In celebration of Autism Awareness Week, please join Sarah Hayden who will be in conversation with Alex Sloan on her latest book Parenting Different How to raise your neurodivergent kids to be their authentic, awesome selves. Murdoch Books

About the Book

Everything you've ever wanted to know about parenting (and celebrating!) your neurodivergent child from parenting expert, social worker and mother of five Sarah Hayden.

'This is the book l wish l'd had when my daughter Chloé was diagnosed autistic. The book l wish l'd had when l was parenting any of my children as they faced challenges or didn't fit the "norm". I've written it for every parent who wants to encourage and affirm their children for who they are, not who they're meant to be.' – Sarah Hayden

Parenting can be hard. Parenting a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical world can be even harder. But know you are not alone – all the reassurance, guidance and support you need is right here. Sarah Hayden, social worker, mother and neurodivergent human herself, helps you unlearn everything you thought you needed to know about parenting neurodivergent kids. Covering diagnosis, family life, siblings, schooling, puberty, therapy, food, peer relationships and so much more, Sarah provides new ideas and practical tools on how to support your child to be their best and most authentic self. Equipped with both professional expertise and hard-earned learnings from her own parenting journey, she also shares the story of her daughter Chloé Hayden's autism and ADHD diagnoses and how that transformed her expectations and parenting. There are insights from Chloé herself, Q&As addressing the questions Sarah is most commonly asked by parents and Sarah's own story of adult diagnosis.

With warmth, humour and just a little bit of sparkle, Parenting Different shows you how to help your neurodivergent child not just survive but thrive in a neurotypical world.

About Sarah Hayden

Sarah Hayden is a qualified social worker and equine-assisted psychotherapist, and Mayor of Golden Plains Shire. Sarah's professional expertise focuses on autism, neurodivergence, adoption, fostering and complex family dynamics. She is also mum to five amazing kids, including world-renowned actor, author and autism advocate Chloé Hayden, and her youngest two were adopted through intercountry adoption from Taiwan. Sarah and her husband have also fostered 55 children and, as a dedicated volunteer, Sarah has counselled refugees and asylum seekers. She also provides emotional support and psychological first aid to disaster-affected people particularly during bushfire seasons. Sarah is neurodivergent herself, having finally (and not surprisingly) been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 48.

About Alex Sloan

Alex Sloan AM has been a journalist for over 30 years, including as a long-time broadcaster with the ABC. Alex, who was named Canberra Citizen of the Year in 2017, is deputy chair of The Australia Institute and a director of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

About the Event

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Registration is required for this event.
Accessible parking spaces directly below the Harry Hartog ANU Bookshop are available should you require them. Kambri ANU / Parking
If you do not feel well, please refrain from attending this event.
Disability Access available - please ask in-store.