ZooMates: A Nurse-Led Tool Improving Communication for Kids and Patients
Laura Siwinski is the founder of ZooMates!, a rapidly growing, free platform supporting visual communication, early learning, and inclusion for children of all abilities through real animal photography. With nearly two decades in nursing, I’ve worked across Transplant, Orthopedics, Neuro, and additional Med-Surg specialties before building my career in the Emergency Department. I maintain advanced certifications in BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC, CEN, and SCRN.
As a mom of five and longtime ER nurse, I’ve seen firsthand the power of simple, accessible visual tools—especially after watching my own son with Autism, once limited-verbal, connect deeply through animal imagery. ZooMates! was created to fill a gap in early-childhood and special-needs resources: a calm, safe, visual-rich space that encourages communication, exploration, and meaningful connection.
I am committed to growing this safe, free platform and excited to see it become the go-to animal site for families and professionals. I’m also open to partnerships, collaborations, and mission-aligned opportunities that expand access to inclusive digital tools for families, educators, and therapy communities.
Episode Summary:
In this inspiring episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with emergency nurse and ZooMates founder Laura Siwinski, a mom of five who transformed her personal journey with her autistic son into a powerful visual-communication tool. ZooMates is a free, ad-free platform using real animal photography to support communication for children, people with autism, patients with aphasia or dementia, and anyone who benefits from visual cues.
Laura shares how her nursing background, her family’s experience, and her passion for helping others sparked this innovative resource. Beth and Laura discuss how nurses can use ZooMates at the bedside, in the ER, in neuro settings, pediatric units, and even at home to reduce fear, encourage communication, and improve patient connection.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Laura’s nursing journey and love for ER nursing.
- Using animal imagery for language development and emotional expression.
- Innovation in nursing and how simple ideas can become powerful tools.
- How ZooMates is expanding with new features, partnerships, and real photography.
Resources & Links:
Visit ZooMates website https://zoomates.org/.
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