What if parenting your Autistic or PDA child didn’t feel so overwhelming — and you finally had support that honours your family?

I’m Chantal Hewitt — a PDA autistic, ADHD mother of three, including a PDA autistic son; an experienced educator with more than a decade in early childhood education and development; and a Family Autism & PDA Support Coach for parents who feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or quietly isolated as they try to make sense of their child’s needs.

I created Attuned Spectrum for families navigating intense emotions, explosive behaviour, sensory differences, anxiety-driven demand avoidance, burnout, shutdowns, masking, or a child who feels “different” but doesn’t fit traditional descriptions of Autism. Many parents who find this podcast don’t yet know whether their child is PDA — they just know the usual advice hasn’t worked. If that’s you, you’re in exactly the right place.

This isn’t a behaviour podcast.It’s a connection-first, nervous-system-first, neurodiversity-affirming space for parents raising children with persistent drives for autonomy, big emotional worlds, misunderstood sensory needs, and nervous systems overwhelmed by a world that wasn’t built for them.

In each episode, I gently guide you through:

• what Autistic and PDA behaviours really communicate • how to reduce demand anxiety and daily power struggles • how to support your child through meltdowns and shutdowns • how to co-regulate when you feel overstimulated yourself • how to advocate at school when no one else understands • how to recognise Autistic and PDA burnout in children • how to create a calmer, safer, more attuned home

And lastly, and very importantly, how to hold space for yourself, your overwhelm, and your nervous system. Because without this foundational aspect and care towards yourself, it becomes increasingly unsustainable to show that care to your family. 

Whether your child is diagnosed, suspected, or you’re simply trying to understand explosive behaviour or daily overwhelm, this podcast will help you make sense of your child’s inner world and support them in ways that truly work.

You deserve guidance that fits your child, compassion for your own nervous system, and a community that understands the unique challenges of raising Autistic and PDA children.

You’re not alone anymore.

Let’s walk this together — one attuned moment at a time.