Neurodiversity Parenting in Focus: Insights on Radio Islam International

On Radio Islam International’s New Horizons programme, host Faiza Manji spoke with Amanda Rogaly, CEO of BabyYumYum.com, about neurodiversity parenting and the upcoming Neurodiversity Parenting Workshop in Johannesburg, designed to equip families with practical and empowering tools.

About BabyYumYum.com

BabyYumYum.com is one of South Africa’s fastest-growing parenting platforms, covering everything from conception and nutrition to digital safety and family finances. Noticing a surge in questions about neurodiversity, the platform is convening a specialist workshop to help families navigate real-life challenges with clarity and a community to support them.

What neurodiversity means in plain terms

Neurodiversity describes the different ways brains process, sense, learn and socialise. It is not a defect narrative, but a wiring difference. Conditions commonly included are ADHD, ADD, autism, dyslexia and sensory processing differences. Many children once labelled “problem kids” were in fact neurodivergent. They simply lacked the recognition, support and encouragement they needed to thrive. While awareness has improved, stigma still lingers in many communities.

Why a workshop now?

Parents ask nuanced questions: does a diagnosis of ADD, autism or dyslexia fall under neurodiversity, which supports help, how to advocate at school, and how to protect confidence. Rogaly, herself a parent of neurodivergent children, emphasises that daily family life changes. Caregivers need practical strategies that come from people living the same reality, not only from headlines or hurried appointments. A shared space reduces isolation and replaces anxiety with usable know-how.

The power of community over isolation

Nothing feels heavier than facing your child’s struggles alone. Nothing feels more fortifying than meeting others who truly understand. Community offers perspective, tested tactics and a sense of belonging. It also normalises accommodations that help children regulate, concentrate and flourish, like seating shifts, extra time in tests or a simple fidget tool.

Confidence is often the first casualty

For neurodivergent children, processing information can sometimes take more time or effort, especially in certain learning environments. As a result, academic performance may dip, which can lead to a knock in self-confidence and self-belief. Peers sometimes amplify this with unkindness. Small, humane adjustments can change the trajectory. These may include preferential seating, bite-sized instructions, quiet testing rooms, or movement breaks. Guidance and empathy have the power to turn “difficult” into “different and capable”.

Numbers you’ll hear and how to read them

Some estimates suggest that up to two in five children may show signs of neurodivergence, but exact numbers vary, given how broad and diverse the spectrum is. What matters more than statistics is the commitment to early recognition, thoughtful support, and creating environments where every child can thrive.

Misinformation spreads fast

“Dr Google” can turn concern into catastrophe. This is why it is important to seek credible, expert-led sources and lived-experience communities. BabyYumYum.com curates evidence-informed content, and partners like The Neuroverse and NutriPaeds provide community forums and nutrition guidance to decode what food, sleep and sensory load can do to behaviour.

Everyday tactics that actually help

Crowded shops, missed snacks, and mental fatigue can overwhelm any child, and may be especially taxing for neurodivergent ones. To ease transitions and reduce stress, consider planning short errands, keeping simple activities like crayons or crafts on hand, and protecting mealtimes as predictable, calming moments. Acknowledge small achievements, spotlight strengths, and encourage structured hobbies (such as coding) that support organised thinking and skill-building over time.

Family dynamics need conscious recalibration

Different children need different parenting, although that can look uneven to siblings, make expectations explicit. Hold regular family check-ins, teach neurotypical siblings to be allies and guides, and celebrate non-academic achievements like kindness, persistence or community involvement. Children understand more than we think, so include them in the plan.

Inclusion must be explained, not just advertised

An “inclusive school” sign means little if peers and staff don’t understand what inclusion entails. Explain why a child sits in front or uses a scribe. Without context, classmates invent stories that become stigma. True inclusion requires training, open dialogue and visible structures that protect dignity.

Early identification changes lives

Notice patterns at home and feedback from teachers. Erratic handwriting, slow decoding, difficulty sustaining attention or avoidance of eye contact can be signals worth exploring. Early assessment unlocks accommodations, therapy options and self-knowledge that prevents the slide into shame, anxiety and risky coping. Neurotype can also shift with life stages and hormones, so remain observant across adolescence and adulthood.

Finance matters more than families expect

Neurodiversity often carries additional costs, such as evaluations, therapy, medication, specialised activities and foods. Financial planning is a kindness to your future self. Many families can claim qualifying expenses from SARS, yet don’t know it. Workshop partners like Old Mutual will unpack pathways that reduce the financial strain.

Johannesburg workshop at a glance

• Format: In-person, full-day learning and community
• Date: Saturday, 13 September
• Time: 08:00 to 14:30
• Venue: The Forum, Bryanston, Johannesburg
• What’s included: Expert talks across seven plus disciplines, Q&A, exhibitor expo, goodie bags, light lunch, networking with parents who “get it”
• Partners: BabyYumYum.com with Old Mutual, The Neuroverse, NutriPaeds, Logiscool and other specialists
• Info and tickets: BabyYumYum.com or purchase via Quicket
• Radio Islam International WhatsApp line for comments: 072 786 1548

Closing thought

Rogaly’s hope is simple and profound: replace fear with knowledge and replace isolation with community. Neurodiversity is not a label to hide. It is a lens that helps us see our children accurately and kindly. With the right information, modest accommodations and a village that understands, families move from firefighting to flourishing.

Listen to the full interview on Celebrating Every Mind: BabyYumYum.com and Old Mutual Unite for the Neurodiversity Parenting Workshop 2025 below.