Neurodiversity in Action: Bridges Middle School’s Approach

What if school felt like belonging? Full episode on Kainos Joy#inclusiveclassroom #neurodivergent

Belonging in education, neurodivergent students, and trauma-informed teaching with Beven Byrnes, Executive Director of Bridges Middle School in Portland. What happens when a kid who never fit in finally finds their people? For Beven Byrnes, the answer changed everything. When her oldest child (neurodiverse and trans )discovered Portland's roller derby community, she watched them come alive in a way school had never made possible. That moment sent her back into education with one mission: build places where belonging comes first. Here's the hard truth about traditional schools: they run on test scores, numbers, and budgets and relationships get squeezed out. When kids don't feel safe to explore, they don't experiment and grow. They shut down, get shamed, or disappear. That's not a kid problem. That's a design problem. For 14 years at Bridges Middle School, Beven has been building the alternative: education that's individualized, relationship-based, and trauma-informed. A place where mistakes are part of learning, sensory needs are honored, and students get the scaffolding to grow at their own pace. Because when kids feel like they belong, they take healthy risks , and that's when the transformation happens. 💛 If this episode speaks to you, subscribe to Kainos Joy for more conversations for parents and educators of kids who learn differently. And share it with someone who needs to hear that their kid isn't broken 😞 the system just wasn't built for them , YET!! But look to new horizons on the way! #Neurodivergent #SpecialEducation #InclusiveEducation #TraumaInformed #AutismAcceptance #ADHD #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #BelongingMatters #KainosJoyPodcast

Neurodiversity in Action: Bridges Middle School’s Approach

Bevin Byrnes, founder of Bridges Middle School, focuses on empowering neurodivergent students through inclusive practices and collaboration with families. She shares her journey in non-profit leadership, offers strategies for parents, and emphasizes the importance of viewing neurodivergence as a strength, fostering self-advocacy and confidence among students. “Labels are for cans not people” - Kevin Howley `#Neurodiversity` `#InclusiveEducation` `#Empowerment` `#FamilyCollaboration` `#BridgesMiddleSchoo Timeline 00:00:00 - 00:02:56 Introduction to Bridges Middle School - 00:00:00 The host introduces Bevin Byrnes, founder of Bridges Middle School in Portland, Oregon, a middle school for neurodivergent children. - 00:00:36 Bevin Byrnes has over 30 years of experience in mission-driven work and founded Oregon's only middle school built specifically for neurodiverse learners. - 00:01:13 The host expresses discomfort with using labels like "neurodivergent" or "neurotypical" due to their potential for judgment. - 00:01:57 The host and Bevin agree that terms like ADHD, while used, are not seen as disorders or disabilities, and they avoid terms like Asperger's syndrome. 00:02:56 - 00:10:17 Hiring and Collaboration at Bridges Middle School - 00:02:56 Bridges Middle School, a non-profit in Portland, Oregon - 00:04:52 The school employs a team-based hiring approach for - 00:06:23 The school proudly employs former students as paraeducators, highlighting their deep understanding of the students' - 00:08:00 Bridges Middle School emphasizes a trauma-informed approach, viewing parents as partners and experts in their child's education, fostering consistent communication… 00:10:17 - 00:18:38 The Journey to Bridges - 00:10:17 The speaker reflects on her alternative education - 00:12:15 Her career path diverged from traditional education, starting with non-profit work for underserved populations and eventually leading to leadership roles in disability advocacy. - 00:14:54 After impactful work in end-of-life care, she returned to the disability community and children's education, finding her way to what would become Bridges. - 00:16:05 Her personal experiences and observations of her children's educational journeys solidified her.. Supporting Understimulated Children - 00:19:21 The speaker addresses parents whose children are understimulated and don't fit into the typical IEP world, acknowledging the lack of programs available. - 00:20:51 Building a strong relationship with the teacher during initial conferences is crucial to understanding your child's progress and potential for additional challenges. - 00:22:34 Parents can support their children at home with additional challenging activities and resources, as exemplified by the speaker's daughter who was a quick finisher. - 00:25:49 The core advice for parents is to communicate and build relationships with teachers, counselors, and other parents to gather information and explore alternative educational settings. 00:29:04 - 00:34:36 The Dismantling of Special Education - 00:29:04 The speaker acknowledges that discussing changes in specia… - 00:30:16 The Department of Special Education has been separated from the Department of Education and now falls under government affairs, a move that the speaker believes is underreported and significant. - 00:31:32 This separation removes federal protection and accountability for special education, potentially leading to a dismantling of public education and making it harder for parents to advocate for their children's needs. - 00:32:57 The speaker views this change as a "canary in the coal mine," highlighting that without accountability, laws and policies for special education may not be effectively implemented 00:34:36 - 00:43:41 Addiction and Neurodiversity - 00:34:36 The speaker praises the autistic Barbie movement for its visible example of inclusion, noting Mattel's collaboration with autism-led organizations to ensure authentic representation. - 00:37:56 The discussion shifts to addiction, with the speaker sharing personal experience and advocating for empathy over judgment, comparing the societal response to addiction with that of cancer. - 00:40:22 The speaker emphasizes that true reform and recovery from addiction are possible, requiring a community effort and a paradigm shift away from criminalizing addicts. - 00:41:45 The conversation concludes by advocating for an asset-based perspective and language when discussing neurodivergence, trauma, and addiction, focusing on the unique contributions of individuals rather than their perceived brokenness. 00:43:41 - 00:45:56 Impact of Bridges - 00:43:41 The speaker is asked about the future of Bridges … - 00:44:10 The speaker hopes students find confidence, view their neurodivergence as 💪 - 00:44:38 The most rewarding feedback… - 00:45:00 Teachers at Bridges truly understand..

