Neurodiversity Author and Advocate / Filmmaker / Orthopaedic Surgeon / Former Professional Heavy Weight Boxer
Different Brains® Inc. founder Harold “Hackie” Reitman, M.D. was an author, filmmaker, orthopedic surgeon, former professional heavyweight boxer, the past chairman and president (and current board member) of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, and a neurodiversity advocate. However, it was his role as a father that led to the creation of the DifferentBrains.org website.
Hackie’s son Asa grew up with epilepsy, 23 vascular brain tumors, and underwent 2 brain surgeries before the age of 5. Asa’s struggles and recovery put Hackie on the road to, through 26 professional heavyweight boxing matches, raising money for children’s charities (to which he donated every fight purse).
Asa eventually went on to graduate from Georgia Tech with a degree in Discrete Mathematics, and Dr. Reitman wrote and produced a film based on his experiences there (The Square Root of 2, starring Darby Stanchfield of ABC’s Scandal). After graduation, Asa received a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. Hackie, shocked at his own ignorance of the topic despite being an M.D., embarked on years of research that culminated with his book Aspertools: The Practical Guide for Understanding and Embracing Asperger’s, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Neurodiversity (released by HCI books, publishers of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series).
This experience revealed to Hackie the interconnectedness of the conditions that fall under the neurodiversity umbrella, while alerting him to the in-fighting and fractured relations that often plague the organizations tasked with serving the community. Convinced that overcoming these schisms could help all of society, Hackie forged the Different Brains philosophy of inclusive advocacy: “Supporting Neurodiversity – From Autism to Alzheimer’s and All Brains In Between”.
In the company’s initial years of operation, Hackie self-financed all of the content on DifferentBrains.org, all of which offered free to view to the public. He also hosted our weekly interview show Exploring Different Brains, wrote articles for the site, and toured the country speaking at conferences, conventions and private functions, all with the goal of improving the lives of neurodiverse individuals and their families, and maximizing the potential of those with different brains. Separate from Different Brains, Hackie was the founder and CEO of PCE Media, a media production company focusing on reality based content. He recently co-executive produced the documentary “Foreman”, the definitive feature documentary on legendary boxer and pitchman George Foreman.
Hackie, a beloved father, husband, partner, brother, uncle, cousin, and dear friend, passed away on March 4, 2025, in Weston, Florida, after a courageous battle with heart disease.
