Beacon College's "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity" The Podcast

The Flying Wallendas earned fame and a reputation as circus daredevils for performing stupendous acts of balance on a high-wire.  Yet, even the uncanny skill with which they performed their incredible seven-person chair pyramid stunt pales in comparison to the balance required by parents of children who learn differently when it comes to walking the tightrope of when to push your child and pushing too hard.  Good parents want the best for their kids. And sometimes, children need a nudge.   But what is pushing too hard?

In this episode, we’ll learn how a collective of Florida exceptional student education charter schools serving students with learning and learning-related disabilities negotiates that fine line.  Next, we’ll drill down on the topic and suggest some strategies for parents in our “Ask the Experts” segment.   And, we’ll close out the program with this month's “Difference Maker,” British micro-artist Willard Wigan, the brilliant creative who found that big things come in the smallest of packages.

How can parents help their autistic child succeed academically? 

What are some tools, strategies, and resources that parents can lean on to provide their child with autism added support?  

We'll explore these questions and provide some practical strategies with our panel in our “Ask the Experts” segment.  

And we'll meet this episode's "Difference Maker," author, filmmaker, and disability advocate Quinn Bradlee.

Students who learn differently are underrepresented in STEM fields. This episode of "A World of Difference," which celebrates and supports families living with learning differences, offers strategies for supporting STEM. It also profiles the STEAM Lab at The Christ School in Orlando which inspires dyslexic students to embrace science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

This episode focuses on ''Ensuring Workforce Diversity Includes Neurodiversity,'' and features Carolyn Jeppsen, Co-Founder/CEO/President, BroadFutures, a national organization that helps job candidates with learning disabilities reach their highest potential and works to change employer perceptions about learning disabilities. Also featured: RAISE, a local Florida grassroots program that equips clients with disabilities to join the workforce, and this month's “Difference Maker” is Jhillika Kumar, whose LinkedIn-like platform matches neurodiverse job candidates with employers. It also features a ''Just the Facts'' presentation from Drs. A.J. Marsden and Nicki Nance on the benefits to employers of nurturing a neurodiverse workplace.

This episode of "A World of Difference" examines the first three decades of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a Q&A with Haley Moss, Florida's first openly autistic attorney, reflections from disability advocates Dr. George J. Hagerty, president of Beacon College, and author/filmmaker/disability activist Quinn Bradlee, founder of Friends of Quinn. The show also includes an extended intimate interview with this month's "Difference Maker," retired U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, the lead sponsor of the ADA.

Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida is a nonprofit liberal arts school and America's first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating primarily students with learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences.

"A World of Difference" is a newsmagazine style show that celebrates and educates parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, employers, and more on how to navigate the journey of neurodiversity.

This episode focuses on helping parents prepare their children for success once they return to in-person learning on campus following the COVID cocoon. It includes a feature on the Sleboda family and how COVID impacted their son's academics.

It includes expert strategies for supporting children's successful return to school and Q&As with parents, and a "Difference Makers" profile on Matt Morgan, a former WWE professional wrestler turned mayor of Longwood, Florida, who has wrestled ADD all his life.

The show is produced by Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, a nonprofit liberal arts school and America's first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating primarily neurodiverse students.

"A World of Difference" is an new TV show and podcast that celebrates and supports families navigating the journey of neurodiversity. Episodes feature profiles of families with children from kindergarten to college with learning disabilities and learning differences, provides advice from experts from Beacon College, America's first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating neurodiverse students, and salutes "Difference Makers," successful and/or famous individuals living with learning differences.