recognising yourself in new ways you don’t need permission to be who you already are.
But sometimes… having the words can feel like a sigh of relief. Not broken, not damaged, just differently wired.
If you’ve ever had a moment where things just clicked for you… I’d love to hear it 🩷
AutismAcceptance
ADHDAwareness
Dyspraxia
NervousSystemSupport
Unmasking
BelongingNotFittingIn
Laura Crowley Connect
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My primary goal is to design practical supports, positive resources and effective training opportunities for children, parents and professionals.
Connect began as an Autism Consultancy Service for autistic children and teens, but has since grown to include a range of educational resources and training events for both parents and professionals. I am a Mother of two children (one neurodivergent child and one neurotypical child), Author, Lecturer and Autism Consultant, with over 22 years experience working with young people in a variety of sp
Sleep doesn’t need to feel this hard.
If bedtime is stretching into hours…
If night waking is leaving everyone exhausted…
If you’ve tried everything and nothing quite fits your child…
There’s a reason for that.
Most sleep advice wasn’t designed with Autistic nervous systems in mind.
✨ The Connect to Sleep Parent Support Hub is different.
A 4-week, neuroaffirmative programme designed to help you understand your child’s sleep and make changes that actually stick.
✔️ Evidence-informed, practical strategies
✔️ A nervous system-first approach
✔️ Interactive planning sessions
✔️ Ongoing support and problem-solving
✔️ Resource packs and visual supports included
All the depth of specialist support…
Without the cost of one-to-one work.
And you won’t be doing it alone.
This is a small, supportive group where your experience is understood and your child is respected.
🚨 Only 15 places available
📅 Starts Wednesday, June 3rd | 7:30pm (Zoom)
🎥 All sessions recorded for flexibility
When sleep improves, everything softens.
Secure your place now before it fills. Link in bio or visit lauracrowleyconnect.com
What does autism acceptance actually feel like?
We hear the word everywhere…
But the real meaning lives in moments.
The teacher who adjusted without making a fuss
The friend who didn’t expect masking
The space that felt safe, not overwhelming
The adult who got it without needing an explanation
I want to capture those moments. The real ones.
The ones that made you (or your child) feel seen, safe, and able to just be.
I’ve created a short, gentle form to gather stories from:
• Autistic individuals
• Parents & carers
• Professionals
No pressure. No “perfect” answers.
Just your experience.
Because this is how we move forward
Not just by talking about acceptance
But by understanding what it actually looks like
Follow this link to give your perspective
https://forms.gle/g8iS4nnXGa8DFryk7
Let’s build something hopeful, together.
A few months after that first photo, I lost my footing completely.
Mentally. Emotionally. Existentially.
What I didn’t know then was that it wasn’t failure.
It was unmasking.
Identifying as autistic didn’t shrink my world, it finally explained it.
It gave me language for my nervous system, compassion for my past, and permission to stop trying to survive in ways that were never built for me.
From that reckoning came confidence.
From confidence came courage.
From courage came a business, a voice, and a life that actually fits.
My mental health isn’t perfect, but it’s honest.
And honestly, it’s never been better.
Turns out rock bottom was just the foundation.
Classic plot twist. 💗
02/11/2025
Steady Together: Optimising Regulation in Unpredictable Times https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/steady-together-optimising-regulation-in-unpredictable-times-tickets-1915915598129?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile
17/10/2025
Being watched can feel brutal.
For many autistic people, eyes on us crank the nervous system into high alert. It is not drama. It is hard.
A small personal example. If someone stands over me while I cook or bake, my chest tightens, my brain fills with static, and I get panicked and irritable. Ask me to show you how, and I slip into teacher role. With a clear purpose and boundaries, I am no longer just me on display, and I can cope.
If this is you, you are not difficult. Your body is protecting you. Go gently with yourself 🩷
Have you noticed a situation where being watched feels easier if you have a defined role Share below if you want to.
10/10/2025
For many Autistic and neurodivergent people, mental health is often misunderstood because what looks like “withdrawal” might be burnout, what’s called “overreacting” might be dysregulation, and what’s labelled “lazy” might be exhaustion.
On this World Mental Health Day, let’s expand the conversation.
Mental health support must be neuroaffirmative, accessible, and attuned to how different brains experience the world.
Let’s stop rejecting our community from mental health services because they’re Autistic, writing off struggle as simply a facet of the Autistic experience. Let’s stop asking people to “cope better” and start asking, “What does your nervous system need to feel safe?”
11/07/2025
What if we could help children face the return to school with confidence — not dread?”
That’s exactly the question we’ll be exploring in an upcoming webinar I’m honoured to be part of.
📅 Back to School Anxiety: Helping Children Thrive Through Change
🕛 Thursday, 21st August | 12–1pm
🎙️ Hosted by Nadim Saad, CEO of The Happy Confident Company
I’ll be joining a fantastic panel alongside:
🔸 Elaine Halligan – author, speaker and parenting coach
🔸 Jenni Honeyben – parenting coach specialising in deeply feeling, strong-willed children
Together, we’ll be diving into how to support children who experience anxiety around the return to school — including those facing emotion-based school avoidance (EBSA), sensory stressors, and transition overwhelm.
What we’ll cover:
✔️ How to talk to your child about their fears and anxious thoughts
✔️ Strategies for supporting those struggling with EBSA or fear of change
✔️ Practical, everyday tips to help make back-to-school a little less daunting
This one is especially close to my heart. As an autistic autism consultant and EBSA specialist, I’ve supported hundreds of families navigating these very challenges — and I know how heavy it can feel.
But I also know that with the right tools and understanding, children can feel safe again.
📌 Register now (free): https://bit.ly/HCCWEB_LC
Let’s help children return not just to school, but to a sense of confidence, connection, and calm.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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