🥈What If School Was Built for YOUR Brain? A Conversation with Beven Byrnes…
What if middle school wasn't built for the "average" kid — but designed around neurodivergent brains from day one? 🧠✨
In this episode of the Kainos Joy Podcast, I sit down with Beven Byrnes, Executive Director and Principal of Bridges Middle School in Portland, Oregon — the ONLY middle school in Oregon designed specifically for students with learning differences.
Beven shares her powerful story of growing up neurodivergent, building a school where a majority of the staff are also neurodivergent, and creating a culture where kids can thrive without shame — through mutual trust, sensory-friendly spaces, safe failure, and asset-based language.
We also dig into the workplace side: what happens when organizations stop asking neurodivergent adults to mask and start actually adapting to unlock their strengths.
If you're a parent of a neurodivergent kid, an educator wondering if there's a better way, or a neurodivergent adult who's ever felt like you had to hide who you are — this one is for you.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
01:24 — Growing up neurodivergent in a non-traditional household
05:52 — Why a majority-neurodivergent staff changes everything
07:27 — Communication & emotional regulation training for adults
12:03 — The Divergent Gift documentary & why representation matters
14:00 — The workplace paradigm shift for neurodivergent employees
31:18 — Relationship-based learning & the power of safe failure
33:26 — What neurodivergent youth actually need to thrive
35:46 — Inside Bridges: small classes, sensory zones, movement breaks
38:42 — Normalization without shame — how Bridges gets inclusion right
🌉 LEARN MORE ABOUT BRIDGES MIDDLE SCHOOL:
https://www.bridgesms.org/ [https://www.bridgesms.org/]
Bridges is celebrating its 25th year of serving neurodivergent middle schoolers in Portland, Oregon.
🎬 THE DIVERGENT GIFT: UNBOXING AUTISM (documentary):
https://thedivergentgift.com/ [https://thedivergentgift.com/]
A groundbreaking documentary by filmmaker Bret Malley, created entirely by neurodivergent people. Bridges Middle School is an official partner.
🎙️ THE KAINOS JOY PODCAST:
A show for parents, educators, and neurodivergent adults who believe learning environments should be built around how brains actually work.
👉 Subscribe for more conversations with neurodivergent leaders, educators, and advocates.
👉 Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kainosjoy/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/kainosjoy/]
👉 Follow me on all my platforms: https://linktr.ee/anissazucker [https://linktr.ee/anissazucker]
#Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentEducation #AutismPodcast #ADHDPodcast #InclusiveEducation #BridgesMiddleSchool #NeurodivergentLeaders #KainosJoy #AlternativeEducation #ActuallyAutistic #ADHDAwareness #NeurodivergentAdults #TheDivergentGift #SpecialEducation #AutismEducation
