Welcome to the Autism, ADHD podcast. I am so happy that you join me today. I want to take a moment and ask for your help. Please take just a second and give the podcast a five-star review.

This will help me continue the podcast and keep bringing you

helpful information. Thanks so much again for taking the time to give that five-star review. Now,

let's get started. Welcome Michelle Ridsdale to the Autism-AdHD podcast.

Amazing. Thanks for having me, Holly.

I am thrilled that you're here.

I'm going to introduce you to everyone.

As a parent of a child with autism, her experience and advocacy, and through her volunteer work in the autism and disability space,

Michelle has met too many young people struggling to find and make friends.

So she decided to set up a community that could safely facilitate the building of supportive

tribes and allow young people to develop relationships that are

meaningful for them, as well as supporting their journey into employment.

Michelle has over 20 years experience working with leaders and teams across cultures,

countries, and industries.

And in the last nine years, she has been in executive roles, including

chief people officer roles in technology organizations, as well as being a board director

for several non-for-profit organizations. And we're also going to be talking today about her app caboose.

So, Michelle, let's first talk about your interest in social connections and friendships.

And you and I were chatting a little bit about this before we started recording, too,

that making friends and meeting people, it's not that easy.

It's not that easy for anyone, really.

And I think it's particularly challenging for our neurodivergent young people.

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