The Intersection of Autism and Improv: One Grandmother’s Story
Sandy Bruce discusses the role improv can play in helping people with autism, and the good it did for her own grandson.
3 R’s of Holistic Advocacy: Relationship, Respect, and Resilience
Naome Soleil, Ph.D. discusses her own history as an educator, and shares what she learned through her experiences about the "3 Rs of holisitic advocacy".
A Firsthand Look at the Benefits of Flotation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Technique)
Flotation-REST. What on Earth is it, and how can it benefit me? If you find yourself pondering this out loud, rest assured, you are not alone!
Mental Health & Relationships: Navigating Codependency
Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT discusses the challenges of codependency, and offers tips for navigating the relationship and mental health challenges it can inspire.
Saluting “The Special Mother” by Erma Bombeck
Hackie Reitman, M.D. discusses Erma Bombeck's piece dedicated to the mothers of special needs children, and reflects on memories of his own mother.
Autism & Socialization: The Ins and Outs of Successful Conversations
High school student Ruby Sasson, who is on the autism spectrum, shares tips and tricks that have helped her develop better conversational skills.
Music Never Met A Brain It Couldn’t Help
Joseph S. Lento discusses the good music can do for brains, regardless of what diagnosis they may have.
How Resilient Are YOU?
Jackie M. Marquette Ph.D. discusses the importance of resilience, and presents a simple guide finding out how resilient YOU are.
When Different Brains Grow Up: the NDSS Adult Down Syndrome Summit
Dr. Hackie Reitman discusses the importance of giving support to people with Down syndrome through adulthood, and how the recent NDSS Adult Summit highlighted this growing concern.
Parenting With An Eye Toward Adulthood
Rachel Bédard, Ph.D. continues her look at redefining "adulting" by focusing on where parenthood comes into play.
One Parent’s View of Neurodiversity
Cheryl Fox, M.O.T., OTR/L C/NDT discusses how her daughter's diagnosis with autism changed her life, and inspired her to become a pediatric occupational therapist for the neurodiverse.
Living with OCD and Autism
Eric Zimmerman discusses his how he has taken control of his dual diagnoses of OCD and autism.
Creating the First Summit for Adults with Down Syndrome
Sara Hart Weir, M.S. and Jadene S. Ransdell of the National Down Syndrome Society discuss the genesis of the upcoming first summit for adults with Down syndrome.
Mental Health & Relationships: Warning Signs of Dating a Narcissist
Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT highlights some of the common warning signs, and blind spots, related to dating someone with narcissistic personality traits.
Advancing Adults with Autism Beyond the Summit
Autism self-advocate Aaron Bouma discusses how he hopes a recent autism summit in his community will be the first of many.
What to Expect from Biomedical Treatment for ADHD and Autism
"The Autism Doctor" Dr. Brian Udell discusses ways to measure progress in the treatment of children with autism and ADHD.
Autism 101: “First, then” For All
Rita Roem discusses the concept of "first, then," and how it is can be a great tool for parents of the neurodiverse.
Positive IEP Meetings- Yes they are possible!
Alexandra Ramirez-Vizcaino gives tips to parents for ensuring their IEP meetings are successful and productive.
A Doctor’s Journey Towards Integrative Medicine
Mark A Vacker, M.D. discusses how a personal medical crisis led him to understand the value of integrative medicine.
How to Have a Successful Autism Doctor Visit
Dr. Brian Udell discusses tips for ensuring a positive doctor visit for for your child with autism or other developmental challenges.
Redefining Adulting: a Brief Primer for Different Brains
Rachel Bédard, Ph.D. looks at "adulting," and examines how people, regardless of diagnosis, develop the skills they use as adults.
Autism & Careers: Facing the Fear of Uncertainty
Jackie M. Marquette, Ph.D. discusses the challenge some people with autism face in seeking a career, and presents an activity to help recognize and manage the fears associated with it.
Early Childhood Learning: Supporting Neurodiversity From the Womb and On
John Mavros discusses the importance of building language skills in children from before birth and beyond.
6 Tips For a Mentally Healthy Valentine’s Day
Darlene Lancer, MFT gives 6 tips for making sure your Valentine's Day is enjoyable, and good for your mental health.
The 10 Earliest Signs of Autism
Dr. Brian Udell covers the ten earliest signs he has seen in children on the autism spectrum.
Brain Training for Neurological Imbalances Through Neurofeedback
Dr. Jacqueline Davis discusses the use of neurofeedback for ADHD, autism, depression, and anxiety.
Mental Health & Relationships: the Stress of Dating Narcissists
Darlene Lancer discusses the mental health strains that can be caused by relationships with people exhibiting narcissism.
Autism, Apraxia, and the Oboe: Speech Challenges on the Spectrum
Dr. Brian Udell discusses apraxia in children with autism, and the ways to best assist a child in overcoming them.
