DEDICATION

While our collective draws from various roots, our story begins with a seed that blossomed into a blade of grass, not merely reaching towards the sun, as is common, but ambitiously stretching through the darkness for the stars. This effort is dedicated in memory of Matthew Finnigan, aka Starblade — autistic, queer, and twice-exceptional, who aspired to study trends relating to biological, environmental, and personal factors that might alleviate challenges associated with autism. His chosen name, Starblade, originated in his childhood when he embraced the identity of a dragon. In his writings, he encouraged his readers to 'look on the bright side of life,' inspiring us as we acknowledge that braving the shadows leads us to uncover the insight – or the light - that lies beyond.​At the NeuroScapes Design Collective, our story is akin to that of a seed emerging into a blade reaching for the stars --- as our vision is to redefine the future of design, creating environments that respond to, reflect, and celebrate the neurological diversity of our communities. Starblade's legacy lives on through this collective, as his life isn't one of the roots; it is the seed.