Yâel Clark, Developmental Psychologist

13/03/2026

Most of the things I’ve shared before are from the perspective of my daughter and our journey understanding autism. But this one made me pause in a different way.

As a parent who’s been digging deeper to understand and support my autistic child, posts like this help me momentarily see things through the lens of an autistic person.

I remember how I used to quickly tell people during gatherings that my daughter “doesn’t respond” when they tried talking to her because I don't want them to think that she's a snob or impolite (I'm that defensive lol). Now I realize it’s not that she doesn’t respond, she just communicates differently.

Even in conversations with Yael, there are times I hesitate to share how I perceive certain things about my daughter, thinking we might see it differently. But she always encourages me to share, and somehow she understands where I’m coming from while helping me learn something new. I’ve been grateful for that since day one.

Understanding is a process, and posts like this help me keep seeing things from a wider perspective.
- Jenny

Post from Yael on April, 2024

How would you feel if the way you naturally communicate and connect with others is taught as being rude and egocentric? How well would you communicate if you had to consciously and continually stifle your natural skills and use a social script?

26/02/2026

Food for thought (and hopefully, action!).

Link to the full post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVCRc23ETV5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

26/02/2026

Post 3 of 3.

THIS'LL TEACH ME TO SCHEDULE AN UNFINISHED POST!

Thanks for liking the image but I will come back soon to add the text! (Got derailed this week by family stuff.)

25/02/2026

Therapist to advocate.

Post 2 of 3.

Safety is how we create change. Without safety, change doesn’t happen. We know this as therapists and teachers alike: without relationship, there is no learning, no engagement, no depth where transformation can occur. We don’t force change—we create the fertile ground where it can grow.

The same is true for us as advocates. If we are too scared to speak because we might use an outdated term or forget to name every group, we become silent. And silence does not build movements. If we are held to impossible standards—especially those of us with limited capacity or executive functioning differences—fewer and fewer people will dare to step into the arena.

Surely relational safety is a fundamental value we hold as the type of human who goes into the healing professions. But it is easier to hold space for others in the therapy room; that is our role there. The dynamics with our colleagues are less clear, less structured. So when we become reactive, when we feel compelled to correct or criticise our colleagues, remember that a culture of respect between advocates is not optional; it is strategic. When we extend to one another the same affirmation, repair, and generosity we offer our clients, we create the conditions for collective courage. And collective courage is what makes us effective agents of change.

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This slide is from my presentation at NATCA and LOAPAC Expo '25.

22/02/2026

Therapist to advocate.

Post 1 of 3.

Advocacy benefits from many of the understandings and skills we use as therapists but the dynamics of the work are so very different and we have much to learn as we translate our clinical passion to effecting systemic change.

So much of therapy has traditionally been aimed at helping people cope with distress. There is an intrapersonal focus whereby the client is helped to change their thinking, their actions, and consequently their feelings.

Therapy has not aimed to make changes external to the client. In fact, we might well encourage change in the client and then they are thrown right back - after 50 minutes - into the very environment that wounded them or that perpetuates their distress.

Many therapists become advocates precisely because we can no longer be complicit in placing the burden of change on individuals when in reality their distress is a valid cry to change the environment.

We therapists are - by and large - not trained to work at the systemic level and our passion is not enough.

We want to treat the profoundly sick society but we cannot do this alone. This is community work. We must collaborate. We must unite.

As a therapist who sat for over 20 years in the therapy chair, one to one with clients, I have no training for this systems level work and neither do my colleagues.

We know it is actually a good sign when our clients react to society's ills with anger. Now how do we unite to heal society?!

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This slide is from my presentation at NATCA and LOAPAC Expo '25.

20/02/2026

Reading this post helped me put words to something I’ve been learning as a mum navigating my daughter’s recent diagnosis. That is, affirming her neurotype doesn’t mean denying the hard days. It means gently reminding her that when things feel overwhelming, it’s not because she isn’t enough. Sometimes the world just isn’t built with her in mind. - Jenny

Post from May 2024:

