PALS Meeting Minutes
January 29, 2025 9:30 a.m.
Virtual Meeting using Zoom
Let Neurodiversity Shine! Today we were joined by Johanna Murphy, Inclusion Program Director at Evolve Coaching, which provides specialized individual and group coaching programs to help neurodivergent individuals meet their personal and professional goals.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, and an appetite for learning how to do things, Joey, whose only plan was to become a rock star, has divided her time between work and performing by learning; accounting, auto body repair, carpentry, basic machining, early-era web design, sales and marketing. She’s done professional marketing and development work for music distribution companies, outreach work in the region’s workforce development community, produced and promoted concerts, launched a newsletter for Pittsburgh’s western neighborhoods, flipped houses, worked as a freelance writer, an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and rescued pets.
Now that may sound like a lot to some but probably not to this crowd when I share that at the age of 42 Joey was diagnosed with Aspergers / ASD1. Her restlessness and inability to settle on one career finally made sense. She now enjoys helping young people make sense of the world as they grow into adults, and using her writing skills to advocate for Autism awareness for older women.
Celebrating 10 years of supporting neurodivergent individuals, Evolve Coaching,
" was established in an effort to provide a support service that is vastly different from the norm: a service that empowers neurodiverse college students and job seekers to feel confident in their abilities to advocate for themselves, manage their workloads, and achieve self-defined success."
and
"strives to address and remedy institutional, cultural and cognitive systems of oppression. We seek to hold organizations, institutions, and ourselves accountable for repairing cultural erasures and harmful assumptions. We work to educate our communities and raise awareness of neurodiversity in its many intersecting forms. We do this by working to close the services gap created by systemic inequities that marginalize communities of color, low income communities, and New American communities."
Over these 10 years, Evolve Coaching has positively impacted the community by:
serving over 1000+ individuals
92% of college coaching clients have graduated from a post-secondary program
90% of clients seeking work have been gainfully employed
delivered arts programming to more than 400 youth and adults aged 10+
provided corporate trainings, delivered on-the-job support, and promoted the hiring of adults with developmental disabilities for more than 100 Pittsburgh employers
Evolve Coaching focuses on a client's individual needs and interests. It is through those interests that, over time, individuals become empowered, more confident in themselves and their abilities. By focusing on an individual's interests, coaches use something their client is passionate about as a foundation while building skills that meet their personal and professional goals.
"Through one-on-one coaching services, social groups, and peer mentorship, Evolve provides each client with individualized support to help them meet their goals."
For instance:
a client begins with individual or group coaching support identifying their interest with a focus on translating that into a professional experience.
becoming more confident in their own ability a client may then enter an apprenticeship program with a local company, like:
a client who enters the Evolve Coaching Summer Film Camp becomes more confident in working within a group
that client/participant develops the skills and self confidence to become an Evolve Summer Camp counselor
resulting in a participant that can work well within a team, lead by example, gain experience to note on their resume and can be used in the workforce or in an educational setting.
Using this methodology, Evolve Coaching provides:
allowing participants' neurodiversity shine.
Additionally, Evolve Coaches works with people of varying ages:
College and Work support 17+
Camps 12+ (ESY compatible)
Art programs varying ages
Lastly; Joey reminded us of the Achieva Family Trust's Charitable Residual Program which provides supplemental supports and services for children and adults with disabilities and a demonstrated.
If you have an interest but aren't sure of age we strongly recommend resching out to Evolve Coaching. You can also reach out to Joey directly if you have any questions.
Take a look at the Slide Deck Joey provided during our meeting.
During our meeting Joey used Bubbles Notetaker, an workplace accomadation she uses as a follow-up tool after meetings, helping her be completely involved in a meeting without worrying she might forget something along the way. Trying out many AI tools, Joey found Bubbles Notetaker to meet all her expectations. Bubbles Notetaker is;
"an AI notetaker that turns every meeting into action and helps you skip the unnecessary ones."
"Bubbles Notetaker securely records, transcribes, and take notes so you can focus on what matters: being present and having clear after-actions for your team."
"End meetings with immediate to-do items, and a home to collaborate on that meeting’s topic and organize feedback. After, create channels for conversations with specific teammates or externals."
ESY: Extended School Year
It's that time of year again, when IEP Teams start discussing (or not) Extended School Year services (ESY). We will definitely have an indepth conversation about ESY including procedures, possibilities, and timelines during our February virtual meeting. In the meantime, take a look back at previous conversations we have held about ESY, including links to important resources like the PaTTEN Extended School Year Services in Pennsylvania booklet and teacher's quick reference page.
PALS January Family Meet-Up
Haley Young, Director of Operations at River Academy of Excellence (RAE) put together a fantastic, MYO (Make Your Own) Pancake Breakfast Event and PALS came along for the January Family Meet-up. RAE staff members welcomed guests, gave a tour of the school, shared the experience of a school day, helped children experience the therapeutic gym area, provided a craft, and cooked delicious pancakes. Read more here.
PALS February Family Meet-up
There are a few days left to R.S.V.P. to our February Family Meet-Up! We are excited to host a family meet-up on Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 11:00am–1:00pm at Zone 28 for two hours of group bowling including a pizza and cookie bar and non-alcoholic drinks. Bowling shoes are included and rubber sole shoes are welcome. Bring your kids, sibs, and friends for a great morning of fun! This is a great opportunity to meet other families in your community and learn more about PALS. This is a free event! Please R.S.V.P. by January 31, 2025.
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Next Meeting: February 26, 2025 9:30 a.m. Virtual Meeting using Zoom.
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