Ready Eddie Go: Nicole Bateman chats with Nikki Saunders

In episode 4 of Conversations with a SEND Mum Season 3, host Nicole Bateman chats with Nikki Saunders, an incredible mum of two autistic boys and the brilliant mind behind the TV series Ready Eddie Go on Sky Kids. Nikki shares her journey of becoming an author, driven by her desire to support her own children in understanding their autism diagnosis.

Key Highlights:

• The Beginning of Nikki’s Journey: Nikki recalls a pivotal moment when she walked into a bookstore searching for a book that would help her son understand his autism diagnosis, only to find there was nothing available. Determined to fill this gap, Nikki decided to write a book herself—a decision that not only helped her son but also led her into the world of publishing.
• Autistic Representation in Media: Nikki and Nicole discuss the importance of autistic representation in children's media, especially in helping neurodivergent children see themselves positively reflected on-screen. Nikki shares the creative process behind Ready Eddie Go and how she worked with the talented team at Hocus Pocus Studio to bring this ground-breaking series to life.
• The Power of Storytelling for SEND Families: They also dive into how storytelling can be a powerful tool for helping children understand their differences, process emotions, and build confidence. Nikki’s passion for creating accessible content for all children shines through as she talks about her mission to make sure autistic kids see themselves in the stories they consume.

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Check out our Season 3 sponsor Rachel's 3 R's Subscription Box: Dedicated to helping SEND mums feel calmer and more relaxed by providing a box of products and online support for self-care. Follow on www.instagram.com/rachelsthreerssubscriptionbox and use the code NICOLE10 for 10% off your first order at https://rachel-s-three-r-s.subbly.me/

Check out our Season 1 and 2 sponsor The Super Sensory Squad who support kids in understanding the eight sensory systems and emotional regulation using their penguin squad at: www.thesupersensorysquad.com and www.instagram.com/thesupersensorysquad

