Olga Pavlova Founder of Puzzle Tree Academy, Autism & ADHD Mama, Neurodiversity Educational Therapist, Coach and Mentor. 

A bit of personal story: 

At four years old, my daughter was diagnosed with Autism and several other neurological conditions, including speech delay, global developmental delay, dyspraxia and dyslexia. Our paediatrician said I'd have to 'accept this as a lifelong condition. We are not exactly sure what causes Autism, and no treatment can help effectively. I was devastated. 

My daughter couldn't sleep through the night but would nap throughout the day from exhaustion. This irregular sleep pattern left the rest of the household sleep-deprived. 

She had no eye contact or means of communication, just screaming, pointing, grabbing and pulling me to the object of her interest. She was still wearing nappies, and I couldn't figure out how I would ever potty-train her. 

She was an extremely fussy eater, and when she did eat, she could barely find her mouth with a spoon. 

We avoided public places and shops as much as possible; buses and playgroups were too overwhelming for my daughter. She would invariably have a 'meltdown' in public, which we had daily, even at home! 

We tried so many therapists—speech and language, occupational, and cranial therapies are just a few. Nothing seemed to work. 

I began to doubt myself; my partner could not cope, and our relationship could not survive the strain. I blamed myself because I thought I must be doing something wrong! I felt isolated and lonely. I had a child who couldn't integrate into society and was afraid she would never have a "normal" life. I also worried about my other children and how it would impact their lives. 

I hope you can relate my experience to what is happening in your family up to this point. 

I decided to accept that "normal" as I knew it had changed. It was time for a new beginning. I realised I did not know this 'new life. I began to ask myself some serious questions: 

How can I evolve to parent this beautiful and unique individual? 
How can I help my child and me to thrive instead of simply surviving? 
How can I make my daughter's and my life easier? 

I didn't have the answers, so I became a student. I was determined to find the answers that might help my child and my whole family. 

I began reading, researching, trying, failing, crying, learning and reading repeatedly. We experienced wonderfully positive results in some aspects of our lives, but we also experienced lapses or regressions. 

The results were not sustainable, and the process left me exhausted and burnt out! All I wanted was a Neurodiversity Parent User Manual — a step-by-step guide with everything I needed to do, what I should avoid, and how to prioritise everything to get the best results. 

So, I set out to create one! 

I changed my career to become a specialised educator and coach. I set up a specialised childcare provision, moved to another country, and met with hundreds of specialists and other parents. 

In Switzerland, I met Irina Schurov, and we instantly clicked. Irina’s and my independent research, combined with our experience of wins and failures, suddenly made sense. We co-founded the STARS Association (Swiss Team for Autism Resources & Solutions) for parents and professionals with neurodiverse conditions. 

Working together alongside other Neurodiversity professionals, we confirmed what worked, what didn't and why. This research helped develop the Rebalanced Child with Neurodiversity Implementation Programme, and Puzzle Tree Academy was born.

Founder of: 

Puzzle Tree Academy - UK 
Magical Garden (Specialised Childcare Provision) - UK 
STARS Association - Switzerland 

Experience: 

Care for the Carers - UK Charity 
EggTooth - UK Charity 
DRI (Diversity Resource International) - UK Charity 
PAGS - Educational Profiling UK / Netherlands 
BACA Academies Trust - UK 
Autism Europe - Charity - Italy 
Autism Connect - Charity - India 

* As a Consultant in Special Education Needs, Olga combines personal and professional experience working with children, parents and organisations, delivering training, mentoring and awareness about autism and neurodiversity in general. Olga has dyslexia herself, and three out of four of her children have complex Neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, global developmental delay and associated social and behavioural challenges. This life experience makes her a solution-based yet compassionate expert in SEN, Neurodiversity and behaviour management. 

* Olga has 16+ years of professional experience ranging from SEN childcare provision management for ages 6 months to 12 years old to mentoring and coaching parents and educators of SEN children. 

* Olga founded a specialised Ofsted (UK government-regulated) childcare provision primarily for children with autism and speech delay in 2008. She is also the Founder of Puzzle Tree Academy - an educational platform for families, professionals and youth with autism, and Co-Founder of STARS Association (Support Team For Autism Resources and Solutions) in Switzerland. Specialisations: 

● Behaviour Management / Crisis support / Transitioning - educational and family changes 
● Mentoring, coaching, advocacy, awareness training, providing resources and inspiring independent research 
● In-depth neuronurturing, PAGS and TEACCH assessment and profiling (TTAP) with implementation support 

Additional education and qualifications 

• 2018 Five-Day TEACCH training - The University of North Carolina 
• 2018 TTAP - TEACCH Transitioning Assessment Profile - US 
• 2017 Neurodiversity in adulthood - CH 
• 2017 50 hours of professional development in Innovation in education LAS CH 
• 2017 Transition from teens to adulthood (Autism) - 
• 2017 CH 2014 EFT Practitioner (Emotional Freedom Technique) CH 
• 2013 Child Protection Levels 1 & 2 (UK) 2012 Certified Life Coach AUNLP (US) 
• 2012 NLP Practitioner AUNLP (US) 
• 2012 Z Factor Master Trainer Joseph Mc Clendon III 
• 2011 Paediatric First Aid (UK) 2011 CASHE Level 3 Diploma Childcare (UK) 
• 2010 Z Factor Wellness Coach (Joseph Mc Clendon III) CH 
• 2009 Youth Leadership Coaching Diploma (Coaching Academy UK) 
• 2009 Makaton Level 2 Early Years Training (UK) 
• 2009 Supporting Children’s Development, Speech & Language (UK) 
• 2009 Food Safety & Catering Hygiene Level 2 (UK) 
• 2009 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Early Identification Training 
• 2008 Reiki Healer Level 1 and 2 
• 2006 Makaton Level 1 Early Years Training (UK) 

To find out more, go to https://puzzletreeacademy.com or find them on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/PuzzleTreeAcademy/