50. Learning Differently: Understanding Neurodiversity (Siena Castellon)

Everyone’s brain is wired differently, some more different than others, but none are the same. Understanding these differences, their strengths and challenges, are important to realize our full potential, learn better and work together. Siena Castellon is an 18-year-old neurodiversity advocate and best selling author of the wonderful book The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic. At the age of 12, Siena was diagnosed as autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic and ADHD. As she searched for information to better understand these labels, she realized that the information she was looking for did not exist. This inspired her to set up a mentoring website for other people like her, to give practical tips and advice on how to navigate a world along neurotypical lines. Siena has gone on to have many great achievements that have helped and supported countless individuals. She launched Neurodiversity Celebration Week, an international campaign that aims to challenge negative perceptions and stereotypes about autism and learning differences by encouraging schools to flip the narrative from focusing on the challenges of being neurodivergent to focusing on strengths and talents. Over 760 schools and over half a million students from around the world took part in 2020. Siena has also won the 2018 Teen Hero BBC Radio One for her inspiring work. I’m thrilled to have her on the podcast to discuss the importance of understanding how people think and learn differently. Siena Castellon: https://twitter.com/NCWeek Neurodiversity Celebration Week: https://www.neurodiversity-celebration-week.com/ Book: The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic https://www.amazon.ca/Spectrum-Girls-Survival-Guide-Autistic/dp/178775183X