Meet Gayle Y. Fisher | Educator-Parent, Empowering the World of Learning Differences and Neurodiversity

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gayle Y. Fisher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gayle Y., every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My son was in deep trouble. He had almost died before age 2 in an anaphylactic reaction to fire ants. I fell into a very large hole of research and interventions. I really couldn’t sleep or eat. It was hard to breathe, all I could do to keep my head on straight. Early on, I started putting all I had learned onto my website, to help others, to collect my thoughts, to attempt to find peace of mind.

I landed as a pro-bono adjunct at my local junior college, and I just kept talking and sharing everything I unearthed regarding childhood developmental delays and learning interventions from every perspective of therapy.

I am good with computers, and took advantage of all the early website tools to not lose information. Time goes so fast, we are distracted easily. I wanted other parents to be able to prioritize their interventions straightaway, faster, to give them what I had learned.

Now, 16 years or so into it, I have got all my best stuff documented. Each day, I can move forward with my sons as they both develop on their unique trajectories, toward their very different purposes. I keep offering train-the-trainer content on what I am learning, how I interpret it through our family experiences.

There was a time I couldn’t talk fast enough, #HairOnFire. As it continued to become posted and searchable, my Vulcan Mind Dump is online for anyone free of charge, in a lovely educational octopus of links, multi-modal teaching methods, creative content and the humor I want to share with my fellow overwhelmed families.

It’s not so much a business model to make a lot of money. That’s never been the intention. I keenly remember my desperation, and just can’t take money from fellow special-needs parents. So, it probably isn’t accurate to call it all a “business”. Rather, it’s a mission.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always had a camera in my hand. From the ancient days of 110 and 126 cartridges, through today’s digital tools, it’s always been my art form. Give me a pencil, you will get a stick figure. Give me a keyboard and a digital file and I will get you something far more entertaining!

In education, we call it Backwards Design. In curriculum creation, using Universal Design, any “student” can benefit, can learn. And if you laugh and have a good time, it will stick in long-term memory much better.

I am also part stand-up comedian, extroverted, in sales my entire life, and love to get you laughing at my antics.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have lived in the Houston area several times in my life, it is always full of cultural surprises and history. We’d visit all the museums and ethnic pockets …. where we will find the best food, for sure. As for interesting and exciting people, I always like to get sad and neutral faces to smile.

Recently, we’ve had Hurricane Beryl come through, wrecking havoc with electricity, trees, internet, and life routines. As an example, I’ve had happy experiences with asking many strangers if they got their power back. Without exception, this humanity connection always brings sentences leading to longer conversations.

The best people are the quiet heroes, minding their own business until someone breaks the ice. We would have the best interactions because we would take the risks of speaking first, and ask about their lives. Or perhaps, you would hate hanging out with me. I have often embarrassed my kids by being the extrovert, and yet I see my sons mellowing into the habit of reaching out, taking quiet joy in the everyday. We would make our own fun, I promise.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Donna Smith-Burns got me started at Lone Star College-Montgomery through a connection with Gary Louie during my internship with Education For Tomorrow Alliance.
Dr. Kendal Stewart got me started in the medical and immune system, anti-inflammation interventions.
All my Train-the-Trainer contacts gave me a opportunity to share, and I post the organization names and logos, learner photos, catalog of workshops at every chance I get.
I do my utmost to tag my fellow participants on all the social media platforms I use and at GettingSorted.com.
With our 501.c.3 team, I thank our current and past Board members.
I have used Angela Campos, Virtual Assistant for years now, and still do.
Christina Tervay has made our current logo series.
Everyone in our learning village has contributed to our group knowledge. None of us could have done it solo. It would have been far too lonely and discouraging.

Website: https://gettingsorted.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaylefisher/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayleyfisher/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayleYessFisher/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GayleYess

Other: https://gettingsorted.com/first-responder-supports

Image Credits
Dr. Carrie Cutler took one in her classroom. The rest are taken by myself or friends.