How we honour divergent experiences with Marni Kammersell

Hello friends!

This is episode 2 of my new series that aims to challenge and critique some of the ways we view education, parenting and children’s autonomy.

In this episode, I chat to

Marnina Kammersell

We talk about the Neurodiversity paradigm, moving away from a medical model, her own family’s journey discovering their neurodivergence, and how they moved into unschooling.It was such an honour and joy to have this conversation with Marni! I hope you enjoy it too.

Some things that came up in this episode:

• how figuring out who we are is a slow, unfolding journey - and it looks so different for everyone

• Marni helped me define some common terms - so if you’re unsure or confused about what neurodiversity, neurodivergence, and neuronormativity mean, this is the episode for you

• We discussed the Neurodiversity paradigm v. the pathology paradigm

• We talked about how our Western language around neurodiversity is not necessarily transferrable to all people and all cultures.. and how there are plenty of critiques around this idea

• We talk about giftedness and Twice Exceptionality - what this is, how difficult the language can be, and what these kids need

• Marni shared her experience moving into self-directed education and about the research she is currently doing as a grad student

A little bit more about Marni:

Marni Kammersell is a neurodivergent educator who specializes in creating empowering, neuro-affirming home and learning environments. She is passionate about the neurodiversity paradigm, self-directed education, non-coercive relationships, and understanding experience through the lens of the nervous system. Currently pursuing her doctorate with a focus on neurodivergence and self-directed education, Marni has over 15 years of experience in alternative educational settings such as homeschooling, unschooling, community education, democratic schools, and forest schools. Her greatest teachers are her own three children, who have never been to school.

You can find Marni at Wandering Brightly here on Substack, and on her website.

Please bear in mind I do not edit the transcript at all, and so you may not get an accurate transcription of our conversation.

You can also listen to A Life Unschooled on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most other podcast apps.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Fran x