Diffability Podcast: Supporting Families of Disabled Children Through Shared Experiences
Season 3 of the incredible Diffability podcast, hosted by Dadsnet, recently launched and we are thrilled to be a part of it again!
Finding reliable information and connecting with people who understand your experiences can make a huge difference when raising a disabled child or a child with additional support needs.
One resource that continues to support families across the UK is Diffability, a podcast created by Paul & Michael Atwal-Brice of Dadsnet.
As parents raising two sets of twins, including two children with autism and epilepsy, Paul and Michael bring personal experience, honesty, and humour to conversations about family life, disability, and parenting.
Real conversations and practical advice
Diffability explores a wide range of experiences that affect disabled children and their families. Through conversations with parents, advocates, charities, and specialists, the podcast provides practical advice and reassurance for listeners.
Topics covered throughout the series include:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Epilepsy
- Eating disorders
- Deaf sport
- Rare conditions and syndromes
- Family wellbeing and support
Importantly, the podcast focuses on real experiences and lived expertise. As a result, families can hear directly from people who understand the challenges and opportunities that come with raising a disabled child.
Helping families feel less alone
Many parents and carers can feel isolated when navigating diagnoses, education, healthcare, and everyday life.
Resources such as Diffability help create a sense of community. They provide opportunities to learn from others, discover support organisations, and hear stories from families facing similar situations.
Furthermore, these conversations help raise awareness and encourage greater understanding of the diverse experiences within the disability community.
The 6 episodes each focus on an individual ‘diffabilty’ that can affect children and their families.
Every episode serves as a rich source of guidance. It offers families valuable advice, insights from knowledgeable guests, recommending organisations for families navigating these conditions, and accessible avenues for assistance.
- Episode 1: Autism
Paul and Michael talk to Andrea from @mummyandherthree.autism on Instagram to talk about the realities of raising a child with autism. This is a subject very close to the guys’ hearts. She also gives us her top tips for parents of children with autism.
- Episode 2: ADHD.
In this episode, Michael and Paul tackle ADHD – a disorder that has been around forever, but only now are people starting to understand it fully.
They spoke to Katherine, who is @ADHD_coach_katherine on Instagram, and she is a specialist ADHD coach. They asked her all about diagnosis, and, of course, got her tips for parents raising children with ADHD.
- Episode 3: Epilepsy.
In this episode, the Atwal-Brices caught up with Rosie from Epilepsy Action, to talk about all things epilepsy. Rosie was a fantastic guest, with a lot of insight, and, of course, some fantastic tips for parents raising children with epilepsy.
- Episode 4: Eating Disorders.
Our lovely hosts spoke to Sandie at Beat to discuss some of the most common or prominent eating disorders. They also, of course, get her top tips for parents raising children facing one of these.
- Episode 5: Deaf Football.
Paul and Michael spoke to Claire Stancliffe – captain of the National Deaf Women’s Football Team. They spoke about how far society has come in relation to disabilities, and how much further we still have to go.
Of course, she also provided some fantastic tips about getting your children into sport where possible and some interesting insight into how the world of tech is helping disabled athletes
- Episode 6: Our Altered Life.
In the final episode, our hosts spoke to Charlie – she’s @ouralteredlife on Instagram – whose son Harry was born with Goldenhar syndrome. This causes facial disfigurement and often comes alongside autism and global learning delay.
She has some fantastic insight on how life changes when you’re raising a child with a disability, and how to get support on this journey you never expected to take!
Why this matters to Get Cycling CIC
At Get Cycling CIC, we work with many families who are exploring inclusive cycling options for the first time.
We understand that access to information, support, and shared experiences can be just as important as access to the right cycle. Because of this, we are proud to support initiatives that help families connect, learn, and build confidence.Discover more
Whether you are looking for practical advice, personal stories, or information about different conditions and experiences, Diffability offers a valuable resource for families and carers.
By sharing honest conversations and expert insights, the podcast continues to help families feel informed, supported, and connected.
Tune in here:
Published February 2024