Exploring Different Brains

UChicago’s Dr. Peggy Mason discusses her work on the neurobiological basis of empathy. (VIDEO - 33 mins) Dr. Mason grew up in the Washington DC area and worked in taxidermy at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History during middle and high school. She received her BA in Biology in 1983 and her PhD in Neuroscience in 1987, both from Harvard. After postdoctoral work at the University of California...

Kandi Pickard & Margot Rhondeau share how the NDSS is helping the Down syndrome community. The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. Kandi Pickard is the President & CEO of the NDSS, where she provides vision and leadership, working collaboratively with individuals and organizations to support the entire Down syndrome...

Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman shares how the US Autism Association is helping the autism community. (VIDEO - 19 mins) Marlo Payne Thurman, Ph. D. began her professional career working with children diagnosed with autism in 1986. In 1999 Marlo founded the Brideun Learning Communities and built the Brideun School for Exceptional Children, a play-based, therapeutic school exclusively serving children grade...

Dr. Vismara & Mr. Bernick are the authors of the book “The Autism Full Employment Act”. Louis A. Vismara, M.D. is a physician (retired interventional cardiologist) and a parent of four children. Since his son, Mark, was diagnosed with autism in 1995, he has dedicated himself to issues of child development, learning differences, diversity, and access to health care for under-served populations. Lou...

Shawn Smith shares his tools for thriving with ADHD. Shawn Smith M.Ed., CCC is the proud founder and CEO of Don’t dis-my-ability consultation services Inc., an innovative, multifaceted company specializing in the emerging field of Neurodiversity located in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada. Shawn’s story is unique in that he was diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type at age 30. Prior to his diagnosi...

(20 minutes) Dr. James Hendrix is the Chief Scientific Officer at LuMind IDSC. In that role, Dr. Hendrix directs scientific initiatives for LuMind IDSC. A critical element of his role is to establish the nationwide Down Syndrome – Clinical Trial Network (DS-CTN) and to oversee the first clinical trial in the DS-CTN, the Longitudinal Investigation for Enhancing Down Syndrome Research (LIFE-DSR) Stu...

J.R. Reed shares his journey to becoming an autism self-advocate J.R. is a late diagnosed adult who was diagnosed with Asperger’s nine years ago. Since then he has taken a twenty + year freelance writing career and changed focus to developmental disabilities and mental health. In 2012 he created the website/blog Not Weird Just Autistic, as he spent the first 45 years of his life thinking he was we...

Dr. James Hendrix discusses his work studying the high rate of Alzheimer’s in the Down Syndrome community. (25 minutes) Dr. James Hendrix is the Chief Scientific Officer at LuMind IDSC. In that role, Dr. Hendrix directs scientific initiatives for LuMind IDSC. A critical element of his role is to establish the nationwide Down Syndrome – Clinical Trial Network (DS-CTN) and to oversee the first clini...

Author & psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston returns to share tips for overcoming trauma. (31 minutes) 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 unique b...

Self-advocate Preston Fitzgerald discusses tuberous sclerosis (10 minutes) Preston is currently a student at the University of North Texas, studying Consumer Experience Management. He is an advocate for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), which he was diagnosed with at seven months old. Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/...

Vanderbilt University’s Dr. Beth Malow discusses sleep challenges on the autism spectrum. (26 minutes) Dr. Malow is Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, holds the Burry Endowed Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development, and serves as Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Neurology and incoming director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Cli...

Self-advocate and Different Brains intern Julia Futo discusses growing up with DCD. (26 minutes) Julia faced difficulties early on in life with trying to perform everyday tasks. Before she was five years old, she was diagnosed with two learning disabilities: Encephalopathy and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). She struggled in school for a long time, but that changed when she took journal...

DCD self-advocate and Different Brains intern Julia Futo discusses how she found her voice. (14 minutes) Julia faced difficulties early on in life with trying to perform everyday tasks. Before she was five years old, she was diagnosed with two learning disabilities: Encephalopathy and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). She struggled in school for a long time, but that changed when she took...

