Neuroversity

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this episode of Neuroversity, Jessica Kidwell speaks with John Munro, head of the Gow School, a pioneering institution for students with language-based learning differences. They discuss the school's history, mission, and unique curriculum designed to support dyslexic learners. Munro shares insights on the importance of early intervention, the school&...

Send me a Text Message about the show! This week Jessica welcomes Meredith Rusu, the award-winning author of the Mighty Moods picture book series, which explores the ways children use larger-than-life creatures to express their big feelings. Meredith's latest book, "There's a Robot in My Socks," follows a young girl named Jamie as she navigates changes in her routine and the em...

Send me a Text Message about the show! "There's a lot of open tabs in my brain. It's like a pinball going in every direction." -Liz Schroeder Join Jessica Kidwell on this heartfelt episode of Neuroversity as she chats with her good friend and neighbor, Liz Schroeder. Liz opens up about her journey from recognizing her daughter's ADHD to discovering her own diagnosis later...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Join Jessica Kidwell on Neuroversity as she chats with Damian Malecki, an audio-visual artist from Sheffield, UK, known as Szopa. Damian talks about his late autism diagnosis after moving to the UK in 2017 and how it's shaped his life and music. He shares his journey from Poland, the impact of hyperfocus, his unique way of learning music, and balancing p...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Season three has come to a close for Neuroversity. What were some of the highlights from this season and what is coming up in season four? Let's find out.... Do you have some ideas about what comes next? Email me at neuroversitypod@gmail.com  Follow Neuroversity on all our social platforms: Neuroversity Website IG Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Patreon

Send me a Text Message about the show! After first learning about non verbal learning disorder (NVLD) during my episode on specific learning disorders (SLDs) I wanted to know more.  I kept finding myself having a hard time distinguishing between autism and NVLD.  So I knew I needed to bring on some experts. The same names kept coming up over and over on NVLD resources: Dr. Jessica Broitman and Dr....

Send me a Text Message about the show! Synesthesia is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously. Some examples include tasting words or linking colors to numbers and letters. It’s not a medical condition, and not something to be cured, therefore it falls right under the neurodivergent umbrella.  Today’...

Send me a Text Message about the show! This is the second of a two part series where I will introduce you to the most common types of specific learning disabilities or SLDs. Part two is about Auditory Processing Disorder and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Auditory processing disorder, APD for short, is when the brain has trouble interpreting sounds or language.  It is a central nervous system pro...

Send me a Text Message about the show! This is the first of a two part series where I will introduce you to the most common types of specific learning disabilities or SLDs. Part one is about Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. Dysgraphia is a learning disability that impacts writing abilities.  And we’re not talking about just having poor handwriting, this goes well beyond that.  Dysgraphia can also impai...

Send me a Text Message about the show! "We don't need a handful of people doing inclusive education perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Tim Villegas According to the Oxford Dictionary, inclusion is the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who ha...

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this episode of Neuroversity, host Jessica Kidwell chats with Jessica McCabe, the brains behind the "How to ADHD" YouTube channel and author of "How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working With Your Brain, Not Against It."  Jessica started her channel as a way to understand her own diagnosis and it quickly became apparent that the i...

Send me a Text Message about the show! From glitter bottles to yoga cards: here are some tips to stimulate all EIGHT senses. Yes, I said eight. Join me as I explore the world of sensory processing and share tips on creating a sensory-friendly classroom for preschool-aged children. Understanding the eight senses is crucial for enhancing the educational experience and well being for all children. In...

Send me a Text Message about the show! The digital world allows our children the opportunity to connect with people all over the place and all of a sudden they have a community. But how do we help our children find the line of privacy and how do we help ourselves find the line of privacy for our children? - Dr. Devorah Heitner Do you want your neurodivergent child to feel empowered and stay safe w...

Send me a Text Message about the show! November 17th is a pretty important day in my household because it is my daughter Grace's birthday.  And 17 years ago today it was Grace who started me on this journey of motherhood, and this journey of understanding neurodiversity more. This episode originally aired in April 2022-Autism Acceptance Month, but in honor of Grace, I wanted to re-visit this...

Send me a Text Message about the show! I don’t often see as much representation of Down Syndrome within the neurodivergent community, and since October is Down Syndrome Awareness month, I think that means now is the perfect time to expand our understanding.    So fellow curious minds, let’s get started.   In this episode we will learn: The three types of Down Syndrome The incidence of Down Syndrom...

Send me a Text Message about the show! On this episode, it's a return to the Word of the Week (WOW) Series. In honor of ADHD Awareness Month, I'm focusing on Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD),  which frequently co-occurs with ADHD.  What is it? Why is it so frequently associated with ADHD? How does it impact individuals? How can you help? Additional resources to find out more: Dr. Mega...

Send me a Text Message about the show! SEASON THREE PREMIERE!! What if the key to unlocking the brilliance of an autistic child lies in focusing on their strengths rather than their challenges? This episode, Jessica is joined by Dr. Lynn Koegel, a leading figure in autism education, who has passionately championed a shift from the deficit model to a strengths-based approach in teaching autistic ch...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Summer school sessions are coming to an end, so why not re-visit a season one episode on “Back to School”? As the dog days of summer wind down, it’s time for many of us to turn our attention on to three dreaded words, “back to school”, or maybe they’re you’re favorite three words!  Who am I to judge?  One thing that is certain, it’s a transition, and transiti...

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this session of Neuroversity Summer School, host Jessica Kidwell reviews Holly Smale's 'Cassandra in Reverse'.  This book weaves the tale of Cassandra, a neurodivergent protagonist whose autism isn't her central focus, but a part of her multiple layers. From its take on autistic experiences to the author's own neurodiversity, this...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Do you ever find yourself stumbling over the distinction between person-first and identity-first language? I certainly do. That's why the first session of Neuroversity Summer School is about the  nuances of these two linguistic approaches, particularly in the context of neurodiversity.  I revisited an interview I had from Season 1 Episode 5 with politica...

Send me a Text Message about the show! ***BONUS CONTENT*** It may be summer time for most of us, but the learning won't stop at Neuroversity! Join me as we get "back to basics" at Neuroversity with a special set of "Summer School Sessions" to get us through July and August and help prevent the dreaded summer slide of learning. Find out what types of episodes you can expect...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Have you heard these myths about dyslexia?  Myth #1: Dyslexia means you're not smart.  Myth #2: Dyslexia is just a reading problem.  Myth #3: Dyslexia is a childhood problem that you outgrow.  These myths can be damaging to individuals with dyslexia, causing low self-esteem and a lack of empowerment. The truth is, dyslexia affects reading, writing, and s...

Send me a Text Message about the show! Meet Dr. Casey Ehrlich, a mother and researcher delving into the little-known condition called Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).  As she explains the complex nervous system response that triggers PDA, we're left wondering how many more people are suffering from this condition without proper recognition or support. In this episode, you will be able to:...

Send me a Text Message about the show! The public school system in the United States has historically been built to support the success of one type of student: a typically developing student with average intellectual ability.   And, unfortunately, any student who falls outside of this type has a much harder time thriving in a system that is not built for them.  Fairfax County Public Schools in Vir...

Send me a Text Message about the show! In this episode of Neuroversity, host Jessica Kidwell interviews Emily Barth  Isler, a writer and sustainability beauty journalist who has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and synesthesia. They discuss Emily's experience with OCD before and after diagnosis, how she structures her life to live in partnership with OCD, and her neurodivergent identity un...