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Category: animation

Connecting with Nature and Your Authentic Self with Mandy Casteel-Denney

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Mandy Casteel-Denney is the founder of Blue Tulip Inclusive Education and a parenting coach who helps neurodivergent families reconnect with calm, confidence, and joy through nature. With a background in environmental education and a lifetime of love for the outdoors, Mandy blends science, lived experience, and play to support emotional regulation, social connection, and authentic self-expression. As a neurodivergent parent raising neurodivergent children, she understands firsthand how powerful the natural world can be as a place to reset, unmask, and belong. Through family coaching, youth programs, and speaking, Mandy helps families step outside—and discover new ways to thrive together.

IEPs and Special Education Advocacy with Vick Christensen

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Founder of Blue Glasses Advocacy and mother of a 21-year-old with global developmental delays who proudly wears blue glasses, Vicki Christensen empowers parents with the knowledge and tools to navigate disability rights and is passionate about advocating for families through the Individualized Education Program, or IEP, process.Vicki supports parents and guardians of students in special education by providing effective advocacy strategies to foster positive, collaborative relationships at school. Her work, both in advocacy and in parenting, combines expertise, empathy, and firsthand insight, making her uniquely qualified to guide and inspire families navigating the challenges and triumphs of raising a neurodivergent child.

Holistic Wellness with Whitney Fallon

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Whitney Fallon is a holistic wellness expert, neurodivergent advocate, and self-proclaimed wellness detective who helps individuals uncover the missing pieces to their energy, focus, and emotional well-being. With a background in sleep medicine, psychology, and functional wellness, she specializes in supporting neurodivergent minds and bodies through a blend of science, soul, and strategy. As the founder of Wooded Lake Wellness and creator of the Neuro Blueprint™, Whitney is on a mission to help people embrace their unique neurostyles and optimize their health, habits, and happiness—without burnout or overwhelm.

Animation, Creativity, and Love on the Spectrum with Dani Bowman

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Dani is a young and talented animator, artist, and entrepreneur on the Autism Spectrum who is dedicated to inclusion and diversity, and passionate about using her skills to help others. Despite being diagnosed with autism at age 3 and being nonverbal until the age of 6, Dani has overcome these challenges to become accomplished in her field and an inspiring speaker. She founded her own company, DaniMation, when she was just 14 years old, and later DaniMation UK in 2019.  Dani has taught animation to over 3000 students with autism and premiered 14 short films at San Diego Comic-Con. As a national speaker and cast member of Love on the Spectrum, Dani uses her platform to inspire and mentor others.

Career, Determination and Animation with Jorge Gutierrez

Written by Gilda Evans on .

Emmy and Annie Award-winning Jorge R. Gutierrez is a Mexican animator, painter, voice actor, writer and director. A CalArts Experimental Animation BFA & MFA graduate, Gutierrez has completed various films, cartoons, and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. He was the Director & Co-Writer of the Guillermo del Toro produced animated feature The Book of Life, which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe Award nomination. Along with his wife and muse, Sandra Equihua, they created the multiple Emmy Award-winning animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, for Nickelodeon. Gutierrez most recently created, wrote, and directed the event series Maya and the Three for Netflix which won 2 Annie Awards, and 4 Emmys. Gutierrez is currently writing and directing a Netflix animated feature named I, Chihuahua with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.