UCONN's Marisa Chrysochoou PhD & Arash Zaghi PhD discuss their INCLUDE program (28 minutes) Marisa Chrysochoou, Ph. D. (who also goes by Maria professionally) is Professor and Department Head for Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). Arash Zaghi, P.E., S.E. is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCONN. The INCLUDE team is working...

Margarita Alegría, PhD discusses her work eliminating health care disparities. (29 minutes) Margarita Alegría, PhD is the Chief of the Disparities Research Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital and The Mongan Institute, the Harry G. Lehnert, Jr. and Lucille F. Cyr Lehnert Endowed MGH Research Institute Chair and a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical Scho...

Do-IT Profiler’s Helen Arnold-Richardson discusses their work screening for neurodiversity in the justice system. (23 minutes) Helen Arnold-Richardson is the Managing Director of Do-IT Solutions which developed the Do-IT Profiler: a screening tool used by over 25,000 people in prisons in the UK. She has a vast amount of knowledge and experience of supporting neurodiverse staff, children and adults...

Psychologist and author Simon Baron-Cohen discusses his work studying the impact people with autism have had on human invention. (35 minutes) Sir Simon Baron-Cohen FBA FBPsS FMedSci is a British clinical psychologist and professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge. He is the Director of the University's Autism Research Centre and a Fellow of Trinity College. He has al...

Autism self-advocate and personal trainer Mark Fleming discusses the importance of exercise for the neuroduvergent. (28 minutes) Mark Fleming is a certified personal trainer. He has a Bachelor degree in Exercise Science and a Masters in Human Performance in 2017 from University of Alabama. Mark is the president and founder of Equally Fit, a personal training studio for those of all abilities. Thei...

Irish autism self-advocate, author, and speaker Jude Morrow returns to discuss spreading neurodiversity awareness during the pandemic. (19 minutes) Jude is the author of the Amazon best-seller “Why Does Daddy Always Look So Sad?”, and is the CEO and Founder of Neurodiversity Training International. For more about Jude: https://judemorrow.com/ https://www.neurodiversity-training.com/ https://www.fa...

Author & psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston returns to share tips for overcoming trauma. (35 minutes) 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 unique b...

Educator and author Susan B. Kahn, M.Ed. returns to discuss dyslexia reading tips. Inspired by her experience as a parent and by her fascination with language, Ms. Kahn spent over forty years changing and improving lives. She taught for twenty-five years in Arlington, MA as a special needs, public school educator. She has also written a number of books dedicated to teaching learners of all types h...

Dr. Eileen Crehan discusses the developing of gender identity and sexuality on the autism spectrum. (26 minutes) Dr. Eileen Crehan is an assistant professor at Tufts University and head of the Crehan Lab. She is a clinical psychologist by training, and her areas of study include: neurodevelopmental disorders; autism spectrum disorder; sexuality education; social perception; eye tracking; and the d...

Self-advocate Michael Tollefsrud shares his history with misophonia. (15 minutes) Michael A. Tollefsrud is a 25-year-old graduate of North Carolina Central university with Master’s Degree in General Psychology. Having suffered with Misophonia for years, Michael made it the focal point of his master’s thesis “Obsessed with Sound: An Investigation into Misophonia And Its Relation To Memory”. Current...

Cerebral Palsy self-advocate Sarah Goldman discusses her fight for inclusion. (18 minutes) Sarah Goldman is a disability rights advocate, and a District Aide in the Florida House of Representatives. She has a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) in Social Policy and Administration and Clinical Concentrations from. Florida State University. For more about Sarah: https://twitter.com/sgoldman17 https://www...

Dr. Alexis Bitting discusses gender diversity in the neurodiverse. (34 minutes) Dr. Alexis Bitting, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has a Ph. D. in Clinical Sexology. She has specialized experience working with children, teens, and adults with social and developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s, ADHD, non-verbal learning, and other challenges. Dr. Bittin...