A U.K. mom removed her neurodivergent son from mainstream school after she discovered a theory that unlocked so many answers.
Laura I’Anson, 42, posted a reel on Instagram (@thelevelledupmum) describing the day she learned about “drowning child” theory. Her caption challenged common reassurances she had heard from professionals: that her son was “coping,” “managing,” or simply needed “more resilience.”
What those words overlooked, I’Anson said, was the hidden toll on her son Coby, now 7.
“One of my friends who is an early years teacher said to me, ‘If you saw a child drowning, would you ask them to swim harder, or would you pull them out?’ and it really hit me,” I’Anson told Newsweek.
“While he was physically present at school, it became clear to me that he wasn’t truly living or thriving—he was surviving, at a very real cost to his mental and emotional well-being.”
From the age of 5, Coby began experiencing anxiety-led blackouts—periods of complete disconnection under overwhelm.
By 6, this had escalated into intense school meltdowns that were often treated as behavioral issues rather than signs of distress. Between ages 5 and 7, repeated suspensions followed.
The emotional aftermath left a deep impression on Laura, who is also mom to Kian, 20, Annie, 14, and 6-year-old Finn with husband Scott, 35.
Coby would be ashamed and apologetic, struggling to understand his own reactions. Over time, he grew hypervigilant and withdrawn, often ending the school week mentally and physically exhausted and finding public outings distressing.
The “drowning child” theory gave Laura a framework for what she was seeing. To her, it recognizes that drowning is not always dramatic.
“Sometimes, my son was drowning loudly, through meltdowns, lashing out and behaviors that were visible and disruptive,” Laura said. “Those moments were often the ones people noticed, and they were usually treated as the problem itself, rather than a sign of how overwhelmed he was.”
After withdrawing Coby from school, the first change was simple: he slept, often and deeply. Laura focused on rest and “deschooling,” allowing his nervous system to settle before introducing expectations.
“Learning became something we could approach gently and flexibly, at his pace, rather than something driven by fear or exhaustion,” she said. “The biggest change was that he no longer felt like he had to survive the day. He could just be.”
The mom of four acknowledged that stepping outside the system felt daunting and that she initially felt anger toward the school, but she worked to separate emotion from decision-making.
Her message to other parents is measured but firm: questioning systems is not irresponsibility but thoughtfulness.
“Trust your judgment as a mother,” Laura said. “I knew whatever decisions I made for Coby were coming from a place of love, and I kept that in the forefront of my mind on the days I felt unsure.”
The morning I decided not to send my 14-year-old daughter back to school, she was vomiting from anxiety. Again.
It wasn’t a dramatic moment. There was no big speech. I just looked at her, pale and shaking on the bathroom floor after another round of girl-group bullying during the holidays, and thought: We’re done with this.
My daughter has dyslexia, dyscalculia and inattentive ADHD. Still, on paper, she wasn’t “failing.” She was getting by. But the cost of getting by had become brutal. Daily nausea. Crying every morning. Crippling fatigue. Anxiety that had her frozen in her seat, running on adrenaline just to survive each day, then collapsing at home where it felt safe to fall apart.
Her nervous system was in complete burnout. And she hadn’t even hit 9th grade.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: The school system didn’t identify any of this. Not one teacher flagged it. Not one report card expressed concern. I had to follow my gut, take her to specialists, chase diagnoses, and fight for answers while she smiled and masked her way through every school day.
The dyslexia diagnosis came first. Through the Allison Lawson Centre for Dyslexia in Australia, we worked to retrain her eye-to-brain messaging ― addressing how one dominant eye and one weaker eye process visual information differently. By strengthening the weaker eye’s ability to relay information to the brain, Maya’s dyslexia symptoms dissolved after nine or 10 treatment sessions.
Then she was diagnosed with dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects the understanding of numbers and mathematical concepts. This one is harder to crack ― her numbers still don’t stack up.
Then came the ADHD diagnosis through a pediatrician, armed with letters from my daughter’s teacher and her psychologist. She was prescribed Concerta, which turned out to be life-changing. She was also prescribed anxiety medication, because her body was keeping the score of years spent trying to fit into a system that wasn’t built for her brain.
