Fish in a Tree serves all Neurodivergent people.
Executive Director
Bridgette Hamstead
Bridgette Hamstead is a neurodiversity consultant, educator, and advocate. She has a Master of Science degree in human development and family science, as well as other degrees in psychology and human behavioral sciences. As the founding director of Fish in a Tree, she is dedicated to creating a world where neurodivergent individuals are celebrated, supported, and embraced. Bridgette's passion for this work stems from her own personal experiences as someone who is Autistic and ADHD, as well as a parent to neurodivergent children. She understands the challenges that come with navigating a world that isn't always designed with neurodiversity in mind, but she also sees the incredible strength and resilience of the neurodiverse community.
Bridgette has consulted on numerous community projects, public spaces, productions, company DEI plans, neuro-accessibility and neuro-inclusion initiatives, and more in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee for the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the New Orleans Public Schools Superintendent’s Community Advisory Council and was named an Activist of the Year 2023 by the Saint Charles Avenue Magazine. Before founding Fish in a Tree, Bridgette served as the Program Director of the Computing for Youth with Autism Program at Families Helping Families NOLA, where she specialized in securing education, training, support, and employment for autistic young adults in computer-related careers in the tech industry in New Orleans. She also worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Louisiana Rehabilitation Services and the Volunteer Coordinator at the Baton Rouge Food Bank. These experiences gave her valuable insights into working with individuals with an array of intersectional experiences, and neurodiverse conditions.
Bridgette is passionate about making a difference in the world and creating a more inclusive society where neurodivergent individuals are valued and celebrated for the unique perspectives and strengths they bring. She firmly believes that everyone has something to contribute, and that diversity is a strength that should be celebrated and embraced. Through her work at Fish in a Tree, Bridgette is dedicated to promoting neurodiversity acceptance, providing support and resources to neurodivergent individuals and their families, and educating the wider community about the value of neurodivergent perspectives. She is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
Watch Fish in a Tree’s founding director, Bridgette Hamstead, discuss Neurodiversity and Inclusion on the InDialogue series presented by the Louisiana Children’s Museum.