Navigating a TBI: Tips For Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Geo Gosling recounts how he suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and share suggestions on how to navigate recovery.
Coping Through Art on the Autism Spectrum
Kimberly Gerry Tucker discusses growing up on the autism spectrum, and how creative outlets have helped her through times of stress and grief.
Broken Chains, Ended Pains: The Importance of Neuroplasticity and An Open Mind
Deborahmichelle Sanders, J.D. recounts how neuroplasticity allowed her brain to recover from a health crisis, and how the medical community can benefit from being more open-minded.
Dating Challenges on the Autism Spectrum
Aaron Bouma discusses his dating experiences, and how his diagnosis with autism can create challenges in finding relationships.
Rudolph: a Shining Example of Neurodiversity
Shawn Smith M.Ed., CCC looks at how the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer spoke to his own journey as an individual with a different brain.
Neurodiversity and Fitness: Working the C.O.R.E of Different Brains
Steven Dinnen profiles C.O.R.E., a rehabilitation studio specializing in Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Parkinson’s disease, and many other neurodiverse conditions.
PLASTIC: The Brain, Cerebral Palsy, and Neuroplasticity
Laura Shapiro Kramer discusses how her experience raising a son with cerebral palsy led to a new understanding of early brain development.
Changing the Employment Landscape for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
Jackie M. Marquette Ph.D. details the Connective Interdependent Employment model, and explains how it can be help people with autism find a job they can excel at.
Taking A Trip Outside Your Comfort Zone: A Teen Girl with Autism on Learning Independence
Eryn Segal details her recent experience in a college summer program, and how it helped her develop skills to be more independent.
The Challenges of Home Treatment for Autism
Dr. Brian Udell covers some of the possible problems that can be run into when parents treat their children on the spectrum at home.
Gratitude and Mental Health: How to Feel Thankful Despite Challenges
Darlene Lancer, J.D., M.F.T. discusses the important role gratitude plays in emotional health, and gives tips to feel thankful despite challenges.
I’ve Been Diagnosed with Epilepsy – Now What?
Tom McGranahan Jr. discusses the experience of his diagnosis for epilepsy in the 1960s, and explores how different options and support for the condition are today.
Parenting with Power: Finding Resources for Raising the Neurodiverse
Marcy Willard, Ph.D., NCSP discusses the importance of free information being available to the parents of the neurodiverse, and how creating them became the impetus for Cleape.com
From Silence to Soap: An Entrepreneur with Asperger’s Shares His Journey
Entrepreneur Spencer Kelly, a 16 year old with Asperger's syndrome, discusses how he developed his own company, Expedition Soaps.
When Parents Disagree About Autism Intervention
Dr. Brian Udell discusses how parents can overcome disagreements when exploring options for their children with autism.
Managing Denial After a Traumatic Brain Injury
David A. Grant discusses his recent struggles with denial in advance of the 7th anniversary of his traumatic brain injury.
When Multisensory Meets Multimedia: Embracing Tools for the Neurodiverse
Susan Kahn, developer of Sue's Startegies, discusses the importance of utilizing multimedia content in teaching student with learning challenges.
Embracing Autism, Neurodiversity, and Societal Collaboration
In this blog piece, Mari Nosal reflects on the value of neurodiverse teamwork, and the way society has been positively impacted by harnessing the interests of those of us with different brains.
Working to Make Reading Easier for the Dyslexic Mind
Sarah Blodgett discusses how her son's struggle with dyslexia led her to create a new learning tool, and gain appreciation for the diversity in our brains.
Music As An Alternative To Opioids: Pain Management Stretches To New Paradigms
Martha Summa explores how music therapy's affect on the brain is becoming recognized as a way to aid in battling and avoiding opioid addiction.
The Symptoms of Codependency
Darlene Lancer, MFT lists the symptoms and signs that someone may be suffering from codependency.
The Perils, and Joys, of Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum: A Review of Donna Levin’s “There’s More Than One Way Home”
In this special review article, Fran Moreland Johns reviews the new book, "There's More Than One Way Home," by our regular columnist Donna Levin.
Planning For The Future: The Importance of Special Needs Trusts
In this blog article, Jennifer Gomez, Esq. highlights the reasons why a Special Needs Trust can be so important for planning the future of loved ones with special challenges.
When Sounds Are Torture: Advocating and Living With Misophonia
Shaylynn Hayes discusses the impact Misophonia has had on her life, and the challenges of advocating for a condition that remains unknown to many.
The War Within: Battling OCD on the Autism Spectrum
Aaron Bouma discusses how having both autism and OCD has affected his life, both for the worse and for the better.
The ADHD Parent: Choosing Your Battles
Lacey Craddock discusses how picking battles carefully helped her have peace, and helped maximize the potential and self-esteem of her neurodiverse son.
Honoring Your Limitations After a Traumatic Brain Injury
David Grant discusses adjusting to his new limitations after a traumatic brain injury. "Akin to learning to drive a new car, I am slowly learning how to navigate through life with my new limitations."
