Ready Eddie Go: Nicole Bateman chats with Nikki Saunders

10/23/24 • 19 min

In episode 4 of Conversations with a SEND Mum Season 3, host Nicole Bateman chats with Nikki Saunders, an incredible mum of two autistic boys and the brilliant mind behind the TV series Ready Eddie Go on Sky Kids. Nikki shares her journey of becoming an author, driven by her desire to support her own children in understanding their autism diagnosis.

Key Highlights:

The Beginning of Nikki’s Journey: Nikki recalls a pivotal moment when she walked into a bookstore searching for a book that would help her son understand his autism diagnosis, only to find there was nothing available. Determined to fill this gap, Nikki decided to write a book herself—a decision that not only helped her son but also led her into the world of publishing.
Autistic Representation in Media: Nikki and Nicole discuss the importance of autistic representation in children's media, especially in helping neurodivergent children see themselves positively reflected on-screen. Nikki shares the creative process behind Ready Eddie Go and how she worked with the talented team at Hocus Pocus Studio to bring this ground-breaking series to life.
The Power of Storytelling for SEND Families: They also dive into how storytelling can be a powerful tool for helping children understand their differences, process emotions, and build confidence. Nikki’s passion for creating accessible content for all children shines through as she talks about her mission to make sure autistic kids see themselves in the stories they consume.

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Check out our Season 3 sponsor Rachel's 3 R's Subscription Box: Dedicated to helping SEND mums feel calmer and more relaxed by providing a box of products and online support for self-care. Follow on www.instagram.com/rachelsthreerssubscriptionbox and use the code NICOLE10 for 10% off your first order at https://rachel-s-three-r-s.subbly.me/
Check out our Season 1 and 2 sponsor The Super Sensory Squad who support kids in understanding the eight sensory systems and emotional regulation using their penguin squad at: www.thesupersensorysquad.com and www.instagram.com/thesupersensorysquad

Key Highlights:

The Beginning of Nikki’s Journey: Nikki recalls a pivotal moment when she walked into a bookstore searching for a book that would help her son understand his autism diagnosis, only to find there was nothing available. Determined to fill this gap, Nikki decided to write a book herself—a decision that not only helped her son but also led her into the world of publishing.
Autistic Representation in Media: Nikki and Nicole discuss the importance of autistic representation in children's media, especially in helping neurodivergent children see themselves positively reflected on-screen. Nikki shares the creative process behind Ready Eddie Go and how she worked with the talented team at Hocus Pocus Studio to bring this ground-breaking series to life.
The Power of Storytelling for SEND Families: They also dive into how storytelling can be a powerful tool for helping children understand their differences, process emotions, and build confidence. Nikki’s passion for creating accessible content for all children shines through as she talks about her mission to make sure autistic kids see themselves in the stories they consume.

Previous Episode

DLD Awareness Day: Nicole Bateman chats with Tamara Holland

In this episode of Conversations with a SEND Mum, Nicole Bateman is joined by Tamara Holland from Dot and Stripe Marketing to raise awareness for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) on DLD Awareness Day. Tamara, a passionate advocate and parent of a child with DLD, shares her personal journey and the challenges of navigating life with a diagnosis that is often misunderstood or overlooked.

Key Highlights:

What is DLD?: Tamara breaks down what Developmental Language Disorder is, explaining how it affects children’s ability to understand and use language, and why it’s often misdiagnosed or confused with other learning differences.
Tamara’s Journey: Tamara discusses her experience as a parent of a child with DLD, from the early signs and diagnosis to advocating for support in education and daily life. She emphasises the importance of early intervention and understanding the unique needs of children with DLD.
Raising Awareness and Creating Change: Nicole and Tamara talk about the importance of raising awareness for DLD, especially on days like DLD Awareness Day, to ensure that children with this condition receive the support and recognition they deserve. Tamara also shares tips for parents and educators on how to help children with DLD thrive.

Next Episode

Simple Self Care For Parent Carers: Nicole Bateman chats with Rachel Slyfield

In Episode 5 of Season 3 of Conversations with a SEND Mum, Nicole Bateman sits down with Rachel Slyfield, founder of Rachel’s 3 R’s Subscription Box, who shares her journey as a SEND mum and her passion for self-care. Rachel opens up about her experience navigating the diagnosis process with her son, Teddy, and the ways she’s learned to balance parenting, self-care, and running her business.

Key Highlights:

Rachel’s Journey with Teddy: Rachel recounts the challenges she faced during her son’s diagnosis process, offering insight and encouragement for other parents on a similar path. Her story resonates with many, reflecting the unique emotional and logistical hurdles SEND parents encounter.
Sustainable Self-Care as a Single Parent: As a single parent, Rachel discusses her commitment to fitting in regular self-care and how it supports her wellbeing and resilience. She shares practical strategies for creating sustainable self-care practices that don’t require extensive time or resources -something that has been central to her journey.
Building Rachel’s 3 R’s: Inspired by her own experiences, Rachel launched Rachel’s 3 R’s Subscription Box, designed to help SEND mums find moments of escape, reflection, and rejuvenation. Rachel and Nicole talk about the subscription’s focus on wellness and how each box includes curated items and masterclasses that encourage self-care for busy mums.

Conversations with a SEND Mum - Ready Eddie Go: Nicole Bateman chats with Nikki Saunders

Transcript

00:02:08.909

Hello, and welcome to Conversations with an SEND Mum, with me as your host, Nicole Bateman. Today, I am joined by Nikki Saunders, who is an amazing author, SEND Mum, and also creator of Ready, Eddie, Go! So welcome. Hi, thanks so much for inviting me. That's all right. So can I just ask you to start off? What is your connection to the SEND community, please? So my connection is I have two lovely boys who are both autistic. My eldest is now 14. He was diagnosed when he