Transcript

2:08

Hello, and welcome to Conversations with an SEND Mum, with me as your host, Nicole Bateman. Today, I am joined by Nikki Saunders, who is an amazing author, SEND Mum, and also creator of Ready, Eddie, Go! So welcome. Hi, thanks so much for inviting me. That's all right. So can I just ask you to start off? What is your connection to the SEND community, please? So my connection is I have two lovely boys who are both autistic. My eldest is now 14. He was diagnosed when he was three, which seems like so long ago now. My youngest, he's. Nine and he was diagnosed this August, actually. Very different boys, but still, yeah, still have their needs blessed them. Excellent. So as a mum to two autistic children, what can you tell me a about That earlier time back, maybe when Tyler was younger, how you felt and what you did about it. Of course. So my eldest, my first, you're new to all these things and I think there were many things actually. He was the most bright, engaging, happy baby. He was beautiful. You wish you could just go back there sometimes, they're amazing. But yeah, we had some challenges around food. I'm quite young, and I would say by the age of one, he definitely would just have age food. You know, that would be great. You say food would be couscous, some chicken, cheese sandwiches, and I can remember saying to the health visitor, what am I doing wrong? I'm trying really hard here. He used to eat everything and what have I done differently? And I think she said to me, well, we all have a bit of OCD. I thought, I know it's not that. So I guess I felt a little bit alone there. But then as time went on, that didn't change. He used to eat absolutely everything. It was my first child so I enjoyed it. Whipping it all up. You know, I had a bit of a hard time back then. Additionally to that, there was also other things, so we're going to the supermarket and the noise would be too much for him, the lighting, the environment, it just felt chaotic so he used to be quite upset and I can remember someone saying to me, oh he must be tired and you kind of think, okay, I'll nod at you but you don't understand it's, it is difficult. And that's okay. And I think along the way there were lots of other things and he loved to spin wheels. It was his favorite stim. Precious thing ever. And I can remember my dad actually taking a wheel off of his hoover or lawnmower, I think, just so he could play with it and take it home in the car. That's so sweet. There was lots of things, Obviously, you don't end up going to the same baby groups and toddler groups as other people because you're trying to find where you're child's most happy. So yeah, lots of those things kind of added up and we went on what you'd call a waiting list and you get passed around. So we went to speech and language, who, who then referred us actually, because you could see by that point, you've been passed around to a lot of people like a hot potato now you need some more support here. Yes, and he was diagnosed when he was three. Yeah. And so when, you know, when you got that diagnosis, like a lot of people potentially listening who've got some kind of diagnosis, was there support there that you found? Let's be honest. So I think like many people in this, in this situation, you're giving it a leaflet. So in society it can be so isolating until you find someone else in a similar position to you that really understands and you need that. That hands on experience for someone else to relate to and to actually feel a bit better and less alone and to share what's going on. But also I think because of that, lack of support, I went online and I think there was a well known baby group at the time and there was a section for parents of children with autism. And there was about four people in there and nobody posted. Whereas today, I can reach out and speak to so many parents and just, we can all just connect So that's lovely. Yeah. That's good. We had a little chat before we recorded this podcast, so I want to take you back to tell us a little bit about going into a bookshop. Why did you go into a bookshop? What were you looking for and what did that ignite in you? Oh, this, this is the bit that changed our lives, I think, and hopefully many others. that would just be wonderful. So, obviously, you're giving your leaflet and you're left alone and you're reaching out to people online, there's no one there. So I thought, okay, I'll read a book. And I went to the bookshop and I thought, actually, I need something for my son to look at for when he's older and just explore general differences. And there wasn't anything. Now, by the time Tyler was nine, He, was struggling a little bit in mainstream actually, and he really wanted to explore general differences, his diagnosis, and he had lots of questions about his peers in class, why do they see things differently to me, and that's absolutely fine. So I went back to these bookshops and I, Couldn't find anything. All I could see was a huge gap for inclusion. And I asked the assistant if they had any lovely, vibrant, happy books for children to learn about their autism diagnosis or neurodiversity in general, different we can see and can't see. And she said, we don't stock that sort of book. And it really bothered me. I felt hurt, not for me, but for my child. And I don't want anyone else to go in there and think, well, there's, there's nothing for us. We're on our own. So as with anything, because as Tyler's language improved and his receptive language improved as he got older and he could communicate back his needs in some ways, sometimes it was really important for me to meet that need. It was really important for me to see what I could do. So as most of us send moms, we learn different occupations. So I decided to write my own and I researched and I had lots of paper everywhere, scribbled notes, stick men, which he really laughed at. And, post it notes and stuck in pictures of celebrities who had a diagnosis, I could say, look, look what they've achieved or business, whatever, be anything you want to be. So I went on to publish the book for him and I was really nervous. I thought, I hope I've got this right because I want him to read it. But at the same time as applying a diagnosis visually and taking his time, I wanted him to feel comfortable. So loved, so valued, so encouraged. Look at your abilities. Yes, you'll struggle and I'll be there for you. But there'll be times where, Hey, I'm really good at this. And we'll celebrate that. We read the book. I'll try not to get emotional. But it was just the most amazing reaction I had ever seen in him. He just, he beamed. He beamed and he said, Wow! As he looked at this character, He related to. He said, does that mean I don't have to understand all this stuff anymore? And I could just see the relief leave him. It was just incredible. And because I'd made our character Eddie look like Tyler, just to help us help us along the journey and relate to the story. I think he really loved that. And he felt represented. There was a Lack of representation in books, non telly, and I didn't mean to, to kind of help fill that but I'm really, really pleased we did authentically, we named Eddie after Tyler's great grandfather who passed away shortly after he was born, so everything about this has got an aspect of family members and a personal approach to it because it's, it's person led, it's child led, and that's how everything should be. Yeah, it was just the most amazing experience and from that I went on to, to publish and share with the rest of the world, build up my social media from about one person to four. I was really excited. I was like, wow, I can do that and I can share this with you and it was amazing for me. I want it to be amazing for you. I don't want any other parent to feel half the things I think I've experienced and felt along the way. It's tough. Yeah. But yeah, it's the first book out there, and from that, it really is just the beginning, I think. Definitely. Yeah, hearing that story of, your story just then, before we recorded and now we're recording, made me tear up both times. Because it's