But the biggest improvement didn’t come from the medication. It came when I made the decision to pull her out of school.
Mother and daughter on a visit to Venice, Italy.
Photo Courtesy Of Lisa Jones
When I shared the reasoning behind this decision on Instagram, my DMs exploded with messages from thousands of parents quietly navigating the same issues. Watching their capable, intelligent children crumble and wondering if they’re the only ones considering alternatives. Many of them told me they feel like failures for even thinking about stepping outside the system.
But we’re not failing ― the system is.
This term, Maya has been “unschooling” in the truest sense. She completed a first aid and paramedic certification, trained as a barista and learned special effects makeup. She got a part-time job at a café, traveled to China to understand global sourcing and came with me to New York for real-world business learning. She’s been living, not just sitting at a desk.
The shift in her energy has been extraordinary. The constant stomach aches? Gone. The morning tears? Gone. The girl who couldn’t get out of bed is now asking what’s next.
Next year, she will start virtual school, which is 2 1/2 hours of live, curriculum-based learning with qualified teachers each day. Her afternoons are free for life skills, travel, hobbies, rest, and the kind of learning that wasn’t happening for her in a crowded classroom.
This is not homeschooling. It’s a modern educational pathway that prioritizes her nervous system safety as much as her curriculum. And it’s fully accredited, which matters when people ask (and they do ask): “But what about her future?”
The other main criticism I have received since sharing this decision on social media is that not every family can afford to make the same one.
The virtual school Maya will be starting costs around $7,000 AUD annually, which is actually half the cost of Maya’s previous private school. With qualified teachers delivering curriculum in live virtual classrooms each morning, plus afternoon tutoring support available online, I also no longer need the private tutors we used to pay for separately. So for our family, the cost savings are significant.
But kids and families also need access to alternative educational models that are free or low cost. As a single mother who works full-time, I also needed a solution that didn’t require me to suddenly become a teacher. The free distance education programs that exist in most Australian states typically require more parental involvement. Things like the flexibility to work from home, and to take Maya with me when I travel for work are also immense privileges that are disproportionately available to those with higher-income work.
And even when accessible alternatives to the mainstream educational model exist, parents with fewer resources are also the ones who are less likely to have the free time to spend finding and researching them.
Not all distance education is created equal, and finding the right fit took time. I found our solution by researching everything, including multiple virtual pathways and alternative schools. I even observed a friend in Bali’s trial at a Texas-based AI-led model offering two-hour daily programs. I ultimately chose a program based where we currently live so Maya could attend in-person meetups if she wanted to connect with classmates.
People have asked me if I’m worried about socialization. Here’s my answer: My daughter was surrounded by 1,200 students every day and felt completely alone. She was bullied, overlooked and exhausted. That’s not socialization; that’s survival.
Now she’s meeting people through work and travel, and actually having the energy to show up as herself. She’s learning to trust her body again. To recognize when she’s overwhelmed, and to learn when to say no. These are life skills that no test will ever measure.
The author has seen incredible improvement in her daughter’s anxiety and stress levels since deciding to switch to an alternative education model.
Photo Courtesy Of Lisa Jones
This path isn’t easy. It’s not always clear. Some days I second-guess everything. But every time I see her laugh without that underlying tension, every time she tells me about something she learned because she wanted to, not because she had to, I know we made the right call.
Maya is not lazy. She’s not broken. She’s a divergent thinker in a rigid model. And when the model doesn’t fit, you don’t break the child. You build something different.
For the mothers out there who are watching their children suffer in silence, running on empty, masking their way through each day just to keep up appearances: Trust your gut. You know your child better than any curriculum does. You see what no teacher sees. The system might not be the problem for every child, but the system might just not be built for yours.
And if that’s true, you’re allowed to build something better.
Content Warnings: mental illness, neurodivergence, abandonment, government experimentation, conspiracy theories
Summary:A weird and revelatory debut that vividly captures the dislocation of growing up BIPOC and neurodivergent in a country awash in both conspiracy theories and genuine conspiracies.
“The invisible D in my name is my mother’s second most lasting contribution to my life.”
