My Story

Hello, I’m JoAnn! I’m so glad you’re here.

As a mother of two elementary-aged children—one of whom is neurodivergent—I understand the emotional rollercoaster that comes with parenting a differently wired child. The highs are exhilarating, but the lows can feel overwhelming. A decade ago, I was in your shoes—navigating the challenges without a clear roadmap, constantly second-guessing myself, and wishing for a guide to help me through pivotal moments.

Now, I’m here to be that sherpa for you.

Parent Like a Sleuth

With a background in research and analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency and expertise in designing change management systems for large organizations, I’ve developed a unique ability to ask the right questions, uncover root causes, and identify the most effective levers to create meaningful change.

How Does This Apply to Parenting?

Effective parenting—especially when raising a neurodivergent child—requires curiosity, intuition, and flexibility. And, a child with developmental delays or disabilities presents you with a set of unique requirements, which evolve as a result of shifting social dynamics, medication adjustments, sleep patterns, you name it!

I bring the same inquisitive, analytical, and collaborative approach to parent coaching, helping you:

✔ Uncover the root causes of challenging behaviors
✔ Identify triggers (both yours and your child’s)
✔ Leverage your child’s strengths and interests to create sustainable, personalized strategies

My Mission

I’m here to educate, empower, and equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support your child from Kindergarten through the tween years.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Let’s work together to build a parenting roadmap that fosters balance, connection, and growth—for both you and your child.

Neurodiversity Advocate JoAnn Perry
Neurodiversity Advocate JoAnn Perry

“I will never forget the feeling of complete overwhelm and paralysis after receiving the results of my son’s neuropsych evaluation. In most situations, I consider myself to be pretty smart and capable, but when I was presented with a series of diagnoses, with corresponding medical terminology and recommendations to comprehend and act on, I had trouble understanding and processing what actually needed to be done. In retrospect, what would have been invaluable in that moment was a calm, knowledgeable, and trustworthy guide to help me get unstuck and figure out my first step, then my second and maybe even my third.”

-Nicole, mother of 3

 

“With two young boys, both diagnosed as neurodivergent, our family often felt out of control. Sibling fighting, big emotions, disobedience, lack of self-care, you name it. NeuroNest helped us as parents by talking through real life behavioral challenges we were experiencing at home, looking at potential causes of these behaviors, and working together to find actionable steps that better equipped us as parents to support our kids. These conversations helped us feel like we weren’t alone in this journey. We’ve seen improvement in our children’s behavior as a result of the strategies we’ve implemented at home and also learned how to set reasonable expectations for the kids and ourselves. We are forever grateful for the relationship we built with JoAnn at NeroNest and the positive impacts it has had on our family life.”

– Parents of two boys, ages 6 and 9