Kirsty Heap is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and neurodiversity advocate who helps individuals and organisations create environments where people can truly thrive. Drawing on her lived experience of dyslexia, she empowers business owners and leaders to understand their strengths, build confidence, and grow sustainably.

Kirsty is also the author of Silent Snow, a picture book without words, designed to help you create your own stories with your children. Each page is filled with beautiful illustrations to spark your imagination, making storytime fun and personal. Whether reading has always felt tricky, or you just want to try something different, Silent Snow gives you the freedom to tell stories your own way.

The idea for Silent Snow came from Kirsty's own experiences as a dyslexic parent. She used to find reading to her children difficult, and when she stumbled over words, she felt like she was letting them down. But instead of giving up, she started making up her own stories based on their lives and the little adventures they had. Bedtime soon became one of their favourite times of the day.

Takeaways:

The podcast emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing the strengths associated with dyslexia, rather than merely focusing on the challenges.
Kirsty Heap shares her personal journey as a dyslexic parent, highlighting her creative storytelling as a means of connecting with her children.
There is a significant need for educational systems to adapt and provide personalized learning experiences for neurodivergent students.
The discussion reveals how the implementation of technology, such as dictation software, can greatly enhance learning outcomes for individuals with dyslexia.
Kirsty reflects on the profound effect of positive reinforcement and constructive feedback in fostering self-esteem among students with learning differences.
The episode advocates for greater transparency and openness among educators regarding their own neurodivergent experiences to better support their students.

Chapters:

00:00 - Understanding the Weight of Expectations
00:18 - Creating Stories from Imagination
13:12 - Navigating Dyslexia: Challenges and Strategies in Education
26:41 - The Importance of Personalized Learning
39:55 - The Impact of Feedback in Coaching and Education

https://kirstyheap.com/

https://kirstyheap.com/silentsnow/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyheap/

https://www.instagram.com/kirstyheapcoaching/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

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