Making neurodivergent lives visible with Melissa Muñoz-Flández

<p>Episode: Making neurodivergent lives visible with Melissa Muñoz-Flández</p><p>How can technology support autistic people across their entire lifespan, without excluding those who cannot afford it?</p><p>In this episode, host Thomas Butcher speaks with Melissa Muñoz-Flández, Founder and CEO of Prisma Neurodivergente and creator of Autistapp. Launched in June 2024, Autistapp is a free mobile application designed for pre-teens, teenagers, and adults – an age group often overlooked in autism-related technologies.</p><p>The app offers ten integrated tools, including pictograms, relaxation resources, an emotions diary addressing alexithymia, autism-related information, and a curated services marketplace. It is financed through ethical advertising and certifications via Prisma Neurodivergente, ensuring users are not required to pay for support.</p><p>Melissa shares the challenges of scaling a social technology initiative in Chile, reflects on the importance of building a team, and describes how being named among the 35 Innovators Under 35 in LATAM by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became a turning point in her journey.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Autism inclusion must extend across the lifespan, not focus only on children</p><p>• Business models must reflect the economic realities of autistic adults</p><p>• Inclusion must be designed with neurodivergent people, not without them</p><p>Resources &amp; Links </p><p>🔗 Programme website: scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org </p><p>📄 <a href="https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/Downloads/ZPScale/PathwaysToZeroBarriers/Season_2/EP_08/Pathways_S02E08_Transcript.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Transcript</a></p><p>✅ <a href="https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/Downloads/ZPScale/PathwaysToZeroBarriers/Season_2/EP_08/Takeaways_S02E08.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Key Takeaways Checklist</a></p><p>🌐 Guest: <a href="https://linktr.ee/autistapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Melissa Muñoz-Flández / Autistapp</a></p><p>📩 Contact: scaling-solutions@zeroproject.org </p><p>Brought to you by </p><p>The Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, and Access to Success.</p><p>Credits </p><p>Host: Thomas Butcher </p><p>Production: Małgorzata Grobelna, Alessandro Gobello, and Judith Hermetter </p><p>Audio Engineering: Antina Zlatkova / Mediengarten</p><p><br></p>