‘Wayne Le—known as “Invisible-D ‘Wayne” at school—has been invited to participate in a seemingly ordinary, innocuous adolescent health study by a prestigious university. The study has a few nice perks, but most important to ‘Wayne, is the opportunity to give his immigrant father an accomplishment to be proud of—something that’s been in short supply since ‘Wayne’s mother left.
But the study quickly proves to be anything but ordinary and innocuous, and ‘Wayne, his best friend Kermit, and a fellow study participant named Jane (a girl who shall not be manic-pixied) find themselves sucked into an M. C. Escheresque maze of conspiracies that might be entirely in their heads or might truly be a sinister government plot.
Image Source: Photo Courtesy of Penguin Random House
1. Hooking You Before Page One
You know what? Sometimes a book arrives and feels like it’s whispering in your ear: “Hey…I’m going to turn your assumptions upside down.” That’s exactly the energy of This Moth Saw Brightness by A. A. Vacharat. From the first line hinting at an “invisible D” in the narrator’s name, the novel signals that it won’t settle for comfortable. It invites you into a story that’s part coming-of-age, part speculative thriller, part identity essay, and yes, you’re going to like the ride!
2. Who’s Narrating This Train-Wreck Disguised As Adolescence
Meet Wayne Le, or “Invisible-D ‘Wayne,” as the school calls him. He’s BIPOC, neurodivergent (or at least navigating life in ways that don’t match the “neurotypical” checklist), and he’s invited to participate in a so-called innocuous adolescent health study by a prestigious university. The study promises perks: a chance to give his immigrant father something to be proud of, a small win in a life defined by absence (his mother leaving) and expectation. But things go off the rails fast.
3. Weirdness And Conspiracies: High School Meets M.C. Escher
Here’s where the plot takes the weird turn: the study is anything but ordinary. ‘Wayne, his best friend Kermit, and Jane (yes, a girl “who shall not be manic-pixied”) find themselves in an Escher-cornucopia of conspiracies; overlapping, bending reality, maybe in their heads, maybe not. The narrative feels breathing, alive, slightly off-kilter…in a good way.
4. Identity, Neurodivergence And That Immigrant-Dad Pressure
Beyond the twists and conspiracies, there’s the muscle of the story. What does it feel like to grow up neurodivergent in a world that assumes you’re “just like everyone else?” What does it mean to carry the weight of immigrant expectations on your shoulders when your mother has already left, when your father’s pride is something you chase? The “invisible D” in his name? Symbolic. His sense of invisibility? Real. Vacharat doesn’t shy away from those questions, and she doesn’t answer them neatly. That feels honest.
5. The Tone: Quirky, Clever, And Zipping Along
If you expect a straight-laced narrative, you’ll be surprised. The tone flicks between sardonic, anxious, reflective, bizarre, like life when you’re awake in the middle of a strange dream and someone hands you a biology textbook. The novel rewards readers who enjoy short chapters, playful breaks, and surprising shifts in rhythm. One moment you’re thinking of high school drama, next you’re wondering about Big Tech, surveillance, and your own concept of control. The result? You won’t just read this book, you’ll feel its pulse!
Despite the grand themes, the story keeps it grounded in adolescence. There’s the best friend who still codes and hacks (hello, Kermit). There’s the crush who complicates everything (hello, Jane). There’s the parent who expects too much, and the absence of the parent who left. There’s the feeling that you’re slightly off-center and everyone else is lining up like they know what’s going on. If you’ve ever felt side-lined, weirded out, or “why am I not normal?”, then ‘Wayne’s story will resonate. The conspiracies become metaphors for the nagging sense that the world is rigged, and you’re trying to find your spot in it.
7. Why You Should Care (And Maybe Freak Out A Little)
Because this book doesn’t just entertain. It pushes you. It asks: What is trust? What is identity? Who decides who matters? And in a world full of surveillance, half-truths, and algorithms, how do you even locate your own truth? Vacharat wraps it all in genre elements: thriller, mystery, coming-of-age, so you’re on your toes the whole time. The ending? It’s unsettling. Not because it’s bad. Because it leaves you thinking. Hey, that’s a win!
8. The Caveats (Yes, There Are A Few)
If you like your stories tidy, you might bristle at the sharp corners here. The plot layers move fast, and some minor characters veer into caricature. But honestly…the messiness is part of the point. Life is messy. Identity is messy. Conspiracies? Definitely messy. If you’re up for the ride, you’ll be fine.
