173 - Inclusion Is Built In: Designing Systems That Actually Work with Jon Zweifler
In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron sits down with Jon Zweifler, autism dad and founder of Reed AI, to explore what inclusion really looks like when it’s built into everyday systems—not just good intentions. Jon shares his journey parenting a minimally verbal autistic son, unpacking how natural language, technology, and thoughtful design can unlock understanding without forcing people to mask or adapt unnaturally. Together, AAron and Jon talk about redefining togetherness, removing invisible barriers, and why inclusion must work even on hard days. This conversation is practical, honest, and deeply hopeful for families and educators alike.
Key Takeaways:
Systems Matter - Inclusion only works when it’s built into everyday systems, not treated as a feel-good sentiment.
Natural Language Access - Using everyday language as a learning tool helps neurodivergent kids understand the world in real time.
Together, Not Same - Being together doesn’t require doing the same activity—proximity and safety count.
No More Masking - Parents and kids shouldn’t have to apologize or hide neurodivergence to belong.
Purpose Over Product - Technology is most powerful when it serves human connection, not convenience.
Jon Zweifler’s definition of inclusion:
Inclusion needs to be baked into the existing systems that we all live in every day to enable comparable experiences for folks who experience the world differently.
Jon Zweifler’s Bio:
The father of a verbally challenged autistic son, Jonathan has a B.S. from the School of Speech (Northwestern), an M.S. in Communication Design (Pratt), and Executive Certifications (M.I.T) in Artificial Intelligence and Business Model Innovation.
I never set out to build a company. I set out to solve a problem I just couldn’t ignore in our daily life.
As a parent of a language-challenged child, I know what it feels like to watch your kid want to connect — to reach for words — but not have the right tools to bridge that gap.
Every parent in our world knows that feeling — the mix of hope, heartbreak, and determination that comes with trying to help your child be understood.
That’s where Reed came from. Reed isn’t just an app. It’s designed to be a bridge — one that helps kids understand the people and language in their world, across therapy, school, and home.
It puts these kids back at the center of everyday conversations, instead of on the sidelines.
So we sit at the intersection of literacy, and learning — making language acquisition more natural, sensory-rich, and human.
I’ve seen what happens when the right tools meet the right kids. It’s not about screens or code — it’s about their confidence. The ability to understand, express, and belong in the world around them.
Connect with Jon Zweifler:
Website: https://meetreed.ai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meet_reed
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reed-ai/posts/?feedView=all
SPAM© Count:
Host:
Yes
Current Guest:
Yes
Cumulative Guest Stats:
Yes - 78
No - 93
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Founder - Reed AI
The father of a verbally challenged autistic son, Jonathan has a B.S. from the School of Speech (Northwestern), an M.S. in Communication Design (Pratt), and Executive Certifications (M.I.T) in Artificial Intelligence and Business Model Innovation.
I never set out to build a company. I set out to solve a problem I just couldn’t ignore in our daily life.
As a parent of a language-challenged child, I know what it feels like to watch your kid want to connect — to reach for words — but not have the right tools to bridge that gap.
Every parent in our world knows that feeling — the mix of hope, heartbreak, and determination that comes with trying to help your child be understood.
That’s where Reed came from. Reed isn’t just an app. It’s designed to be a bridge — one that helps kids understand the people and language in their world, across therapy, school, and home.
It puts these kids back at the center of everyday conversations, instead of on the sidelines.
So we sit at the intersection of literacy, and learning — making language acquisition more natural, sensory-rich, and human.
I’ve seen what happens when the right tools meet the right kids. It’s not about screens or code — it’s about their confidence. The ability to understand, express, and belong in the world around them.
