Exploring Different Brains

9Muses Art Center’s Nicole Storrs shares how their drop-in center is helping people with mental health challenges. 9Muses Art Center is a drop-in center located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. They are a program of Mental Health America of Southeast Florida providing free peer-driven behavioral health support to adults with mental health and substance abuse disorders. The center has a fully functioning st...

Katherine Murphy, CEO of NAMI Palm Beach County, share how the alliance is helping people with mental health challenges in South Florida and throughout the nation. NAMI Palm Beach County is an affiliate of NAMI - THE national Alliance on Mental Illness. From their website: “NAMI PBC is an organization dedicated to providing support, education and advocacy with the goal to empower persons with ment...

Fusion Academy’s Tainah Georges explains how they use a one-student-to-one-teacher model that allows students to achieve academically. Fusion describes itself as: “the world's most personalized middle and high school, with 1-to-1 classes that match your student's pace and preferences, so they can learn better, dive deeper, and never get left behind.” Their Mission statement: “Guided by a fundament...

Canine Assisted Therapy’s Courtney Trzcinski, Laura Rogers, and Gracie share what therapy animals do, and how they positively impact those with social and health challenges. Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc. is a pet therapy organization located in Broward County, Florida. Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in need through the healing power of the human-animal bond. From t...

University of Miami’s Shelly Baer & Jairo Arana discuss their Self-Advocate Leadership Training (SALT) program. Shelly Baer is a licensed clinical social worker, disability self-advocate, and the director of leadership training initiatives at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development. Jairo Arana is a clinical program coordinator at the University of Miami S...

Zachary Tovin shares his perspective on being an autism self-advocate. Zach is on the Autism Spectrum and grew up in South Florida. After high school, he attended the Horizons School in Birmingham, Alabama, where he studied and honed the skills he would need to live and work independently. In 2019, Zach graduated from ARC Broward Culinary Arts program, receiving his Culinary Arts certification in...

Anthony Pacilio of CAI shares of they are helping organizations realize the benefits of neurodiversity. Anthony Pacilio, is recognized domestically and internationally, as an expert in neurodiverse employment and currently serves as Vice President of CAI Neurodiverse Solutions. Pacilio specializes in advancing neurodiversity programs and leads the global expansion efforts of CAI Neurodiverse Solut...

Self-advocate & EMT Ali Idriss discusses how his ADHD traits help him navigate his work in emergency rooms, and offers advice for dealing with a trip to the ER. Ali Idriss is a Different Brains team member and ADHD self-advocate. He aspires to share his journey and help others with the tools that have allowed him to overcome many of the challenges along the way, as he co-hosts the webisode series...

Dr. Jennie Trocchio shares how developmental therapy can help autistic individuals, and how it differs from behavioral methods. Dr. Jennie Trocchio is an autism educator, speaker, Developmental Therapist, and Vice President of Clinical Operations at Positive Development. Positive Development’s mission is to “…help people with autism and other developmental differences build connections and shape t...

In the second part of our review of 2023, we hear from some of the neurodiversity change-makers that have appeared on the show. Featured are: DR. MICHAEL ALESSANDRI - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/working-together-for-the-autism-community-with-dr-michael-alessandri-edb-290/ | learn more about their work here: https://people.miami.edu/profile/fb8af2465e6219dc0d6be35a692a7472 CHRISTINA...

In the first part of our review of 2023, we hear from the neurodivergent self-advocates that have appeared on the show. Featured are: JR HARDING - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/pioneering-workplace-inclusion-with-dr-jr-harding-edb-297/ | learn more about their work at: https://jrharding.com/ HAYLEY & MATTHEW LEACH - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/autism-advocacy-siblings...

Cynthia Hammer, self-advocate & founder of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, shares her experiences with the disorder, and how it can differ from other types of ADHD. Cynthia Hammer is the Founder and Executive Director of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, and author of the book She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1972. For many years she was a stay-at-home mom raising three sons while he...

