All Things Autism – Alison Dawes Knowles

Welcome to All Things Autism the upbeat, heartfelt podcast hosted by Anna Kennedy. 

In today’s episode Anna opens with a sunny day check‘in from her flat hunting adventure with her teen son Patrick who’s gearing up for his first solo move setting the stage for the everyday joys and anxieties many autism parent families know all too well. 

Soon she shares some celebratory news: Women’s Radio Station just snagged the UK Best Radio Based Women’s Mental Health Support Service award, and Anna’s own show has just turned eleven! She reminds listeners to enter Autism’s Got Talent (entries close end of April) and tees up the upcoming **Autism Hero Awards** at Chelsea Harbour on June 11.

Anna then spotlights a powerful petition Who will look after our children when we’re gone? That’s already gathered 11,500 signatures, and plugs a free **Autism Care Pathway webinar** happening on April 26.

The heart of the conversation arrives with special guest Alison Ali Dorr, creator of the **OLLI (Ollie) model**. Ali walks us through how she turned a love of cognitive hypnotherapy, NLP and CBT into a simple, fabric doll based system that teaches kids (and adults) to separate emotions from identity, empowering them to become their own superheroes Listeners will hear:

* The origin story of Ollie the plush doll and why it’s more than a logo. 
* Real world success stories from a lonely kid learning to name anxiety to schools embracing Ollie powered workshops. 
* How anyone can become an **Ollie Coach no formal qualifications required” through a flexible five month, weekend based training that blends online modules, live group work and hands on case studies. 
* Practical tools for parents, including Ali’s quick 7/11 breathing exercise you can try right now.

Anna and Ali also discuss the challenges families face post COVID, the pressure on parents (especially dads), and the importance of self care, put your oxygen mask on first before you can support your child.

We’ll wrap up with a peek at the future: a potential Ollie cartoon series, expansion plans, and a call to action for listeners to sign the petition, join the coaching programme, or simply drop by **www.ollynissuperpowers.com** and **www.annaKennedyOnline.com** for more resources.

Get ready for an episode packed with uplifting news, practical tips, and the inspiring story of how a humble fabric doll is reshaping autism support across the UK. Tune in, breathe in, breathe out, and let’s keep moving forward one day at a time.

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