Getting to Know the UNICUS Collective

Episode 4

SEASON 1

Bridging the Gap from Diagnosis to Brilliance

In this episode, I sit down with Yvonne Barker-Layton, Founder of UNICUS Collective and co-founder of '3 Busy Brains', to explore her journey from the high-stakes world of UK hedge fund management to neurodiversity advocacy. Long before labels were common, Yvonne was coaching 'mathematical geniuses' who were often misunderstood as arrogant when they were simply being honest

Yvonne shares the raw reality of her son Lorcan's diagnosis, including the 'grieving period' many parents face. Despite being told he might never speak, she refused to accept those limits. She became an 'expert' by necessity, spending years as a school trustee to master the 'legalities' of the 'SEND' system

Now in Dubai, Yvonne discusses the transition to homeschooling and the incredible progress Lorcan has made. Once predicted to struggle with communication, he is now a 'champion runner' preparing for his first triathlon. It is a powerful testament to what happens when we wrap the right 'support network' around our children

Our mission is to ensure no parent walks this path alone. We explore why it is vital to focus on 'brilliance' rather than negatives. As we wrap up, we reflect on Temple Grandin's words: "different but not less".

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