Ankyra is transforming the way parents of neurodivergent children get support, through empathy, expertise, and personalized coaching.
Raising a neurodivergent child is a journey unlike any other. The challenges that parents face often feel insurmountable, especially when there’s a lack of understanding or support from others who truly get it. For parents of children with ADHD, autism, other neurodivergent traits, and mental health challenges, finding the right help can often feel like navigating an ocean of advice that isn’t always tailored to their child’s needs. That’s where Ankyra steps in.
Ankyra isn’t just another parenting program. It’s a transformative approach that blends lived experience with professional expertise to offer parents personalized, real-world support. Founded by Gabriela Lavezzari, a mother who has walked the challenging path of raising a neurodivergent child herself, Ankyra is redefining how families navigate the complexities of neurodivergent parenting. What makes Ankyra different is its unwavering commitment to meeting parents exactly where they are, providing them with the tools and empathy they need to thrive.
The Struggles Behind the Smile: Gabriela’s Journey
Before becoming the founder of Ankyra, Gabriela Lavezzari had a successful career as an executive in life sciences. Her career was promising, but something was missing. She had everything on paper: a thriving career, recognition, and financial stability, but she was also a mother facing the overwhelming challenges of raising a daughter with ADHD, autism, anxiety and depression.
Gabriela remembers a moment in her driveway when everything came to a head. Her daughter’s diagnosis was a whirlwind of emotions: confusion, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. Despite seeking professional advice, Gabriela found that the available resources didn’t address the lived reality of raising a neurodivergent child. “The advice wasn’t wrong, it just didn’t fit,” Gabriela reflects. “It felt impersonal, like no one truly understood what we were going through. I felt like I was sinking.”
Rather than accepting the status quo, Gabriela decided to take action. She transformed her frustration into a mission: to create a solution for parents like her. She didn’t just want to provide generic advice, she wanted to create a resource that could offer support rooted in real-world understanding. From her experience, Gabriela knew that parents didn’t need more information, they needed personalized solutions and compassion.
Ankyra’s Unique Approach: Combining Empathy and Expertise
Ankyra’s foundation rests on Gabriela’s belief that parents need more than just advice; they need someone who understands their struggles from the inside out. This understanding forms the core of Ankyra’s approach: combining Gabriela’s lived experience with professional training. She didn’t just become a mother of a neurodivergent child: she became an advocate, a listener, and a coach who could speak from a place of personal experience.
Gabriela is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor and a mental health coach. These qualifications, coupled with her lived experience as a mother, empower her to offer practical, actionable coaching. She is not just telling parents what to do; she is guiding them with empathy, offering advice that is rooted in real challenges and solutions that are immediately applicable.
“Parents of neurodivergent children often feel alone, even in a crowd,” Gabriela says. “They’re not just looking for information, they’re looking for understanding. They want to know that someone ‘gets it.’”
This is where Ankyra excels. Unlike other programs or resources that offer generic advice, Ankyra tailors its coaching to each family’s specific needs. No two families are the same, and Ankyra recognizes this. The journey of each parent is different, and so the support they receive must reflect that reality.
Personalized Coaching: The Heart of Ankyra’s Support
One of the most significant aspects of Ankyra’s impact is its emphasis on personalized coaching. Parents are not given a one-size-fits-all solution; they are guided through their unique challenges with the understanding that their child’s journey is one-of-a-kind. Whether it’s managing behavioral challenges, or learning new coping strategies, Ankyra’s unique approach is designed to meet each parent where they are, offering tools that fit their needs.
Coaching is not just about helping parents manage difficult moments. Ankyra’s coaching is designed to build long-term success and confidence. Parents are empowered with tools that don’t just help them survive, but allow them to thrive as confident advocates for their children.
Building a Community of Like-Minded Parents
One of the most isolating aspects of parenting a neurodivergent child is the feeling of being alone. Many parents feel as though they are the only ones experiencing the challenges they face, even though neurodivergent children are more common than many people realize. Ankyra addresses this sense of isolation by creating a vibrant community of empowered parents. This supportive network is built on shared experiences and a commitment to learning and growing together.
Within this community, parents find a space where they can share victories, struggles, and advice without judgment. Ankyra’s parent community becomes a safe space to discuss challenges openly, offering a level of understanding that only fellow parents of neurodivergent children can provide. This camaraderie helps reduce the feelings of isolation and reminds parents that they are not alone in their journey.
Practical Tools for Daily Life: Empowering Parents to Advocate
In addition to coaching and community support, Ankyra offers practical tools that parents can apply to their daily lives. Whether it’s learning how to navigate your child’s mental health challenges, or developing positive behavior strategies, Ankyra gives parents the tools they need to make a difference in their children’s and their own life.
“We don’t just talk about problems, we offer actionable solutions that parents can implement immediately,” Gabriela says. “Every family has different needs, and by providing personalized coaching, we ensure that each parent gets the tools they need to thrive.”
The goal is simple: to empower parents to become strong advocate for their children while maintaining their own wellbeing. Ankyra emphasizes the importance of self-care, recognizing that when parents take care of themselves, they are better equipped to support their children.
A Legacy of Empowerment: Changing the Narrative Around Neurodivergence
Gabriela’s ultimate mission is to change the way society views neurodivergence. She believes that the journey of raising a neurodivergent child should not be one of hardship but of empowerment. By providing personalized support, building community, and offering practical tools, Ankyra is challenging the narrative and redefining what it means to parent a neurodivergent child.
“The way the world views neurodivergence needs to change,” Gabriela says. “We need to stop seeing it as a deficit and start seeing it as part of the beautiful diversity of humanity. Our job as parents is not just to cope, it’s to empower our children and ourselves to thrive.”
From Surviving to Thriving
Ankyra’s unique approach is making a significant difference in the lives of parents with neurodivergent children. By combining empathy, professional expertise, and personalized support, Ankyra is giving parents the tools they need to transform their journeys, from merely surviving to truly thriving. With a vibrant community of like-minded parents and a commitment to building a future of empowered families, Ankyra is not just changing the way we view neurodivergent parenting, it’s changing lives.
Parents no longer have to walk their journey alone. With Ankyra, they have the anchor they need to face the storm and chart a course for a brighter future.
To learn more about how Ankyra can help you and your family, visit Ankyra’s Website.