Stop Masking at Work: Why Neurotypicals Should Adapt Too:Building Neurodivergent-Friendly Workplaces

Why is it always the neurodivergent person's job to blend in? That's the question at the heart ❤️ of this episode. Anissa Zucker welcomes Beven Brynes to the Kainos Joy Podcast for an honest conversation about workplace culture and why the responsibility for adapting has landed on neurodivergent shoulders for far too long. Spoiler: the answer isn't more masking 🎭 It's neurotypical colleagues learning, listening, and doing some adapting of their own. (Yes, that means you might have to change too. We believe in you.) Together, Anissa and Beven dig into: ✅ The hidden toll of masking on neurodivergent employees ✅ Why traditional "inclusion" efforts often miss the mark ✅ Simple shifts neurotypical coworkers and managers can make today ✅ What neurodivergent culture brings to a team when it's welcomed, not hidden ✅ How shared responsibility creates workplaces where everyone thrives If you've ever felt like work requires a performance , or you've wondered how to be a better colleague to someone whose brain works differently ; press play!! 👀 ⏰ This one's for both sides of the desk… 👩‍🏫 🧑‍🎓 🎙️ Subscribe to the Kainos Joy Podcast — Neurodiversity Initiative 📺 Watch every week: https://youtube.com/@KainosJoyPodcast [https://youtube.com/@KainosJoyPodcast] #KainosJoyPodcast #NeurodiversityInitiative #NeurodiversityAtWork #Masking #ADHD #Autism #NeurodivergentVoices #InclusiveWorkplace #BevenBrynes #WorkplaceCulture #Unmasking #EveryMindMatters #NeurodiversityPodcast Some real gems 💎 and people I consider “experts” in the field as well as creative genius & true inspirational neurodiversity advocates—- right here 💥☺️⬇️ ⬇️👏💥🎉 @ADHD_Chatter_Podcast @HowtoADHD high school teacher jeff brown @jeffbrownsclassroom @adhdvision @ADHD_love @AuDHDHub

🥈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

Be the bridge between worlds … #neurodivergent #advocate #bethechange

Be the bridge 🌉 advocate for those you love 💕