Our Story.
Why Rise Forward Group Exists.
Rise Forward Group was created to offer thoughtful, accessible support for neurodivergent individuals and families navigating learning, regulation, and everyday life. Our work is shaped by both lived experience and professional involvement with neurodivergent individuals across home, school, and real-world settings.
We saw a need for support that felt grounded and realistic — not overwhelming, clinical, or disconnected from daily life. Rise Forward exists to bridge understanding with practical tools that families and individuals can actually use.
Who We Are.
Co-founders, Nancy and Michelle bring complementary perspectives—blending professional expertise with lived and relational experience to create support that feels grounded, respectful, and practical. They share a belief that when people understand their nervous systems and feel supported in their bodies and everyday environments, growth becomes possible. Their work is guided by the understanding that regulation, connection, and compassion are the foundation for lasting, meaningful change.
Michelle Silva
Co-Founder | Master’s Level Occupational Therapist
Michelle’s work has always been grounded in understanding how the body, brain, and environment shape the way people experience the world. As a licensed and registered Master’s-Level Occupational Therapist, she has spent years working directly with neurodivergent children and their families—supporting regulation, sensory processing, emotional awareness, and developmental growth in meaningful, practical ways.
Michelle is deeply experienced in creating and using regulation tools alongside children and families, helping them understand what their nervous systems need and how to respond with intention and care. Her approach emphasizes body-based regulation, building emotional awareness, and shaping environments that support learning, connection, and confidence. She is also passionate about education, helping individuals and families understand the tools, services, and supports that exist for people with neurodivergence, and how to access and use them effectively.
Until recently, Michelle owned and operated a pediatric home health company, where she worked closely with families in their everyday environments. Over time, she recognized that while one-on-one work is powerful, it limited how many people she could reach. With a desire to make support more accessible and impactful, she chose to step into a new chapter—co-founding Rise Forward Group to expand her reach and support families on a broader scale.
Michelle believes that when people understand their nervous systems and feel supported in their bodies and environments, growth becomes possible. Her work is guided by the belief that regulation, connection, and understanding are the foundation for lasting change.
Nancy S. Gray
Co-Founder | Master’s Level Social Worker
Nancy’s work has always been centered on people—especially those navigating life with busy minds, big emotions, and the daily responsibilities of caring for others. She is a Master’s-Level Social Worker with over 15 years of professional experience supporting individuals and families through real-life challenges, both in their homes and within their communities. Her approach has consistently focused on listening deeply, offering education that empowers, and advocating for people as they navigate complex and often overwhelming circumstances.
Throughout her career, Nancy has had extensive experience directly connecting families to the support they so desperately needed—helping them feel less alone and more capable during moments of stress, transition, and uncertainty. In addition to her direct work with families, she also brings experience working in administration within a pediatric home health company, giving her valuable insight into how services are delivered and how systems impact families in real life. This combination of hands-on and administrative experience has shaped her commitment to creating support that feels accessible, thoughtful, and responsive.
Nancy is an individual with neurodivergence and navigates life alongside immediate family members who are also neurodivergent. These personal experiences, combined with her professional background, have deepened her understanding of regulation, resilience, and the importance of feeling understood rather than judged. After years of supporting others within traditional systems, Nancy chose to shift the trajectory of her career—bringing together her professional experience and passion for creative storytelling to help individuals and families impacted by neurodiversity navigate life with confidence, clarity, and hope. She believes that support should help people recognize their strengths, not feel “less than,” and that everyone deserves tools created with care and respect.
Our Mission.
Our mission is to support neurodivergent individuals and families through thoughtful, accessible, and practical tools that strengthen regulation, learning, and everyday life. We exist to bridge understanding with real-world support that feels grounded, respectful, and sustainable.
Our Vision.
We envision a world where neurodivergent individuals are understood, supported, and empowered — not pressured to conform. We believe families deserve support that honors how neurodivergent minds work and provides tools that foster confidence, connection, and long-term growth.
Our Values.
Neurodiversity-Affirming.
We honor neurodivergent minds as differences, not deficits, and focus on understanding rather than fixing.
Regulation First.
We believe emotional and nervous system regulation is the foundation for learning, growth, and connection.
Real-Life Support.
Support should fit real routines and relationships, offering practical tools that are usable in everyday life.
Steady, Strengths-Based Growth.
We build confidence through consistency, collaboration, and a focus on strengths — not pressure or quick fixes.
We’re here to support you and your family with personalized guidance, practical tools, and compassionate care. Reach out to learn more about our offerings.
