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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 journalism in high school and learned how to become an advocate. She is currently in college and hopes to help others find their voices. For Different Brains articles written by Julia: https://www.differentbrains.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-someone-with-developmental-coordination-disorder/ To see Julia’s “Neurodiversity and the Coronavirus” project: https://www.differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-the-coronavirus/ Julia’s article for EP Magazine can be seen here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/being-a-neurodiverse-advocate For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 journalism in high school and learned how to become an advocate. She is currently in college and hopes to help others find their voices. For Different Brains articles written by Julia: https://www.differentbrains.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-someone-with-developmental-coordination-disorder/ To see Julia’s “Neurodiversity and the Coronavirus” project: https://www.differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-the-coronavirus/ Julia’s article for EP Magazine can be seen here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/being-a-neurodiverse-advocate For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 with partners across the UConn campus to create an ecosystem that supports diverse learning styles and cultivates the potential of neurodivergent students to contribute to innovations in engineering. INCLUDE aims to make systemic changes that range across the entire span of a student's undergraduate experience. For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 School. The Disparities Research Unit (DRU), part of the Department of Medicine’s Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, is dedicated to undertaking innovative, collaborative research projects that focus on understanding and improving health services, and eliminating health and health care disparities for diverse racial and ethnic and/or immigrant populations. For more info: https://www.massgeneral.org/mongan-institute/centers/DRU Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 in custody, having worked in a variety of roles within the Criminal and Youth Justice sector. The Do-IT team work with organizations by providing services and packages to support people who may be neurodivergent. For more info: https://www.doitprofiler.com/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 also made major contributions to the fields of typical cognitive sex differences, autism prevalence and screening, autism genetics, autism neuroimaging, autism and technical ability, and synaesthesia. Baron-Cohen was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to people with autism. He is the author of several books, the latest of which is The Pattern Seekers: A New Theory of Human Invention. For more: https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/ https://twitter.com/sbaroncohen Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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. Their goal is to use functional training that not only incorporates strength and cardiovascular training but also incorporates some things within the exercise that can help improve motor planning, improve social skills, and balance. For more about Mark: http://www.equallyfit.com/ https://www.throughtheseautisticeyes.com/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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.facebook.com/judemorrowauthor https://www.instagram.com/judemorrow/ https://twitter.com/judemorrow10 Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

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 background has made him an indispensable and sought after resource and change facilitator to Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs and educators across the nation. His latest book is “Why Cope When You Can Heal?”. Dr. Goulston will be giving a free webinar on behalf of Different Brains Thursday, January 14th at 7:00pm ET. To learn more and register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8316085825008/WN_U4D6EUzMQiCmmerkyHw-nQ For more about Dr. Goulston: http://markgoulston.com/ For more about his latest book: https://whycopewhenyoucanheal.com/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Shawn Smith M.Ed., CCC, founder of Don’t Dis-my-Ability. He discusses the importance of advocacy, growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, his journey through school, and the state of neurodiversity awareness in Canada.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Derrick MacFabe, M.D., assistant professor and director of The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, and pioneer of the study of the gut’s influence over the brain.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Keri Bowers and Taylor Cross, the directors of the films Normal People Scare Me and Normal People Scare Me Too. The mother and son discuss collaborating on the films, Taylor’s journey with autism, and the importance of parents supporting the goals of their neurodiverse children.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Sarah collins, founder of Autism CAER. Sarah discusses autism awareness in her home of Australia, raising three children on the autism spectrum, and the work she does creating inclusive educational strategies.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Catherine Pascuas, host of The Autism Show Podcast and author of The Autism Activities Handbook. Catherine discusses her passion for autism advocacy, her work with the neurodiverse, and some of the helpful activities from her new book.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Tarita Davenock, founder of Travel For All– a full service travel agency specializing in accessible travel, and host of The Lonely Planet’s Travel For All show. Tarita discusses her personal experiences traveling with multiple sclerosis, the considerations that travel companies must take in to account for the neurodiverse, and the importance of inclusivity.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Dr. Matthew Schneps, an astrophysicist and visiting scientist at M.I.T., and founder of the Laboratory for Visual Learning. Matthew discusses his own diagnosis of dyslexia, the importance of flexibility in educational methods, and how neurodiverse conditions can help make people accomplish great things.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren, a County Court Judge in The Criminal Division of the 17th Judicial Circuit, in Broward County of Florida, and one of the pioneers of America’s first mental health court, dedicated to the decriminalization of people with mental illness. Judge Lerner-Wren discusses the genesis of the mental health court, the pitfalls the neurodiverse can come across in the criminal justice system, and what she hopes the entire criminal justice system can do to better recognize different brains.

In this episode, Harold Reitman, M.D. speaks with Anlor Davin, author of the book “Being Seen.” Anlor discusses her late in life diagnosis for autism, the challenges someone on the spectrum can face when raising a child, and the state of neurodiversity acceptance in her birth country of France.

In this episode, Hackie Reitman, M.D. speaks with Carolyn Naifeh, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Nashville IDD Housing Group. Carolyn discusses the challenges of independent living for the intellectually disabled, the concern parents have over their uniquely abled children’s futures, and the importance for everyone to be exposed to neurodiversity.

In this episode, Hackie Reitman, M.D. speaks with jail diversion team facilitator William Packard, Ph.D., author of “Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System: Solutions through Collaboration.” Dr. Packard discusses the inordinate amount of intellectually disabled prison inmates, the dangers the criminal justice system can pose for the neurodiverse, and the importance of community involvement in awareness and intervention.