so important, like seeing your child feel represented and just understanding, that actually, yeah, our brains process in different ways and that's okay. Like there's nothing, there's all this deficit model and all of those things in the medical world, but it's not wrong. Like we just process things in different ways and some things, yeah, we find tricky, but other things we're actually smashing it amazing at. So do me. It's great. I'll never, I'll never see it as a negative. Of course there'll be barriers, but those barriers are only put there from society. Exactly. Our children and adults can do so much, and I just I really hope that Eddie helps children and adults believe in themselves a bit more and feel supported and understood. Because it must be so frustrating to try so hard every day and, not be understood by people. Yeah, absolutely. And I know that already, is making that difference. And you know, I've seen all the different things that, you're now, it's now animated and on TV as well, even. It is. Incredible. And I am so, I think I said this to you earlier before we recorded, I am so grateful to my friend James at Hocus Pocus. He happened. He said yes to me, want to join me on my mission and to Sky Kids because it's not often that you're sat in a room trying to advocate for a child, let alone lots of children to try and make a difference that listen. Yeah. I was really shocked afterwards. I thought, I've actually been in a room discussing autism and what we can do about it to help other people have this lovely idea and they listened and they really cared. I think that's the word I'm looking for. They really cared about making a difference for our kids so, oh, I just feel so grateful to them for so many children who will relate to and love Eddie. Definitely. That's so good, isn't it? Because sometimes, we've got our missions, We've got things that we want to change, but actually together we can build our different skills. So we're not illustrators, for example, with the Super Sentry Squad book that's coming out later as well, I literally just did like a few little drawings of penguins. And then I was like, I wish I had the skill of illustration, but I don't, but you need different people that have different skills. And then you can link up with other fellow parents that are trying to make a difference for their kids. I literally love it because, and this is why I love chatting with people on this podcast, because we all, Want to make that change for our kids, for future kids, for everyone's kids. And together we are making those waves and it's so amazing. And it's so inspiring to see from that journey of you going in to that bookshop and getting that horrible response to now, And you've even, at the time of recording, you've got some more books coming out. And when this goes live, they probably are already out. So go and have a look on Amazon and Bookshores and everything like that. So Nikki, tell us a little bit more about your books. Yeah, firstly, I'd like just to kind of reflect on what you said about animators, artists and animators there, because we need them more than ever. They are incredible and they wow me every day. Honestly, like the work they've done, I couldn't do that without them, and it does take, it takes lots of people. It takes people trained in, in sound, music. Yeah. Absolutely everything, and our voice artists too, and I think that's a lovely thing so obviously from the beginning, that representation in a book has extended to screen, it's extended to production, eddie is an authentic representation of Tyler's experiences and it's lovely throughout the production team. They are inclusive. We have autistic writers, animators, neurodivergent staff, autistic voiceovers, and Eddie is voiced by Grayson and amazing little boy called Grayson, who's nine, and he's autistic and has a DHD. And my goodness, I couldn't have found anyone better to bring. So, let's focus on people's strengths. Yes. It's so important, that's such an important point, thank you for sharing that, it really is, because I'm so proud of all of them, that absolutely everyone that's made this happen, they deserve to be celebrated. So, throughout the series, in every episode, Eddie has walked through a different situation. scenario or environment with the support. Now, if you watch it, he's supported by his amazing narrator, Jodie Whittaker, his mum, his puppy scouts, best friends who are an incredible example of kindness to Eddie. But with this support, Eddie is able to access and navigate all of these different scenarios, but at his pace. And that's what I love about it so much. He can pick it up and leave it. He doesn't have to be forced into absolutely anything. So it's about him fulfilling his wishes as an adult. I'm talking like he's a real person, but he's representing, he's representing our children. Now, if you remove that support, That is exactly what a lot of children are, and adults, experience, and it breaks my heart to say that, but it's the truth. With the show, each book that's coming out will match an episode, so we've got a set of five. So that could be the birthday party, dressing up, having a haircut because we all know that's really tricky. And they are so beautiful because they are illustrated by the same people that made the show. So they are workbook style because that's my style of writing. That's what how I've always done my writing. And the child can work through them. at their own pace and there's lots of activities inside just so they can engage with what's happening but at their own pace they can put it down whenever they want to and hopefully some children will just go, Eddie, they just like it because Eddie's on there. Exactly. Again, they are designed to directly help. Everything about this is child centered and I just love it. And actually, I hope that parents see the show in the books and they feel like they can relate to us as well. I think that's really nice. It connects everyone, doesn't it? Yeah. Yeah. That's so exciting. I will definitely be grabbing your books. Well, I probably would've already grabbed them by the time this so when are they, when are they out? Yeah, so the books are out on the 21st of October. It's amazing because I've just been waiting for this moment to happen. Another thing, what's important for people to kind of know that nothing is straightforward. So when you're doing these amazing things out there, so creating the show in the books, you still have lots going on with your own children, especially if they're in mainstream, trying to navigate life. my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and he passed away this year. And it was shortly after that we were revisiting the books and editing them. So it's so special. Everything has got such a lovely touch to it. And obviously my dad, he's very like my son. He you just have to find another way because he believed actually once I wrote my first book that he was autistic too. So it just goes to show there's adults out there that need the help too. Yeah, definitely. And, and that can impact so, so many and you already are impacting so many and thank you. Thank you for representing our children and, putting it out there. the least I can do, I think. And it's thanks to my children. They have kept me strong in the most difficult times. They have pushed me and encouraged me to be determined. And they actually, they love it. Yeah. I'm very proud of it. So I just hope everyone loves it too. Yeah. Thank you so much, Nikki. It's been wonderful to chat with you. Where's the best place then to connect with you on social media? Of course, so you can find the show is Ready Eddie Go! TV and myself am nrsaundersbooks on Instagram and most of my socials. Okay. Excellent. Thank you so much. And remember, you can get the books now if you're listening to this after the 21st of October. So you can get the books and definitely connect with Nikki and share with other people so that they feel less alone. So thank you for listening to this episode. Remember each Wednesday we have a new episode on conversations with an SEND mum. I hope you have a lovely week.