Neurodiversity Is Not a Pathology
Self-advocate Sean Ivins shares his perspective on neurodiversity acceptance, and why it shouldn't be pathologized.
Traveling With Neurodivergent Kids This Holiday Season? Don’t Leave Before Reading These Tips
Jessica Leving offers tips to help neurodiverse families travel with minimal stress this holiday season.
The Gray Truth: Helping Truth-Tellers Navigate ‘White Lies’
Wendy Lyman discusses the challenges her truth-telling neurodivergent son has coming to terms with the concept of "white lies".
Why I Consider Myself ‘Differently-abled’ — Not Disabled
Autism, OCD, and ADHD self-advocate Jordan O’Kelley shares why he sees neurodiversity as a strength, not a weakness.
OCD Has Made History, And So Can You!
Emily Carter highlights the role people with OCD have played throughout history, and offers tools for stress reduction.
The Coronavirus Pandemic: Ali’s Journey With ADHD & OCD
Ali, 21, shares his story about dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and how having ADHD and OCD has played into his experiences with quarantine.
How Two Tennis players with Autism Found Love
(3 min 22 sec) In this episode: we look at a new treatment for OCD, a recently diagnosed teen with multiple sclerosis hosts a walk for awareness, special olympians on the autism spectrum get married, and more!
Supporting Neurodivergent College Students, with Drs. George & Oksana Hagerty of Beacon College | EDB
(32 mins) Beacon College’s Drs. George and Oksana Hagerty discuss how they support neurodivergent students.
The College Living Experience, with Stephanie Martin | EDB 155
(VIDEO - 22 minutes) In this episode, Dr. Hackie Reitman speaks with Stephanie Martin, president of the College Living Experience (CLE).
How Traveling Has Helped my OCD
Autism self-advocate Eric Zimmerman discusses the challenges posed by his co-occurring OCD, and how traveling has forced him to find way around his obsessive thoughts.
The Evolutionary Advantages of Mental Illness
Comedian and mental illness self-advocate Frank King discusses how he feels the abilities that come along with neurodiversity may have roots in our ancestors.
New British TV Show Features Main Character with OCD
Channel 4, a British public-service television station, recently started broadcasting a show about an individual with a rare form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
2018 in Review: Advice From The Self-Advocates | EDB 153
Words of wisdom from neurodiverse self-advocates In this first of two "2018 in Review" episodes,…
Brain Training May Help Battle OCD Symptoms
A recent study gave evidence that even just one week of brain training could give significant improvements of fighting against OCD symptoms.
A Back to School Survival Guide for Different Brains
Resuming classes after summer vacation is always an exciting and often stressful event for any child. Here are 6 tips for making the transitions easier for any kind of different brain.
Does Less Sun Mean More OCD?
A new compilation of data assembled at Binghamton University NY suggests the prevalence of OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder, is lower in areas that get more sunlight.
Former NHL Goalie Shares His Experiences with OCD, PTSD, and Depression
Clint Malarchuk, a former goalie in the National Hockey League active from 1981-1996, has chosen to tell his tale of a struggle with severe depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Living with OCD and Autism
Eric Zimmerman discusses his how he has taken control of his dual diagnoses of OCD and autism.
Researchers May Have Discovered Genes That Are Linked to OCD
The NRXN1 and REEP3 genes have also had a significant role in studies on the autism spectrum disorder. So with further research, they hope to learn more about possible causes and treatments for more than just OCD.
Yellow Pumpkins Raise Disability Awareness for Halloween – Week in Neurodiversity (10/28/17)
(3 mins 23 sec) In this episode, yellow pumpkins highlighted children with disabilities, a down syndrome entrepreneur has made a career out of socks, and Hamilton star praises Chicago’s epilepsy support! These stories and more in this week’s edition!
How Video Games Can Aid in Finding the Roots of OCD
Investigators assembled forty-nine individual volunteers—24 with OCD and 25 matched controls—to play videogames in which they had to catch coin-like objects in a bucket.
The War Within: Battling OCD on the Autism Spectrum
Aaron Bouma discusses how having both autism and OCD has affected his life, both for the worse and for the better.
“Stranger Things” Star Discusses Her OCD Diagnosis
Emmy nominated actress Shannon Purser has recently spoken out about body image, mental health, the power of therapy, and her recent diagnosis of OCD with People Magazine.
An Educator’s Guide to OCD in Children
Leah Davies, M.Ed. gives tips and tools for educators working with children that have OCD.
