Meet Nicola Carey-Shine (MSc Psychology, 2021). Nicola is an extraordinary member of the CCCU Alumni community, whose successes include selling her home to found a special needs school in Canterbury, winning a National award against 90,000 nominees across the UK, appearing on both BBC and ITV, and authoring a children’s book about the neurodiverse brain with Usborne publishers. She is deeply committed to promoting genuine, active inclusion, with aspirations to spread this message across the United Kingdom and eventually to an international audience.

She recalls her remarkable journey below.

After training as a teacher at CCCU in 2007/8 I became a secondary school teacher and Deputy Head for over a decade, working with children at high risk of exclusion, often as a direct result of undiagnosed learning difficulties. Obviously, a child with a broken leg wouldn’t drag themselves across school because someone forgot a ramp. It’s equally unacceptable to ignore invisible disabilities. I am acutely aware of these struggles due to my own severe ADHD, and my family household is completely neurodiverse.

Whilst on maternity leave, I quit my role as a Deputy Head. I wanted to create my own authentic SEN space, away from managers constantly assessing children in one rigid form of intelligence. (This also became the seed to eventually study my MSc in Psychology). My own son inspired me; how could I ensure he thrive, not merely survive, education? In between nursing my 12 week old and his naps, I taught myself how to make a website to support other neurodiverse families. Within 3 months, I had built up a full cohort of students, whilst my then 6 month baby played and cuddled with students as we worked.

Over time, a pattern appeared of missing key skills and confidence in existing in the wider world. My services grew to include life-skill workshops and talks from inspirational neurodiverse speakers. One day included us learning about the body by pumping real sheep lungs on the kitchen side with a visiting doctor, learning to play steel drums, and a visit by blind Paralympian Tim Prendergast, who brought us his gold medals to hold. During this time, I decided to undertake training in Speech and Occupational therapy so that my non-verbal students could not only learn, but feel safe to communicate. I felt honoured, when they were ready, to hear them speak again (or, sometimes for the very first time!).

Just before the pandemic arrived, local families told me of up to 7 year waiting lists to be assessed for Autism and ADHD, which felt distressing and redundant. From 2021 (and the pandemic!), I returned to CCCU to undertake a Psychology MSc, which really underpinned many of the neurological complexities I was seeing in my day job.

Every day I continued to hear of children being managed out of their schools or being excluded without reasonable adjustments, which infuriated me. I continued to train in psychotherapy, and became a certified ADHD clinical services provider. This has finally allowed me, as a healthcare professional, to support adults and children, reducing waiting lists down from years to months. During this time, as I watched my own beautiful, neurodiverse children developing into intelligent, unique individuals, I was ready for the next step.

After two relentless years fundraising and saving, we sold our house and put our life savings into a piece of land here in Canterbury. This has become our ‘magical’ forest for my students (aged 3–85). We now have a safe space caring for chickens, rabbits, and our therapy puppy. Students now grow their own produce, collect and sell eggs. Students left on the periphery of education can access bespoke, multi-modal and therapeutic learning.

One of the most memorable moments of my career is when a non-verbal autistic student suddenly took my hand and said ‘Love you Nic-la’. Well, you can imagine my reaction! I adore my ‘work’ which feels like being with family. I advocate and represent families and students in seeking educational health care plans, help them complete arduous disability forms, and ensure rights and adjustments are observed in schools. In the evenings I support adults using ADHD/ASD coaching so that they can boost their productivity and feel extremely confident in their authentic identity.

In 2022, we were visited and filmed by the BBC and went on to win the ‘Make a Difference’ award, which really helped raise awareness of these hugely important endeavours. As I remind my students, the fact that we all struggle with hidden disabilities makes us superheroes, so it was for them I appeared on BBC breakfast dressed as Wonder Woman! I continue to be contacted by the BBC to offer my thoughts on special needs curriculum and advocacy in our local area of Kent.

Last year, I was approached by publishers Usborne books to act as their specialist advisor on a new series helping others to understand the science of neurodiversity. It will cover difference in brain activity and behaviours, and how to authentically support the neurodiverse students in EVERY class from nursery to doctorate level! Everyone deserves to fulfil their fullest potential and the book will offer support for both families and teachers, for use in the classroom and at home. This is due out at the end of the year and I will ensure I post a copy to CCCU and hopefully some extra copies for the University library. I am extremely passionate about spreading this message of genuine, active inclusion first across the UK, and then beyond to an international audience.

Also in 2023, I am delighted to share that I won the National Diversity award, from a selection of 90,000 nominees across the UK. The award was presented by Clare Balding OBE, who was extremely vociferous and supportive of our cause. This was a hugely proud moment, and was broadcast live. This provided us with further coverage on the ITV news channel, who visited us to make a short film anout our school. Following this exposure I received a tsunami of emotional emails and messages that proved my work is connecting with so many thousands of families that desperately need representation.

Our struggles and triumphs are felt as a family. It is my life’s work to ensure every neurodiverse individual is empowered to reach their full potential. I believe strongly that in the power of collaboration, and with the rooting of community we can make seismic change.