Social Entrepreneur exists at the intersection of profit and purpose. We tell positive stories from underrepresented voices, focused on solutions.
https://tonyloyd.com
episode 317: Tap into the Strengths of Neurodiversity, with Isabella He
NOTE: For full show notes, see https://tonyloyd.com/isabella-he.
High school students work on behalf of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
In the United States, 1 in 54 children has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Unemployment rates for individuals with ASD are approximately 85%. More than half a million individuals with ASD will enter the workforce in the next decade. The need for specialized vocational training is growing by the minute.
A CDC study found that 50 percent of children with severe ASD only have access to school-based treatment services. And 17 percent of children with ASD do not have access to occupational, speech, or language therapy whatsoever.
At-home therapy is difficult for those with special needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With most in-person therapy sessions closed, many parents of children with ASD don’t have the proper material and guidance to provide effective at-home therapy.
Meet Isabella He
Isabella He is a high school junior at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, CA, and the founder and President of SN Inclusion. SN Inclusion is a nonprofit organization that provides career-technical education to neurodiverse individuals. She is also a co-founder of AUesome, a social enterprise that offers at-home therapy kits to children with autism.
Isabella is also an intern at the Stanford Neurodiversity Project and a dedicated volunteer and program coordinator at Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN).
Other AUesome co-founders include fellow high school students Anshul Gupta, Andrew Kim, and Arnav Gurudatt.
Learn More About Isabella He, SN Inclusion and AUesome:
- SN Inclusion: https://sninclusion.org
- AUesome: https://auesome.co
- SN Inclusion on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sninclusion
- SN Inclusion on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SN-Inclusion-102768024862916
- AUesome on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auesome.co
- Isabella He on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-kai-he/
- Isabella He on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iisabellahe
- Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN): https://fcsn1996.org
- Stanford Neurodiversity Project: https://med.stanford.edu/neurodiversity.html