Speaking, Media & Publications...
Powerful, practical conversations that challenge assumptions, deepen understanding and help create more inclusive experiences for neurodivergent children and young people.
Sara Donnelly is a former headteacher, SEND consultant, trainer, author and ADHD UK Ambassador. She speaks and writes on neurodivergence, inclusive education, emotional safety, reasonable adjustments and the barriers children can face in accessing school.
Combining professional expertise with lived experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman and parent, Sara brings honesty, insight and practical application to every conversation. She is particularly known for her work on autism and ADHD in girls, masking and safeguarding; while her wider work explores what meaningful inclusion looks like for all neurodivergent children.
Speaking, Media & Publications...
Powerful, practical conversations that challenge assumptions, deepen understanding and help create more inclusive experiences for neurodivergent children and young people.
Sara Donnelly is a former headteacher, SEND consultant, trainer, author and ADHD UK Ambassador. She speaks and writes on neurodivergence, inclusive education, emotional safety, reasonable adjustments and the barriers children can face in accessing school.
Combining professional expertise with lived experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman and parent, Sara brings honesty, insight and practical application to every conversation. She is particularly known for her work on autism and ADHD in girls, masking and safeguarding; while her wider work explores what meaningful inclusion looks like for all neurodivergent children.
Speaking and Conferences...
Speaking and Conferences...
Signature Speaking Topics Include...
When Compliance Becomes a Safeguarding Risk
Why the quiet, helpful and apparently compliant girl may not be safe and what educators need to understand about masking, fawning and vulnerability to exploitation.
Why Are We Still Missing Neurodivergent Girls?
An exploration of how autism and ADHD can present differently in girls, why outdated stereotypes continue to delay identification and what educators should notice sooner.
Emotional Safety Before Learning
How threat responses, demand avoidance, rejection sensitivity and previous experiences of school affect children’s capacity to engage, regulate and learn.
Reasonable Adjustments That Actually Work
Practical, achievable adjustments that reduce barriers without lowering expectations or treating support as a reward.
The Sensory Classroom
How sensory differences affect attention, regulation, behaviour and attendance and what schools can do to create more accessible environments.
Sessions can be adapted as keynotes, seminars, workshops, panel contributions, webinars or staff training.
Signature Speaking Topics Include...
When Compliance Becomes a Safeguarding Risk
Why the quiet, helpful and apparently compliant girl may not be safe and what educators need to understand about masking, fawning and vulnerability to exploitation.
Why Are We Still Missing Neurodivergent Girls?
An exploration of how autism and ADHD can present differently in girls, why outdated stereotypes continue to delay identification and what educators should notice sooner.
Emotional Safety Before Learning
How threat responses, demand avoidance, rejection sensitivity and previous experiences of school affect children’s capacity to engage, regulate and learn.
Reasonable Adjustments That Actually Work
Practical, achievable adjustments that reduce barriers without lowering expectations or treating support as a reward.
The Sensory Classroom
How sensory differences affect attention, regulation, behaviour and attendance and what schools can do to create more accessible environments.
Sessions can be adapted as keynotes, seminars, workshops, panel contributions, webinars or staff training.
Publications
Sara writes about neurodivergence, SEND, inclusive education and the experiences of children and families navigating systems that do not always understand their needs.
Autism and ADHD: What School Staff Need to Know but Were Never Taught
Sara’s forthcoming book for educators offers an accessible, honest and practical exploration of neurodivergence in schools. It brings together research, professional experience, children’s voices and lived experience.
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Coming in 2027.
SEN Magazine (July/August 2026) — The Compliant Child
Publications
Sara writes about neurodivergence, SEND, inclusive education and the experiences of children and families navigating systems that do not always understand their needs.
Autism and ADHD: What School Staff Need to Know but Were Never Taught
Sara’s forthcoming book for educators offers an accessible, honest and practical exploration of neurodivergence in schools. It brings together research, professional experience, children’s voices and lived experience.
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Coming in 2027.
SEN Magazine (July/August 2026) — The Compliant Child
Podcasts
Sara is an engaging and thought-provoking podcast guest who brings together professional expertise, personal experience and a genuine passion for improving the lives of neurodivergent children and families.
As a former headteacher, SEND consultant, trainer, author, ADHD UK Ambassador, late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman and parent of neurodivergent children, Sara can explore issues from several different perspectives. Her conversations are honest, accessible and grounded in the realities of schools, families and the wider SEND system.
