Difference Makers Brandie and Daniel D’Orazio

From college funds opened before a child can walk to collegiate onesies, prep schools, and SAT tutors, college for many families is a foregone conclusion — an expectation rather than a question. But for neurodivergent students, the path is rarely that linear. Academic struggles can leave parents questioning whether college is even a possibility.

Difficulties connecting socially can spark parental fears about how their newly independent young adult will navigate life without the familiar comfort of home. And the supports needed to make a successful leap from high school to higher education often fall outside what traditional college prep culture imagines.

It can be a crooked path — but one that, with patience, planning, and determination, can help students arrive at college ready to succeed on their own terms.

In this episode, we explore what it truly takes for neurodivergent students to thrive in that transition — not just to get into college, but to stay, to grow, and excel. Meet our latest Difference Makers — a couple who, when faced with the challenge of finding schools that met their neurodivergent children’s needs, turned education into a DIY project that ultimately served both their family and their community.