113. Supporting Neurodivergent Youth in Schools with Vanessa Castañeda Gill

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of us go into our fields because we’re inspired by someone who supported us as youth or we see something that we want to fix. For Vanessa Casta</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ñ</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">eda Gill,</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">this week’s guest</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, it was something else. She wanted to fix herself.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a neurodivergent diagnosis at 14, then hiding that diagnosis from everyone but her family for more than six years, Vanessa was looking for a way to be successful. She had heard so many stories about those with a similar diagnosis that she tried to fit that mold. Through studying neuroscience, Vanessa hoped to fix herself. What she discovered instead was that she wasn’t broken at all but rather could have used some additional resources and support as a teen so she wouldn’t feel so alone.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s where Social Cipher came from. And</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">this week on the podcast</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Vanessa is sharing more about how her platform supports neurodivergent youth and their parents and community.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The structure of Vanessa’s team is incredibly unique and it’s just what an organization that supports differently wired kids needs to be successful.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listen in this week and learn more about how to step up and support those with neurodivergence.</span></p> <p> </p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">About</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">Vanessa Castañeda Gill</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">:</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's Vanessa Castañeda Gill's mission to unite her passions for art and stories in innovative ways that help people. Learning from her experiences growing up on the autism spectrum, she founded