Navigate Neurodiversity Occupational Therapy

04/11/2025

Thank You, The Bubble Community!💛

Over the past 6 months, 26 wonderful people have joined us for one or more sessions: crafting, chatting, board gaming, colouring, crocheting, sipping tea, making bracelets, and, most importantly, building connections our community truly needs.

Here’s what we’ve achieved together:

✨ Met 6 times,over 6 months

✨ 26 different people attended

✨ Between 3–14 people at each session

✨ 116 chatty messages shared in our group chat

✨Postive feedback from attendees and local social prescribers

It’s been such a joy to create and hold this space for you all. 💛

🌿 What’s Next?

I’m currently chatting with Monkey Park to see if they can host us for quarterly 2-hour sessions.

* If that works out, I’ll share the new plan here, in the group chat, and via email for everyone on the mailing list.

* If not, I’ll find us a new venue!

* We may also run occasional online craft & chat sessions in between.

☕ Worried About the Change?

Now that we’ve got a lovely little community, you don’t have to wait for official sessions to connect! You could arrange your own meetups, maybe a coffee shop hangout or a trip to the board game café. Please do use our group chat on WhatsApp or fb to help!

One of our members is even starting a pub group, so there are plenty of ways to stay connected between sessions. My hope is that The Bubble becomes our hub but that friendships continue to grow beyond it.

💬 Why the Change?

As an OT, I always talk about sustainable energy and self-care and it’s time I practice what I preach! After my recent surgery, it’s important for me to make sure the group remains sustainable long-term.

The feedback form results showed most people preferred quarterly, longer sessions- so we can all look forward to them, manage energy better, and enjoy a full 2 hours together (especially for those travelling from outside Chesterfield).

If you’d like to stay up to date on all things social group, OT resources, Access to Work support, and upcoming webinars, you can join the mailing list here: https://alexnavneuroot.substack.com

Thank you all again for being part of this amazing community, here’s to what’s next! 💛

23/09/2025

Today's headlines about paracetamol and autism are upsetting and frustrating. 💛

Our neurotype is a naturally occurring difference.

The constant barrage of headlines and societal messages that treat us as something to fear is utterly exhausting.

Enough of the eugenics. Enough of the misogyny. Enough of the attacks on people with ovaries.

We live in a world that wasn’t designed for neurodivergent minds. Autism doesn’t need fixing, it’s a vital part of human diversity.

You are valuable. You are whole. You are worthy of love exactly as you are. Full stop

We are not something to be “fixed,” “cured,” or “prevented.”

I’m angry for our community & for the parents who have been made to think they should feel guilty for taking painkillers (which did NOT make their child autistic) ❤️‍🩹

Sending care,
Alex

…..

16/09/2025

Yes! Such a great post. In particular I work with people who have ME/CFS or fibromyalgia very frequently.

The majority of my clients are autistic, ADHDers, dyslexic or dyspraxic (likely because these overlap with my lived experience) but I don’t exclude any neurotype from my services!

Neurodivergence is a lot larger/broader than a lot of people realise! Do read the post below 💛

14/09/2025

When I first got each of my diagnosis’s, I thought that was the finish line. Turns out, it was just the starting point and no one gave me a roadmap. So I decided to create one.

Something exciting is coming soon, and it’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost and said ‘now what?’ 💙

Follow along, you won’t want to miss this.

Alt: “Something exciting is coming January 2026” purple text on a white background with January 2026 highlighted in gold

14/09/2025

When I first got each of my diagnosis’s, I thought that was the finish line. Turns out, it was just the starting point and no one gave me a roadmap. So I decided to create one.

Something exciting is coming soon, and it’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost and said ‘now what?’ 💙

Follow along, you won’t want to miss this.

Text reads: Something exciting is coming January 2026

12/09/2025

The Bubble Social group Update: PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:

I wanted to share a little update about the group as we move towards the end of the year.

We’ll be finishing for a Christmas break after our November session, which means there are just the October and November sessions left in this round. I’d especially encourage you to come along in November if you can, so we can all be together, whether that’s for the last time this year, or potentially the last session of this pilot run.

June–November was always planned as a pilot to see how the group felt and to explore what the future might look like. I love running the group, but holding it monthly alongside work and post-op recovery hasn’t been sustainable for me. Rather than risk stopping completely if I burn out, in December, I am taking some time to think about what shape the group could take next.

Here are a few options I’m exploring for the new year:

👉Online version of the group (this has been highly requested).

👉A support group rather than a social group, online or in-person

👉Longer BUT less frequent in-person sessions (e.g. 2/3 hours every couple of months, perhaps alongside online?).

👉Seasonal/term-based blocks (e.g. Sept–Nov, then Mar–May, with breaks in between).

👉Quarterly drop-ins: more casual, longer 2-hour social gatherings instead of monthly meetings.

👉Occasional themed sessions: stand-alone events with different focuses (e.g. craft swap, board games, coffee social), so people can join whichever ones appeal.

Any other ideas let me know

I know uncertainty can feel tricky, so I want to reassure you that this isn’t a sudden or permanent ending. It’s simply me making sure the group can continue in a way that feels sustainable for everyone, myself included. As always, this group is molded by you, so Id like to take a vote to decide what the next step is!

I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know more. Whatever happens next, it’s been so special to see this group grow, and I’m really grateful for the energy and openness you’ve all brought. 💛

Have your say!!

Please use this form to share your thoughts about the group's future!

Here is the link to our anonymous feedback form. If you havent attended before you are still welcome to use the form, just skip the first page:
👉https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2FZYTZkzI7Id0VGKB_JJ7MLbAzbOvmnBGNb6VTnfaTUX59A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108354147536465000782

11/09/2025

I had to jump on this trend with some of my own!

Unfortunately I do love…
-pets interrupting sessions
-putting cute clip art of frogs, dogs & cats on client resources
-clients showing me their plushies
- a piping hot oat latte
-emails between sessions celebrating wins
-rotating between 3 drinks
-having a weighted plushy on my lap
-demonstrating fidgets/sensory items

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

31/08/2025

Chesterfield folk - our next meet up is next Sunday (7th September)

If you’d like to join us & haven’t booked in yet, pop me an email alex@navigateneurodiversityot.com letting me know and I’ll reserve your spot 🥳

Or sign up using the qr code in the photo

Do you have any questions? ❤️

More information here: www.navigateneurodiversityot.com/socialgroup

Can’t wait to see you!

Alex

10/08/2025

Thank you so much Wings Magazine for featuring our social group! 💛
As a Wingerworth-based OT running a not-for-profit group in Chesterfield, I’m really, really grateful for the support 🙌🏻💛💛💛
Just to clarify our group is open to all neurodivergent people, not just the neurotypes listed in the article.

P.S. The person-first language wasn’t my wording (as most of you know, I use identity-first). But I’m so appreciative to Wings for the kind shout-out 😄💛

08/08/2025

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

Text reads:

Hi everyone!

I will be off from the 9-26th August for Surgery and recovery.

Thank you for all your well wishes over the last couple of weeks, I really appreciate it.

you are welcome to email me but I will get back to you on my return. My PA Helen will help with any admin or booking queries via my email.

see you soon!
Alex

07/08/2025

I love this! I often suggest using natural items as fidgets 😍

Nature Fidgets

Seashells can be effective fidgets for some people.

Look around your home to see if you have any nature fidgets already
-We do not recommend taking from the beach
-Nature fidgets can be a useful alternative to purchased non-recyclable options