Housing on the Spectrum: Helping Adults with Autism Build a Future
Denise Resnik, founder, president, and CEO of First Place and co-founder of SARRC, discusses the importance of community support in creating resources for growing people with autism.
Music as Medicine: The Effects of Music Therapy on Depression
Megan Baksh takes a look at recent studies highlighting the good listening to music can do in alleviating depression and anxiety.
A Change of Perspective: Receiving an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult
Simon Lewin shares the story of his adult diagnosis with autism, and how it has given him a new perspective on life.
Competency Based Early Childhood Learning: Educating Different Brains
Bob Sornson, Ph.D. discusses what competency based learning is, and how it could help neurodiverse children succeed.
An Educator’s Guide to OCD in Children
Leah Davies, M.Ed. gives tips and tools for educators working with children that have OCD.
How Do You Measure Positive Impact? The Challenges of Advocating for Neurodiversity
Canadian ADHD and Neurodiversity advocate Shawn Smith reflects on how a recent presentation at a conference reinforced his concept of how to measure the positive impact of his work.
Reaching “Critical Mass”: Supporting Autistic Individuals to Achieve Their Goals
Aaron Bouma, a Canadian advocate with autism, explains how having a core group of supportive family and friends - a "critical mass" as he calls them - helped him overcome challenges growing up.
Neurometabolism and Epigenetics: Understanding Neurodiversity Through a New Metabolic-Molecular Lens
Dr. Malav Trivedi discusses his research into the processes that may prove to be behind some of the differences in our brains: Neurometabolism and Epigenetics.
Tennis As a Therapeutic Tool for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Lisa Pugliese, Speech Pathologist and the Founder and CEO of Love Serving Autism, discusses the ways tennis can help children on the spectrum develop important skills.
Living With a Sibling That Has Asperger’s Syndrome
In her first blog for Different Brains, Brooke Segal discusses growing up with a sister diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.
Staying Strong with Epilepsy
Epilepsy advocate Tom McGranahan, Jr. discusses the importance staying strong and persevering despite having a seizure disorder.
Normal Challenges, With A Twist Of Autism: Growing Up On The Spectrum
Eryn Segal highlights the day to day challenges she faces as a young woman on the autism spectrum.
Exploring Alternative Routes to Meaningful Income for Adults with Autism
Nick Venturella of AutismHR.com discusses how the "gig economy" can present income and experience to those on the autism spectrum that may otherwise be unable to find employment.
Rock Steady Boxing: Knocking Parkinson’s Disease Down for the Count
Steve Dinnen reports on Rock Steady Boxing - a growing chain of gyms dedicated to helping people with Parkinson's fight their symptoms.
Asperger’s and Hyperinterests: Finding Your Strengths on the Autism Spectrum
Aaron Bouma, diagnosed with Asperger's at 12 and now an advocate in Canada, discusses how his love of military history and model building has blossomed into a career.
Changing the Educational System for the Good of Different Brains
Bob Sornson, Ph.D. discusses the flaws in the educational system that can cause neurodiverse students to be poorly served, and gives tips on how to improve it.
Trauma, PTSD, and Codependency: How Life Experiences Affect Our Relationships
Darlene Lancer explores trauma's influence on relationships, and the connection between codependency and PTSD.
Navigating Society With a Hearing Impairment
Alina Pacheco discusses growing up with a hearing impairment, and navigating the social difficulties that can come with a disability that hampers communication.
What I Learned at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day
Advocate Anita Lesko describes the experience of addressing the United Nations on World Autism Day, and the work being done to help those on the spectrum around the world.
Autism and Speech Apraxia: Do Language Challenges Influence Behavior?
Dr. Brian Udell discusses a surprising new study that suggests there is no correlation between language deficits in children on the autism spectrum and their propensity to have meltdowns or perceived misbehavior.
Different Brains and the Bottom Line: The Corporate and Social Value of Neurodiversity
Ira Bedzow discusses the benefits of integrating neurodiverse individuals into corporate environments, and how employees with different brains create stronger teams.
A Mother’s Day Shout Out To Special Needs Moms
Mari Nosal, M.Ed. reflects on the sacrifice of special needs parents, and on the rewards of raising a child that has challenges.
What My Autism “Looks Like”: Differences and Similarities Across the Spectrum
Eric Zimmerman discusses the variations of interests and skills of people on the spectrum, and the myth that people with autism "look" a certain way.
Coding Autism: Helping People on the Spectrum Find Employment and Develop Skills
Oliver Thornton discusses his own diagnosis with Asperger's syndrome, and how he hopes his new venture, Coding Autism, can help others on the spectrum find meaningful employment.
Life After a TBI: The Invisible Challenges of an Invisible Disability
David A. Grant discusses invisible disabilities, and relays two stories about every day challenges presented by his traumatic brain injury.