Podcast topics can include:
✔️Autism and ADHD in education
✔️Why neurodivergent children are still misunderstood
✔️Masking, fawning and hidden distress
✔️Emotional safety and behaviour
✔️Reasonable adjustments and genuine inclusion
✔️SEND leadership and whole-school change
✔️Parenting neurodivergent children
✔️Late diagnosis and neurodivergent identity
✔️Safeguarding risks for neurodivergent young people
✔️Writing her forthcoming book for educators
Sara is equally comfortable joining a focused expert discussion, sharing personal experiences or taking part in a relaxed and wide-ranging conversation.
Previous podcast appearances include:
We Are Not Your Typical Podcast - listen here
Send_parenting Podcast - listen here
The Diaries of a SEND Parent - listen here
Heart Full Mind Heavy - listen here
Invite sara into your Podcast by emailing [email protected]
Podcasts
Sara is an engaging and thought-provoking podcast guest who brings together professional expertise, personal experience and a genuine passion for improving the lives of neurodivergent children and families.
As a former headteacher, SEND consultant, trainer, author, ADHD UK Ambassador, late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman and parent of neurodivergent children, Sara can explore issues from several different perspectives. Her conversations are honest, accessible and grounded in the realities of schools, families and the wider SEND system.
Podcast topics can include:
✔️Autism and ADHD in education
✔️Why neurodivergent children are still misunderstood
✔️Masking, fawning and hidden distress
✔️Emotional safety and behaviour
✔️Reasonable adjustments and genuine inclusion
✔️SEND leadership and whole-school change
✔️Parenting neurodivergent children
✔️Late diagnosis and neurodivergent identity
✔️Safeguarding risks for neurodivergent young people
✔️Writing her forthcoming book for educators
Sara is equally comfortable joining a focused expert discussion, sharing personal experiences or taking part in a relaxed and wide-ranging conversation.
Previous podcast appearances include:
We Are Not Your Typical Podcast - listen here
Send_parenting Podcast - listen here
The Diaries of a SEND Parent - listen here
Heart Full Mind Heavy - listen here
Invite sara into your Podcast by emailing [email protected]
Media
Sara is available for television, radio, print and digital media interviews, offering clear and informed commentary on SEND, neurodivergence, education and inclusion.
As a former headteacher, SEND consultant, ADHD UK Ambassador, author and parent of neurodivergent children, Sara combines professional knowledge with lived experience. She communicates complex issues clearly and brings an honest, human perspective to conversations about children, families and education.
Sara can provide commentary on topics including:
✔️Autism and ADHD in children and adults
✔️SEND provision and education policy
✔️Inclusion and reasonable adjustments in schools
✔️School attendance and emotionally based school avoidance
✔️Masking and hidden distress
✔️Behaviour, emotional safety and unmet need
✔️The identification of neurodivergent girls
✔️Safeguarding risks for neurodivergent young people
✔️The experiences of SEND families
✔️Late diagnosis and neurodivergent identity
Selected media coverage
ITV Regional News — SEND and the Lift the Lid campaign
The Sunday Mirror — SEND provision and families’ experiences - read here
Sara is available for planned features, expert commentary and time-sensitive media enquiries.
Media
Sara is available for television, radio, print and digital media interviews, offering clear and informed commentary on SEND, neurodivergence, education and inclusion.
As a former headteacher, SEND consultant, ADHD UK Ambassador, author and parent of neurodivergent children, Sara combines professional knowledge with lived experience. She communicates complex issues clearly and brings an honest, human perspective to conversations about children, families and education.
Sara can provide commentary on topics including:
✔️Autism and ADHD in children and adults
✔️SEND provision and education policy
✔️Inclusion and reasonable adjustments in schools
✔️School attendance and emotionally based school avoidance
✔️Masking and hidden distress
✔️Behaviour, emotional safety and unmet need
✔️The identification of neurodivergent girls
✔️Safeguarding risks for neurodivergent young people
✔️The experiences of SEND families
✔️Late diagnosis and neurodivergent identity
Selected media coverage
ITV Regional News — SEND and the Lift the Lid campaign
The Sunday Mirror — SEND provision and families’ experiences - read here
Sara is available for planned features, expert commentary and time-sensitive media enquiries.
Empowering families and schools with tools to support neurodivergent children through early recognition, inclusive practice, and practical, compassionate guidance.
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