Inclusive education and Down syndrome advocacy – with Sheri Brynard
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Release Date: 12/02/2024
Schizoaffective disorder – with Sonido Reyes
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Sonido Reyes is an award-winning and bestselling author who is best known for tackling difficult topics through a hopeful lens. They write stories celebrating their own queer and Mexican identities, including The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, The Broposal, and The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. They also have contributed short stories to the anthologies Transmogrify! and For the Rest of Us. Sonido is also the vice-president of My Galvanized Friend, a nonprofit focused on providing access to and amplifying LGBTQ+ writing, art, and creators. During this...
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Neurodivergent communication differences – with Patti Kasper
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
This episode is a special collaboration between Beyond 6 Seconds and the Living with FASD podcast hosted by Patti Kasper. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are lifelong conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can impact physical, cognitive, and behavioral development. FASD is a type of neurodivergence, but it’s often left out of conversations about neurodivergence. This episode is part of a series that Patti is doing on her podcast to help bring FASD into those conversations. We discuss what communication differences can feel like for people with certain types of...
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Disability Community for Democracy – with Nieta Greene
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Nieta Greene is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., an organization focused on safeguarding the rights of individuals within the disability community and providing a platform for political engagement founded on intersectional disability justice. She is a resilient and proud Disabled Puerto Rican, Black, gender non-conforming, gay woman. Nieta openly champions her identity as she advocates for inclusivity and belonging on behalf of those unable to voice their concerns. During this episode, Nieta talks about: Her experience growing up with...
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2025 year-end episode
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
In this year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2025, highlight the variety of topics that my guests and I discussed on my podcast, and share what podcasting-related things I’ve been up to this year! I also reflect on several challenges that the neurodivergent and disability communities are facing in the United States, and share my focus for the year ahead. , which also contains links to some of the other podcasts and resources I mention in this episode. Support or sponsor this podcast at ! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and...
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The Introverted Misfit – with Caroline Smith
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Caroline Smith founded her business, The Introverted Misfit, to help shy, awkward introverts become socially confident versions of themselves so they can have healthy, manageable social lives. Because of her experience with being autistic, which was the source of many social difficulties and major social anxiety for her, she knows what it's like to build self-acceptance, self-improvement, and a life that works for individualized needs. Now Caroline helps fellow introverts (whether they are autistic or not) learn how to connect with others, create fruitful relationships, and have a manageable...
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Deafness, Disability and Mental Health – with Kellina Powell
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Kellina Powell, known as the Deaf Queen Boss, is a podcast speaker, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for the deaf and disability communities. She empowers young adults with disabilities to chase their dreams, breaks down barriers around mental health, and educates others about deaf culture and inclusion. During this episode, you will hear Kellina talk about: What it was like for her to grow up deaf from an early age, and her exposure to deaf culture How she educates people about the deaf community and mental health issues The coaching work that she does for people with...
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A Day with No Words – Nonspeaking autism representation with Tiffany Hammond
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Tiffany Hammond is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and disability advocate. She is the author of A Day with No Words, a picture book about a Black mother and son who use a tablet to communicate with each other and the world around them. A Day With No Words successfully normalizes communication methods outside of verbal speech and provides representation of neurodiversity and autism in a way that affirms and celebrates. Through Tiffany’s platform, Fidgets and Fries, she shares stories about autism, identity, and the fullness of Black and disabled family life. She is the proud...
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Advocating for dyslexic students – with Sabrina Fandell
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
As a dyslexic child, Sabrina Fandell had to sit in her school's book closet for her reading lessons. Now she sits on the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association - Dallas Branch. She is passionate about fostering inclusive environments and advocating for neurodivergent students in school. During this episode, Sabrina talks about: Her experience growing up as a child with dyslexia, and as a parent of children who have dyslexia How advancements in technology and teaching methodologies can help students with dyslexia succeed in school Why she got involved with the...
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Ava N. Simmons — STEM entrepreneur and toy designer with dyslexia and dysgraphia
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Ava N. Simmons, also known as Ava The S.T.E.M. Princess®, is a 12-year-old S.T.E.M. Ambassador, Entrepreneur, Toy Designer, Author, and the creator of educational toy brand Team Genius Squad. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in 2021, Ava used S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and entrepreneurial activities to help overcome her academic challenges and build her confidence. To share her learning journey and encourage others, Ava creates engaging S.T.E.M.-based educational videos,...
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Deaf and OCD representation in audio drama — with Caroline Mincks of Seen and Not Heard
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Caroline Mincks is a writer, director, and voice actor who is best known for their audio drama “Seen and Not Heard,” which is about navigating hearing loss as an adult. Seen and Not Heard features disability representation, including deaf, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autistic characters. Caroline also works as a consultant, assisting other creators in making their shows accessible to as many people as possible. During this episode, you will hear Caroline talk about: How their own experience with hearing loss inspired them to create “Seen and Not Heard” How they use sound...
info_outlineContent warning: This episode discusses forced sterilization / removal of reproductive rights.
Shéri Brynard is the only person with Down syndrome in South Africa with a tertiary education diploma in Educare. She achieved this without any special assistance or amendments made to the coursework, and despite the fact that her lectures and study material were only provided in English, which is her second language. She is currently a full-time qualified teacher’s assistant at a Primary School for learners with special educational needs and presents motivational speeches to advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome, all over the world.
Shéri is an international ambassador for all people with Down syndrome, appointed by Down syndrome international (DSi). She represents people with Down syndrome in South Africa at the DSi meetings, as well as at many other international meetings, and at the United Nations, focusing on disability. Shéri believes that all people can choose to make the best of their circumstances, and she is a living example of this choice.
Through her own determination and her family’s support, Sheri has been overcoming prejudice and stigma for her entire life to achieve her dreams. Shéri shares her experiences during this episode, including:
● The barriers she faced to getting her education and working in South Africa, and how her family helped her challenge and overcome people’s bias and assumptions about her
● What inspired her to become a teacher
● What was it like completing her tertiary education in her second language, without any special accommodations from the school
● How she became an advocate who speaks on disability rights
To find out more about Shéri and her work, visit her website at SheriBrynard.co.za, follow her on Facebook or email her mother at Brynard.s @ gmail.com .
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
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*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*