"To be affirming of the Autistic and ADHD neurotypes (and all neurodivergences, but I focus on these two), doesn't mean to only focus on strengths and to only celebrate our neurotype. It simply means that we accept this is a naturally occuring brain type and that it is part of the wider ecosystem of humanity (neurosystem, I guess!). Let's be real: it is bloody hard trying to manage in today's world as an Autistic or an ADHDer. Some days it's REALLY hard. Some days I wish I and my kids could just get a break already! When I see my children exhausted, stressed, or panicky, I want them to know that this is normal for us. It's not them. It's not our brains either. It's our brains in this school system and social network.
Imagine if all I ever did was say "Yay! Autism is the best!" and then when they would fall apart they would blame themselves and their personal failure to use their "superpower" (absolutely emphasise the quotation marks around that term please!). No, I want them to know that they haven't failed; that school and peers *are* often unfair to Autistics and ADHDers (AuDHDers). I want them to know that they can take a break, ask for help, accept accomodations. I want them to know that when they aren't given capable environments, their struggle is natural; not their fault.
Neurotypicals also struggle when their environment doesn't meet their needs. It just doesn't happen to them as often because their needs are society's default setting.
So, teach your kids to love their AuDHD strengths (even if they are not considered 'typical' strengths), to be kind to their needs, and to understand that we are working towards creating more capable environments for them. Validate their feelings if they express sadness or anger at being AuDHD. It's understandable to feel that when things are hard. But you can remind them of all that is wonderful about them and they will come out the other side of sadness (till next time). Protect your child's self image. Once the disability and difficulty are acknowledged and affirmed (in whatever language suits your child), they will process their distress and be open to more self-compassion and more ready to embrace their strengths."

09/02/2026

Reposting this because it truly resonated with me, not only through my work with Yael, but also as a parent of a child recently diagnosed with autism. 💙 I’m so grateful that out of so many VAs in the world, our paths crossed. She always says there’s a reason people are meant to work together.

I’ve been learning so much just by working with her and going through posts like this, and I hope it speaks to you too. - Jenny

Post from March, 2024:

I usually focus on Autism, ADHD and OCD, but I want to use this week to highlight that neurodivergent refers to all brain-based differences-to be more accurate- central nervous system differences. The differences might be in perceiving, processing, or expressing and they may be visible or invisible. The variation may be innate (from birth, genetic) or acquired (illness, injury) and may always express itself or might be expressed episodically.
You'd be correct if you concluded that there's no such thing as a 'typical' brain!
What we have is a society built on expectations, demands of some mythical typical human. The Law of Averages means that when we measure humankind, there *are* traits that show up most often (the middle of the bell curve), so we conclude that this is how a typical (i.e. correctly developing) human should be.
But these measurements occur at a point in time and measure one or a few variables; not all variables over a whole lifetime, and not in all demographics! In actuality, all humans diverge from this average at some point in their life and in one or more ways.
I suspect that 'typical' is whatever serves those in power. If you can contribute to their wealth then you are functioning well. If your neurology allows you to be efficient and productive and keep the wheels of society turning, then you are the benchmark from which others should not diverge. See how the definition is not a medical thing at all? It's about fitting in, conforming and being able to meet society's KPIs in education, employment, and in relationships.
So why the focus on neurodivergence and disability?
Because some of these variations cope with the demands of society better than others and because some divergences make it harder to participate in our society than others. Not being able to access education, employment, healthcare, community, well-being is to be disabled. Not being considered a valuable member of society (by those powers that be discussed above), is disabling.
To conclude for today: the term neurodivergent applies to much more than Autism and ADHD. Neurodivergence is not always a disability. Disability depends on degree/extent and context. Disability fluctuates.
Hot tip: please don't use the term neurodivergent as a synonym for Autistic! So many people do this and it is just incorrect. (If an individual doesn't want to disclose that they are Autistic then they may choose to say "ND" and that is perfectly understandable.)
Check out Sonny's graphic explainer below. Lived Experience Educator 🙂

31/01/2026

I don't have capacity to publicly unpack my earlier post. I have screenshot it all and will try to address the issues that came up in a future post. Or maybe I won't; the topic is too awful and we all bring our own lived experience as well as different knowledge bases, making it really difficult to talk about online.

One thing I think I can say for sure is that every single person who reacted and/or commented - in agreement or in opposition - is deeply affected by this tragedy and many of us are struggling to comprehend it. Everyone who commented wants only to protect children, to fight for families that are unsupported, and to hold those in power accountable for each and every tragedy.

To people who knew the family, I am sorry for your loss and for the online discourse which must be so painful to you and to which I contributed. I am sorry.

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Edited to add: please don't comment on this post. I can't see how to close comments as I do in groups. I will just have to hide or delete.

29/01/2026

I was thrilled to see this new sign at our GP's clinic today.

Sadly, our GP had no idea what the rainbow infinity symbol meant but it gave me the chance to tell him.

Performative or the beginning of real change? 🤔

25/01/2026

Please go to LOAPAC-Neurodiversity Affirming Psychologists Australia to see the links to many of the community events around Australia.

(Alt text is in the first comment below)

27/12/2025

Free/donation webinar about PDA.

Midday Feb 6 (AEDT)

Are you new to learning about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy)? Want a refresher on what PDA is and how to best accommodate it? Are you a teacher or practitioner looking to learn more about a learner or client?You've found the right place. This is a monthly webinar l...