Director
Neurodiverse Workforce Development
Maria O’Donnell is passionate about fostering inclusive communities and empowering neurodiverse individuals.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at Simmons University.
During her time at Boston College, Maria worked as a job coach with the Supported Employment Program, where she developed strong working relationships with the individuals in her caseload, and saw firsthand the positive impact that employing workers with developmental disabilities has on working culture.
While at Simmons, her practicum at MassArt’s Aspire Program allowed her to support students with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. In this role, Maria helped students develop essential self-advocacy skills, navigate friendships, enhance communication, and manage academic responsibilities. She also collaborated closely with the Aspire coordinator to set and evaluate individualized goals, ensuring each student received the support they needed to thrive.
Founder & CEO
Maryanne J. O’Donnell, PhD has proven success in start-ups. After success in the biotech industry, she shifted her focus to working with the neurodiverse community.
Dr. O’Donnell has a passion for recognizing each individual’s strengths and identifying opportunities where those strengths can shine in the forefront of a workplace.
Dr. O'Donnell has compiled a team of talented, energetic individuals as the foundation for the mission. Each BrightBridge team member recognizes the dignity of every individual and the importance of work in fulfilling that dignity.
"We will never tire from upholding
the dignity of work"
- Pope Francis
BrightBridge: Your Partner in Neurodiverse Workforce Integration
BrightBridge fills a need that exists in the recruiting industry. To date, recruiting companies have focused primarily on neurotypical individuals, while placements of neurodiverse individuals have taken place through government agencies.
BrightBridge fills that gap with a high-energy, targeted approach to build on existing relationships and build a value-added bridge between employers and neurodiverse employees.