Evolve Learning Community’s Christina Sullivan discusses how the micro-school gives unique support to students that have struggled in traditional classrooms. Christina Sullivan is Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Evolve Learning Community (ELC), and provides individual therapy, coaching, training, and consultation in the community. From ELC’s website: “ELC is a progressive and inclusive homesch...

Mental Health counselor Gabriela Guardarrama shares her personal experiences dealing with bipolar disorder. Gaby is an an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist in the South Florida area. She was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 at age 19, and is dedicated to helping others deal with their mental health challenges. She is also a poet who uses her writing as a mental wellness tool, and to help ot...

ADHD Coach & self-advocate Brooke Schnittman MA, PCC, BCC returns to discuss helping people overcome ADHD related challenges. Brooke Schnittman MA, PCC, BCC is an esteemed expert in the field of ADHD management and support, renowned for her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals with ADHD to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Her new book is Activate Your ADHD Potential...

Author & psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston shares the peace and wisdom he has found while facing cancer. Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Mark Goulston’s expertise has been forged and proven in the crucible of real-life, high stakes situations. An influencer who helps influencers become more influential, his uniq...

Educator & musician Joseph Lento discusses how he thinks the education system can better serve neurodiverse students. Joseph Lento is an educator and a Conservatory-trained professional Musician. He is licensed by NYS as a Teacher of Orchestral Music and School District Administration and began his career in 1984. In 1999 he was named NYC Bronx County High School Teacher of the Year. In 2014 Presi...

Miss Missouri 2023 Hayley Leach and self-advocate Matthew Leach discuss being siblings working together to advocate for the autism community. Hayley Leach is a 25 year-old law student at Washington University in St. Louis and was recently crowned Miss Missouri 2023. During her year of service, Hayley will travel the state of Missouri and promote a community service initiative (CSI) of her choice....

Atlas Primer CEO and founder Hinrik Jósafat Atlason shares how the learning assistant app can make education more accessible for neurodivergent learners. Atlas primer is a learning assistant app that creates a “personal learning environment” for it’s users. Atlas Primer was founded on the vision of creating a learning environment that combined the accessibility and convenience of audiobooks and po...

Team members from TERC share the organization’s innovative work for improving S.T.E.M. education, and making it more inclusive for neurodivergent learners. TERC team members featured are: Dr. Jodi Asbell-Clarke is an educational researcher focusing on game-based learning, computational thinking, and neurodiversity in K-12. Dr. Asbell-Clarke’s academic background includes an MA in math, an M.Sc. in...

Members of the Autism Theater Project share how they are working to change the perception of neurodiversity through performing. The Autism Theater Project is a a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the autism community. We express the voice of the autism community through theatrical experiences, and empower special needs children to express their own voices through our drama therapy wo...

Autism self-advocate Travis Misurell shares how the Future Is Now Coalition is working to make the democratic process more accessible. From the FiNC website: “They say those who don't conform to society create the most significant changes to the world. FiNC founder Travis Misurell, a neurodivergent and atypical thinker, saw how backward, contradictory, and antiquated our political systems are and...

Dr. Lauren Shure discusses social justice in the field of psychology, and the importance of inclusive mental health care. Lauren Shure is a Professor of Counseling at Barry University. She is also a Past-President of the Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ). Dr. Shure holds a B.S. in psychology, M.Ed. and Ed. S.in marriage and family counseling, and Ph. D. in counselor education with a specializati...

In this special 300th episode, we revisit words of wisdom from self-advocates with varied traits and diagnoses that span the “spectrum of neurodiversity”. Featured are: TARA LERMAN - Tourette’s self-advocate, ournalist (full interview: https://differentbrains.org/demystifying-tourette-syndrome-with-tara-lerman-edb-263/ ) To find out more about Tara’s work, visit: https://www.taralerman.com/   MICH...

ADHD Coach & self-advocate Brooke Schnittman MA, PCC, BCC shares tips for neurodivergent students and their parents as a new school year begins. Brooke Schnittman MA, PCC, BCC is an esteemed expert in the field of ADHD management and support, renowned for her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals with ADHD to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. ​Brooke's personal journe...