2025-04-29 • 44 min
ND Connect: Neurodivergent Mentorship and Friendship with Eliana Bravos and Jacob Estep
Autistic Techie
Play
Summary
You've said this to yourself: "I need a friend! Someone who gets it!" Enter ND Connect, a website whose mission is to connect neurodivergent people with friends, mentors, and other like-minded folk who actually understand what it means to be neurodivergent. You don't have to go into the world alone all the time. If you could meet people who've gone through similar struggles as you, whose brains operate similarly, and can provide you with actually relevant advice, you'd wanna find them, right? I got to talk with two of the cofounders of ND Connect: Eliana Bravos and Jacob Estep and learn all about their journeys with neurodiversity, founding the website, and how their brains really work!
You've said this to yourself: "I need a friend! Someone who gets it!" Enter ND Connect, a website whose mission is to connect neurodivergent people with friends, mentors, and other like-minded folk who actually understand what it means to be neurodivergent. You don't have to go into the world alone all the time. If you could meet people who've gone through similar struggles as you, whose brains operate similarly, and can provide you with actually relevant advice, you'd wanna find them, right? I got to talk with two of the cofounders of ND Connect: Eliana Bravos and Jacob Estep and learn all about their journeys with neurodiversity, founding the website, and how their brains really work!
Join ND Connect and find Eliana & Jacob on the web:
ND Connect: https://www.ndconnect.app/
Eliana Bravos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliana-bravos/
Jacob Estep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob--estep/
ND Connect is a platform for neurodivergent mentorship and connections.
Personal experiences of neurodivergent individuals shape the mission of ND Connect.
Building community is essential for neurodivergent individuals.
Burnout can stem from a lack of agency and support.
Creating a supportive work environment is crucial for team success.
ND Connect has facilitated over 800 mentorship connections.
The platform aims to democratize access to mentorship for neurodivergent people.
Community feedback is vital for the growth of ND Connect.
The founders prioritize mental health and well-being in their work.
Future plans include expanding peer support groups and resources.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to ND Connect
01:04 The Origin Story of ND Connect
05:18 Navigating Neurodiversity and Connection Challenges
09:04 Acknowledging and Accepting Neurodiversity
17:43 The Importance of Community and Self-Care
19:22 Building ND Connect: Growth and Strategy
21:55 Prioritizing Community Needs
22:44 The Impact of Mentorship
24:57 Building a Cooperative Structure
27:34 Community Engagement and Feedback
31:08 Creating a Supportive Work Environment
37:55 Future Directions for NT Connect