Middle Schooler from Caldwell Launches Podcast on Neurodiversity

By Jackie Schatell

Lucy Sandor, a 7th grader at Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell has launched a podcast called, Neurodiversity Superpowers, (neurodiversitysuperpowerspod.com) where she speaks with adults and children who are neurodiverse. It is a podcast about kids using the power of neurodiversity to make a difference in the world. After looking for a show about neurodiversity geared to children to no avail, she set out to create one by a kid for kids.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “’Neurodiversity’ is a word used to explain the unique ways people’s brains work. While everyone’s brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or ‘neurotypical’ person.” A few examples of neurodiversity are ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Tourette’s syndrome.

Lucy says she searches for guests to interview online and via email, and that she really enjoyed speaking with actor Penn Holderness, who has ADHD. He told her how neurodiversity has helped him with a very long list of professional and personal accomplishments including winning Season 33 of the Amazing Race.

She also liked talking with Emily Kircher-Morris, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCP) who is the host of the Neurodiversity Podcast and author of Raising TwiceExceptional Children (Routledge). Emily gave listeners an understanding of how ADHD brains work and provided expert tips on topics like self-advocating, friendship, and navigating neurotypical classrooms.

Some of the children Lucy has interviewed have said that their neurodiversity helps them be creative and be better gamers and Dungeons and Dragons players.

Lucy says she is happy to be doing her podcast where she can talk about and share information on neurodiversity with many people. “I hope my podcast helps people learn to feel better about their own neurodiversity,” says Lucy.

Her mom Theresa says, I am proud of Lucy. She came up with doing this podcast all on her own. She has ADHD, which can be difficult, and she has found a way to make it a positive in her life.” neurodiversitysuperpowerspod.com

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com

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