73 - Zorina Pritchett and Fostering Independence in Your Child

In this episode of the Every Brain is Different podcast, hosts Samantha and Lauren welcome Zorina Pritchett, a disabled army veteran, and retired civil servant who ventured into game creation to support neurodivergent children.Zorina shares her journey of launching her business in 2023 to design quick play card games that foster social connections, inspired by her childhood struggles with focus and her brother's brain damage. She beautifully narrates the impact of her flagship game, Zomatic Shift, and a new game called Pass and Play that promotes cognitive flexibility and social engagement among children with special needs.The conversation underscores the importance of kindness, non-judgment, and giving neurodivergent individuals the space to thrive authentically, emphasizing that every brain is unique yet deserving of love and support. Zorina also discusses the necessity of studying and understanding children's individual needs to better support them and shares her dream of creating even more inclusive games by partnering with parents and clinicians in the neurodivergent community. 00:55 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:10 Zorina's Journey and Mission01:41 Involvement in the NeuroDivergent Community03:57 Creating Inclusive Games for Children07:42 Supporting Neurodivergent Thinkers10:28 Resources and Personal Experiences18:42 Empowering Independence and Advocacy30:35 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom36:21 Samantha and Lauren's Reflections and Closing Remarks Connect with Samantha Foote!Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.comEmail: [email protected] Connect with Samantha Foote!Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferentYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@everybrainisdifferent