Oct 31, 2024
Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/
Piya's project focused on increasing education and awareness
around neurodiversity advocacy, a topic that is close to her heart.
She began by founding her school's first neurodiversity affinity
group, creating a safe space for neurodivergent youth.
Piya shared her journey of developing workshops and assemblies for
both her peers and teachers, emphasizing the importance of updated
training on neurodiversity. With the support of her school's
learning support team and feedback from neurodivergent students,
she was able to create impactful presentations and a toolkit to
help others start similar initiatives across the country.
We discussed the challenges she faced, particularly in implementing
neurodiversity training at her school, and how she overcame them
through persistence and collaboration with school administration.
Piya also reflected on the rewarding moments of her project,
especially the positive feedback from students who felt represented
and heard.
In addition to her work with Girl Scouts, Piya is involved in the
Miss America organization, where she continues her advocacy for
neurodiversity. She highlighted how her experiences in both
organizations have empowered her and provided her with unique
opportunities to make a difference in her community.
Piya encouraged other Girl Scouts to pursue their Gold Award,
sharing how her passion for neurodiversity advocacy developed
through her previous awards and experiences. She emphasized the
importance of exploring interests and taking advantage of
opportunities, as they can lead to impactful projects and personal
growth.
More About Piya:
Piya Scielzo is an incoming freshman at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Piya has been an active Girl Scout since
1st grade, and is now a lifetime member. She has earned her bronze,
silver, and gold awards. To earn her Gold Award, Piya led a small
team in several neurodiversity initiatives to raise awareness,
promote acceptance, and reduce stigma. She also created and
distributed a comprehensive toolkit with resources for students to
replicate creating a safe space and hosting educational workshops
in their communities across the country. Piya has served on the
Girl Advisory Board for the Nation’s Capital for the past three
years. Outside of Girl Scouts, Piya is the current Miss Montgomery
County’s Teen, under the Miss America Organization. Piya uses her
pageant platform, ‘Think Differently’, to share her neurodiversity
advocacy with a wider audience.
https://www.instagram.com/missmocosteenmd/
Key Takeaways from this episode:
Neurodiversity Advocacy: Piya's Girl Scout Gold Award project
focused on increasing education and awareness about neurodiversity,
highlighting the importance of understanding and supporting
neurodivergent individuals in educational settings.
Community Engagement: Piya successfully engaged with her school's
learning support team and neurodivergent students to create
effective training workshops for teachers, demonstrating the value
of collaboration and feedback in community projects.
Empowerment through Leadership: Piya's involvement in both Girl
Scouts and the Miss America Organization has allowed her to expand
her advocacy work, showing how leadership opportunities can enhance
personal growth and community impact.
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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