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Category: Advocate

Dealing with Caregiver Burnout with Drew Deraney

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Drew Deraney is a coach, author, and advocate dedicated to empowering caregivers and families of individuals with autism. As The Caregiver & Family Health Coach, he helps parents and caregivers find balance, build resilience, and care for themselves as compassionately as they care for their loved ones. Drew is the proud father of three children, including a son with autism, which inspires his mission to provide guidance, education, and community support. Through coaching, speaking, and his podcast From Caving In To Crushing It, Drew encourages others to live authentically, rise with strength, and lead with purpose.

Mission: Kid Success with Priscilla Leto

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Priscilla Leto is a dedicated advocate for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Her commitment to aiding children to reach their highest potential is rooted in personal experience, as the mother of a son on the autism spectrum. Priscilla’s work extends beyond administrative duties; she is a vocal proponent for addressing the underlying causes of neurodevelopmental conditions, advocating for comprehensive support that transcends surface-level therapies.

MapHabit Cognitive Support Platform with Matt Golden

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Matt co-founded MapHabit along with neuroscientist Dr. Stuart Zola to disrupt the standard of care for neurodivergent populations, including those with dementia, autism, intellectual & developmental disabilities and brain injuries. Those people who need cognitive support typically struggle with activities of daily living. By teaching caregivers to be thoughtful observers and critical thinkers, and empowering individuals with the ability to manage their daily routines with personalized step-by-step instructions, he is helping to transform independence across the lifespan.

Special Needs Planning and more with Bill Walters

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Bill Walters is a compassionate financial advisor who helps families navigate complex challenges with empathy and strategy. Shaped by personal experiences—overcoming childhood illness, caring for his mother with dementia, and raising a daughter with special needs—he brings heart to every client relationship. He serves on nonprofit boards, church finance committees, and coaches Special Olympics. His planning philosophy blends numbers with purpose, legacy, and love. Bill’s mission is clear: to guide caregivers toward clarity and abundance with personalized, purpose-driven financial and estate planning rooted in lived experience.

Organizing Your Digital Memories with Casey von Stein

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Casey von Stein, aka Miss Freddy, is a certified Professional Photo Organizer. After 10 years as a professional photographer, she realized that what people really needed was HELP organizing and enjoying their photos. She offers remote organizing services for clients worldwide and self-paced online courses for those who want to tackle their photo organizing on their own.

IRL Social skills with Mara McLoughlin

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Mara McLoughlin is the Founder and Program Director of IRL Social Skills. Working for over 15 years as an autism specialist and speech language pathologist, she recognized students and families needed much more support than schools and private one on one mental health therapy could provide. In March 2021 — during the height of a global pandemic and recession — she assembled an interdisciplinary team to serve families of socially struggling teens and young adults from across the United States.

Grandcare Support System with Laura Mitchell

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Laura Mitchell is a co-founder and CEO of GrandCare Systems, a touchscreen and sensor-based technology platform designed to improve independence and enhance remote supports for individuals living with disabilities and older adults. She has over 20 years of experience in the remote monitoring and connected health industry. She speaks across the country on the Connected Home, Technology First, Technology for Aging in Place and Technology-powered caregiving. 

Nutritional Psychiatry, Food and Mood with Sara Langley

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Sara Langley is a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specializing in the medication management of children and adolescents. She specializes in Nutritional Psychiatry, including how food impacts mood and behavior, as well as traditional medication management. She treats conditions such as ADHD, Autism, depression and anxiety. She is double board certified in Primary care and Psychiatry and is based in Beverly Hills, CA.

Living a Neurodivergent Life with Ambassador Ian Hale, PhD

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Ambassador Ian Hale has written Support Platform extensively about autism. He himself identifies as being on the spectrum and is an amazing advocate and voice for the autism community. He is a member of the world Academy of Medical Science, Mensa, a Trustee of Autistic Nottingham and a longtime Member of the UK Government Advisory Policy.

Executive Function Coaching with Michelle Raz

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Michelle Raz is an author and Board-Certified Coach specializing in ADHD and executive functioning, and is the founder of Raz-Coaching Academics, Thrive Beyond Therapy, and Sprout Coach. She has been empowering neurodivergent students since 2010 through her online academic coaching platform, which uses neuroscience-backed strategies to help middle school, high school, and college students develop executive function skills for academics and career development. She is also a founding member of the Octopus Movement, a global think tank for promoting the gifts of non-linear thinkers.