Welcome to another episode of Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5 Today, we are excited to welcome Kristy Forbes, an Australian-based autism and neurodiversity support specialist with extensive national and international experience.

Kristy combines professional expertise with personal lived experience. Her background includes roles as an educator across all levels, an integration aide, and a childhood behavioural and family support specialist. Academically, she holds degrees in Political and Social Sciences, Education, and Literature, Film, and Art.

Diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, and with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Kristy is also a parent to four neurodivergent children with diverse profiles, including non-speaking autism, apraxia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s syndrome, and PDA. Her unique perspective as an individual, parent, and professional enables her to deeply understand and support neurodivergent families.

Kristy’s work is marked by empathy and compassion, shaped by her personal experiences with adversity, including leaving school at fifteen, facing addiction, family violence, homelessness, and becoming a parent at eighteen. These experiences inform her approach to parenting and support, emphasising the importance of valuing each individual’s unique experience.

In this episode, Kristy will share insights on the misunderstood experiences of neurodivergent individuals, her work in the PDA space, and her strategies for addressing PDA-related trauma and burnout. Her commitment to fostering understanding and support for neurodivergent communities offers invaluable insights for parents, educators, and professionals.

So, sit back, relax, and join us for an enriching conversation with Kristy Forbes on Mini Maestros Thrive 0-5.

To learn more, see Kristy’s website:

kristyforbes.com.au