Episode 324: Beven Byrnes on Transition, Structure & Predictability

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, host Brook Olsen sits down with Beven Burns, Executive Director of Bridges Middle School, the only middle school in Oregon exclusively serving neurodivergent students. Beven shares how her school builds belonging, confidence, and community for kids with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence — helping them move from feeling excluded to feeling truly understood. The conversation dives into the shame and stigma many families carry, the power of viewing neurodivergence through an asset-based lens rather than a deficit-based one, and practical strategies for parents — especially in co-parenting households — like the power of the pause, mindful breathing, and building predictable routines. Beven also recommends resources like understood.org for parents seeking support and tools to navigate neurodivergence at home and at school.