Neurodiversity in Foster Care with The Mcleod Fam

<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Eeka McLeod’s<strong> </strong>journey to building her family began when she made the decision to pursue her dream of adopting a child. After becoming a licensed foster parent while in graduate school, she started welcoming children into her home. Throughout her time fostering, Eeka cared for 18 children and eventually adopted three with disabilities: Eli, Evan and Ella<strong>.</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The self-described “family of misfits'' has made a name for themselves on social media during the pandemic with unapologetically real, hilarious content that showcases the triumphs and challenges of their daily life. Their devoted fanbase includes <strong>126 million likes </strong>and <a href= "https://www.tiktok.com/@themcleodfam?lang=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@themcleodfam?lang%3Den&source=gmail&ust=1655772312571000&usg=AOvVaw2ijjh-ombchKCWznPkU16c"><strong>2.5 million followers</strong> </a>on <strong>TikTok</strong>, over <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/themcleodfamily/?hl=en" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/themcleodfamily/?hl%3Den&source=gmail&ust=1655772312571000&usg=AOvVaw0osMEhtokI6dDO1z8o9na4"><strong>108,000 followers</strong></a> on <strong>Instagram, </strong>as well as over <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMcLeodFam/featured" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMcLeodFam/featured&source=gmail&ust=1655772312571000&usg=AOvVaw3JdvF28NaDb_xg9iwvrKWz"><strong>164 million views </strong></a>and over <strong>241,000 subscribers</strong> on <strong>YouTube</strong>.<strong> </strong>Eeka is passionate about using the family’s platform to <strong>advocate</strong> for acceptance for the <strong>LGBTQ+ community </strong>and <strong>people with disabilities</strong>. Six year-old Evan, who is queer, has become a social media star in her own right thanks to her love of wearing long dresses and colorful hairstyles.