9. Final Verdict
In short: This Moth Saw Brightness is weird, wild, heartfelt, and smart. It’s a debut that doesn’t play it safe. It introduces a narrator you’ll root for, a world you’ll question, and a genre-blend that sticks with you. If you’re looking for a book that lingers after you close the cover, that challenges you while making you laugh (and maybe wince), this is it!
A. A. Vacharat’s This Moth Saw Brightness quietly teaches you that sometimes the conspiracy is simply that you were never invited to believe you belonged.
If you enjoyed this review, grab a copy of the book, let those footnotes surprise you, and let the conspiracies swirl! Because the brightest lights sometimes hide behind the weirdest moths. What are your thoughts on This Moth Saw Brightness? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
PALO ALTO, Calif., January 15, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– In the United States, one in five students are dyslexic or have a learning difference. Another 2.5 million have visual impairments or physical disabilities that make interacting with STEM educational content challenging. To address this disparity, Benetech, a global nonprofit advancing equitable opportunities for all learners, is announcing the launch of an initiative to transform STEM education.
With philanthropic partners General Motors, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Cisco, the Esther and Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation, and the Peninsula Endowment, Benetech is developing a breakthrough AI-powered platform that transforms teaching materials, especially STEM, into interactive, accessible content. Students with dyslexia or visual impairments will be able to read, listen, and ask questions about challenging concepts like equations and images, empowering them to learn independently through Benetech’s accessibility-first learning tools.
“Over 30% of neurodivergent or visually impaired students aspire to STEM careers, yet fewer than 10% achieve employment in STEM fields-a stark reminder of the persistent inaccessibility of STEM education,” said Ayan Kishore, CEO of Benetech. “By harnessing the power of AI, we are transforming complex STEM materials into accessible formats, breaking down barriers, ensuring STEM education and careers are within reach for all.”
Development of this groundbreaking system includes phases of integration, testing, and pilot programs for neurodivergent students. This strategic approach ensures that the final product will be effective and user-friendly, setting a new standard in accessible education technology.
“In an age where AI is shaping the future of learning, equity must be our guiding principle,” said Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. “Every student deserves access to educational materials that meet their needs, yet for too long, learners with disabilities have been left out-not because of technical challenges but because of a lack of inclusivity-oriented design. Benetech’s innovative approach changes that by using AI to refine STEM materials into accessible formats, leveling the playing field for all students. This work reminds us that creating values-based educational interventions can be a powerful catalyst for a more knowledgeable and informed society.”
General Motors is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. www.gm.com/commitments/corporate-giving
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector. www.mcgovern.org
Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. We aim to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. www.cisco.com
Esther and Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation provides grants to non-profit, non-governmental organizations that work with children with disabilities and/or illness to improve their lives. www.rosenblattfoundation.org
Peninsula Endowment enhances the lives of individuals with visual disabilities in Northern California by funding innovative, partially needs-based project grants. These grants support 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Northern California that provide life-enhancing educational programs and services, focusing on enabling access to written materials for individuals with visual disabilities. www.peninsulaendowment.org
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., August 15, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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LEWES, Del., August 9, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– The BeMe team is pleased to announce the addition of Iris E. Hu as Chief Growth Officer.
With over 25 years of high-tech experience, Iris has been responsible for managing high-growth companies, architecting business processes from lead to cash and leading internal transformational initiatives. She has also led M&A Finance for nine years at Salesforce.
As a solid leader with credentials in finance, Iris has supported Forbes’ top 1000 companies on their digital transformation journey, built high-performing teams, and developed business process methodologies to support innovation and improvement.
Iris is also passionate about education and diversity; currently, she serves as a Board Member on SPARK, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to building private partnerships in support of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to ensure that each and every child receives the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21st century.
A long-time resident of San Francisco, she loves her city and is proud that she has raised her children in a diverse community.
“I’m excited to be part of this incredible journey and mission with BeMe.ai. BeMe transforms the way care teams work together, empowering them with real-time data and insights so they can make informed decisions about supporting families and their Autistic loved ones so that they may thrive.”