Reaching “Critical Mass”: Supporting Autistic Individuals to Achieve Their Goals
Aaron Bouma, a Canadian advocate with autism, explains how having a core group of supportive family and friends - a "critical mass" as he calls them - helped him overcome challenges growing up.
Drug that Enhances Metacognitive Performance May Help Treat Symptoms of OCD and Schizophrenia
According to a recent study, a drug known as propranolol may be able to boost your confidence by blocking the rush of noradrenaline that occurs throughout your body - which could possibly lead to the development of cutting-edge treatments for schizophrenia and OCD.
Autism, OCD, & Anxiety: Treating Co-Occuring Conditions, with Dr. Rebecca Sachs | Spectrumly Speaking ep. 5
(33 mins) In this episode, hosts Dr. Lauren Gerber and Becca Lory speak with Rebecca Sachs, Ph.d. ABPP, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of individuals on the autism spectrum who also experience difficult co-occurring disorders, such as severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Can Yoga Ease Autism-Related Anxiety? – Week in Neurodiversity (4/15/17)
(4 mins) In this episode, a yoga class is helping those with autism, a new app is keeping kids with ADHD focused, and how has this viral prom proposal vid inspired others to contribute to the special occasion? These stories and more in this week’s edition!
Is “Fear Reversal Learning” Impaired in People with OCD?
Researchers tested OCD patients in an effort to examine how successful patients were at reversing their thought patterns when a once threatening stimulus became safe, and conversely, when a safe stimulus became threatening.
Can Swimming With Sharks Help PTSD? – Week in Neurodiversity (3/04/17)
(4 mins 5 sec) In this episode: a former hockey player talks about living with OCD, a man bikes 4,000 miles for Parkinson’s research, and veterans with PTSD go diving with sharks! These stories and more in this week’s edition.
New Book Attempts to Demystify Compulsive Behaviors of All Types and Severity
Can’t. Just. Stop. An Investigation of Compulsion attempts to cover the entire spectrum of compulsive behaviors through interviews with dozens of individuals.
Understanding and Supporting Weaknesses in Executive Brain Functioning
Cheryl Checkers, M.S. outlines how weaknesses in the executive functions of the brain can create problems for the neurodiverse, and reviews strategies for how to improve those functions.
Defining Neurodiversity for 2017: It’s Different Brains
In our final blog of 2016, Different Brains founder Hackie Reitman, M.D. discusses the problem of isolation when dealing with a diagnosis, and the way individuals and all of society can benefit when all of us come together for our common goals.
Canadian Performer with OCD Uses One-Man Show to Raise Awareness
Brendan McLeod, a thirty year old Canadian with OCD, is touring Canada performing his monologue “Brain” to raise awareness about the condition.
Week in Neurodiversity – Michael J Fox & Dave Matthews Jam for Parkinson’s (11/26/16)
In this episode, a student with autism becomes homecoming king, “Aspergers Are Us” takes the world by storm in their new documentary, and Michael J. Fox jams with Dave Matthews for a Parkinson’s Benefit!
Week in Neurodiversity – A Therapy Duck For PTSD? (10/29/16)
In this episode, Amanda Seyfried opens up about having OCD, scientists develop a new gene therapy for Alzheimer’s, and have you heard of Daniel the therapy duck?
Week in Neurodiversity – Soccer Star Opens Up About Depression (10/22/16)
In this episode, a former soccer players discusses depression, a teacher is accompanied on her wedding day by her students with Down syndrome, and have you heard of the award winning documentary about Asperger’s?
Week In Neurodiversity – Dog with Epilepsy the Next Star of Transformers? (06/18/16)
In this episode, a teen with Tourette’s creates a vlog, an author opens up about OCD, and did you hear about the dog with epilepsy that’s going to be in Transformers?
The Week In Neurodiversity – Do Kids and Adults Have Different ADHD? (06/03/16)
This week- adult ADHD may differ from that of children, twins with OCD under go a new surgery, a documentary sheds light on epilepsy, and more!
Week in Neurodiversity (4/9/16)
The Week in Neurodiversity highlights recent news stories that speak to the differences in our brains.
Hosted by Matthew Ryan.
Autism Acceptance Day Edition of the Week in Neurodiversity (4/2/16)
The Autism Acceptance Day edition of the Week in Neurodiversity highlights recent news stories that speak to the differences in our brains.
Hosted by Matthew Ryan.
