Mrs Katie Simons

Katie Simons is an Occupational Therapist, writer, parent and now an unapologetically neurodivergent woman. Learning to move past the weight of rejection sensitivity and daring to use her voice in a world that often misunderstood it. Her lived experience has shaped both her work and her words.

For much of her life, speaking out did not come easily. A history of selective Mutism and fear of being visible made public speaking feel unsafe. That is why these matter. They are not only for the children she writes for. They also mark her own choice to step forward. To put her words that once felt impossible into books.

Her first stories were sparked by one remarkable young person she worked with. From there, Rose and Whizzle, along with the wider world of Diversi Valley, grew. Created with compassion for children and their families who experience day-to-day sensory life more intensely.

Katie's writing is influenced by her clinical expertise in sensory integration, mental health, trauma and attachment. Most importantly by the lived reality of being neurodivergent herself.

Her books weave practical tools into magical adventures, offering children validation. They carry a simple belief that children don't need to be fixed; they need to be seen, supported and celebrated. That every child can grow and thrive, not by forcing themselves into a mould that doesn't fit, but by being met in ways that honour how their brain and body work. She writes for chidlren who get stuck in survival mode, who are misrepresented. She writes for the families who carry the weight of systems that don't see their child clearly. Who know their child's light, creativity and brilliance are already there. They are just waiting to be met with understanding rather than correction and conformity.

When she isn't writing, Katie sings in her local choir. Loves exploring beautiful outdoor spaces Yorkshire has to offer and follows the ADHD curiosity that pulls her into new hobbies and unexpected joys. As an adult she has learned, through her work and facination of the science behind human nature. The activities she chooses are not just hobbies but part of staying aligned, authentic and well..... or at least as well as she can be, given all the diagnoses she has been handed.