SINGLE MAMAS SEEN

Meet The Payne Family: THE 3 D’S--DELISA, DELEAH, & DELYNN

“Our goal is to put all the resources that autism families need in the palm of their hand.”

BY CHRISTINA MCGAIRK

According to the Go Daddy Venture Forward National Survey, conducted in February of 2023, single moms are the fastest-growing group in the U.S. microbusiness world. Among them is Evansville native DeLisa Payne.

Payne, the mom of two daughters on the autism spectrum, started Nerdz World in 2012. What began as a web-based computer repair company later spun into a powerhouse in the web development, graphic design, promo video, and mobile app world.

The Tennessee State University engineering graduate is a selftaught website and mobile app developer, who used her highrisk pregnancy bedrest time to teach herself coding skills.

“I watched YouTube Udemy videos which taught me how to pretty much customize anything a client may need for different types of programs or graphic design,” said Payne.

This single-mama entrepreneur is also the co-developer of EVV Cares and the founder and CEO of DTEAM, Inc.

EVV Cares is a free app that connects Evansville residents with quality-of-life resources, such as addiction help, crisis support, education services, and much more.

DTEAM, which stands for Differently Talented Extraordinary Autism Minds, is a non-profit that advocates for autism recognition and integration while fostering acceptance, understanding and inclusion for those on the autism spectrum.

“This platform allows us to help autism families and individuals by providing them with quality-of-life resources,” said Payne. DTEAM also empowers autistic people to showcase their abilities, expertise, and passions in their preferred manner.

Last year, Payne expanded DTEAM, Inc. by creating DTEAM Technologies, which leverages the use of technology to tackle societal challenges, enable communities, and promote sustainable growth.

“We’re currently working on an app that shows all the resources in the area,” said Payne. “Our goal is to put all the resources that autism families need in the palm of their hand.”

There’s no doubt Delisa

Payne is a woman with drive and ambition, which she has passed down to her daughters.

Her oldest, Deleah Payne, is already making a name for herself in her own right. The super smart 17-year-old carries a 3.9 GPA, is a graphic designer, has won numerous awards for her art, and is the cofounder of DTEAM, Inc. She’s also an autism advocate and author. At the age of 12, she self-published her first book, entitled ‘Our World’. The book sheds light on what it was like for her and her younger sister to live with autism. It also talks about bullying, and how, despite their differences, they share certain commonalities with neurotypical children.

Payne’s younger daughter, Delynn, is mommy’s “Little Tinkerer”. The 11-year-old enjoys constructing and fixing things. She’s built everything from switch-operated fiber optic cable lights to wooden, laser-cut 3D puzzles.

“She doesn’t read, but if she sees something and you give her the pieces, she can build it,” said Payne.

Payne is a fierce, hardworking advocate for her daughters, which she attributes to her parents, who were married for 41 years before her father’s death in March 2023. “Both my parents taught me how to support my children, told me about God’s strength, and how everything is possible,” she said.

To learn more about DTEAM and how to support their initiative, visit www.https://www.dteaminc.org

1. Go Daddy: Venture Forward Research Initiative. Single Moms More Ambitious Than Most Microentrepreneurs, Says GoDaddy Study.https://www.godaddy.com/ resources/advocacy/single-moms-more-ambitiousthan-most-microentrepreneurs-says-godaddy-study