Exploring Different Brains

Fusion Academy’s Tainah Georges explains how they use a one-student-to-one-teacher model that allows students to achieve academically.

Fusion describes itself as: “the world's most personalized middle and high school, with 1-to-1 classes that match your student's pace and preferences, so they can learn better, dive deeper, and never get left behind.” Their Mission statement: “Guided by a fundamental belief in the immense potential within every person, our mission is to help each student flourish – emotionally, socially, and academically – through positive, mentoring relationships and a personalized education experience.” Michelle Rose Gilman founded Fusion Academy out of frustration with the status quo, and a need for personalized education in her community. What began with one campus in Solana Beach, California in 1989 expanded to add a Los Angeles campus in 2010 through the help of what is now Fusion Education Group. Since then, Fusion has expanded to over 80 campuses across the country and changes the lives of thousands of families each year.

For more about Fusion Academy: https://www.fusionacademy.com/

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Canine Assisted Therapy’s Courtney Trzcinski, Laura Rogers, and Gracie share what therapy animals do, and how they positively impact those with social and health challenges.

Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc. is a pet therapy organization located in Broward County, Florida. Their mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in need through the healing power of the human-animal bond. From their website: “Utilizing our certified handlers and their therapy dogs, we are dedicated to providing pet therapy to children and adults who have developmental, emotional, or physical challenges, as well as those in need of comfort and companionship.”

Courtney Trzcinski is the director of outreach and development at Canine Assisted Therapy. Laura Rogers is a volunteer dog handler there, where she shares her dog Gracie with the community.

For more about Canine Assisted Therapy: https://catdogs.org/

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University of Miami’s Shelly Baer & Jairo Arana discuss their Self-Advocate Leadership Training (SALT) program.

Shelly Baer is a licensed clinical social worker, disability self-advocate, and the director of leadership training initiatives at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development. Jairo Arana is a clinical program coordinator at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development. Shelly is coordinator and Jairo a graduate of and trainer in the Center’s Self-Advocate Leadership Training program (SALT).

Project SALT aims to teach a leadership skills curriculum to individuals with disabilities so that they can learn strategies to advocate for themselves and others and to effect larger systems-level change. The vision of the project: to produce an ever-growing cadre of individuals with the capacity for self-determination and independence and the ability to participate in their communities in meaningful ways.

For more about the SALT program: https://med.miami.edu/centers-and-institutes/mailman-center/education/leadership-training-opportunities/salt

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Zachary Tovin shares his perspective on being an autism self-advocate.

Zach is on the Autism Spectrum and grew up in South Florida. After high school, he attended the Horizons School in Birmingham, Alabama, where he studied and honed the skills he would need to live and work independently. In 2019, Zach graduated from ARC Broward Culinary Arts program, receiving his Culinary Arts certification in knife and cooking skills. He is a board member of Casa Familia, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable, enriched and affordable housing communities, with features, amenities and services designed to benefit adults with intellectual, developmental, and other related disabilities.

When he is not working, Zach enjoys photography, listening to music, playing video games and hanging out with friends. Zach is a member of the Camera Club at Flamingo Gardens, and has displayed his photography at various events in South Florida.

For more about Zach: https://zachtovinphotography.wordpress.com/

For more about Casa Familia: https://casafamiliainc.org/

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Anthony Pacilio of CAI shares of they are helping organizations realize the benefits of neurodiversity.

Anthony Pacilio, is recognized domestically and internationally, as an expert in neurodiverse employment and currently serves as Vice President of CAI Neurodiverse Solutions. Pacilio specializes in advancing neurodiversity programs and leads the global expansion efforts of CAI Neurodiverse Solutions.

CAI Neurodiverse Solutions is an end-to-end neurodiversity employment program that helps organizations realize the benefits of neurodiversity. Our successful employment model is designed to bring the untapped talent pool of neurodivergent individuals into the workforce and creates more career opportunities for the neurodiverse community. Our mission is to build innovative business solutions that deliver results while developing rewarding, long-lasting careers for the neurodiverse community and leading the way to an inclusive workforce environment.

For more about CAI Neurodiverse Solutions: https://www.cai.io/neurodiverse-solutions/

Or visit their homepage at: https://www.cai.io/

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Self-advocate & EMT Ali Idriss discusses how his ADHD traits help him navigate his work in emergency rooms, and offers advice for dealing with a trip to the ER.

Ali Idriss is a Different Brains team member and ADHD self-advocate. He aspires to share his journey and help others with the tools that have allowed him to overcome many of the challenges along the way, as he co-hosts the webisode series ADHD Power Tools. Ali has also completed his bachelor’s in Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University and is currently completing his second bachelor’s in Neuroscience and Behavior as he is conducting both clinical and public health research. He is also an Emergency Room Tech/EMT aspiring to become a Physician.

For more about Ali’s work:

https://differentbrains.org/author/ali-idriss/

http://differentbrains.org/category/adhd-power-tools/

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Dr. Jennie Trocchio shares how developmental therapy can help autistic individuals, and how it differs from behavioral methods.

Dr. Jennie Trocchio is an autism educator, speaker, Developmental Therapist, and Vice President of Clinical Operations at Positive Development. Positive Development’s mission is to “…help people with autism and other developmental differences build connections and shape their futures.” Positive Development follows the Developmental Relationship-Based Intervention (DRBI) model.

Jennie is a Maryland native located in sunny South Florida. With a Bachelor’s from University of Miami in Special Education and Creative Writing and a Master’s in Exceptional Student Education and Reading, Jennie worked in special education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. During this time she developed a focus on autism and was introduced to DIR/Floortime approach. This model was put into practice at CasaBlanca Academy, a non-profit school for students with autism, where Jennie became the lead teacher, Director of Education and later the President of the Board of Directors.

In 2013, Jennie graduated with a Ph.D. from Barry University in Special Education and Leadership with a focus in Autism. Her research included a collaboration with Dr. Rick Solomon, the Medical Director of the P.L.A.Y Project in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2014, Jennie left her role at the school, and is currently teaching the autism courses at Barry University and Lynn University. She is certified in DIR/Floortime, PLAY Project and Teaching PLAY.

For more about Jennie’s work:

https://www.positivedevelopment.com/

https://www.drjennie.co/

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In the second part of our review of 2023, we hear from some of the neurodiversity change-makers that have appeared on the show. Featured are:

DR. MICHAEL ALESSANDRI - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/working-together-for-the-autism-community-with-dr-michael-alessandri-edb-290/ | learn more about their work here: https://people.miami.edu/profile/fb8af2465e6219dc0d6be35a692a7472

CHRISTINA SULLIVAN - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/individualized-learning-for-the-neurodivergent-with-christina-sullivan-edb-311/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.evolvelearningcommunity.com/

HINRIK ATLASON - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/atlas-primer-making-education-accessible-with-hinrik-josafat-atlason-edb-305/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.atlasprimer.com/

TERC team members DR. ZACHARY ALSTAD & DR. IBRAHIM DAHLSTROM-HAKKI - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-in-s-t-e-m-education-with-the-terc-team-edb-304/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.terc.edu/

HILARY KOKENDA - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/launching-neurodivergent-careers-with-hilary-kokenda-of-zavikon-edb-296/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.zavikon.net/

DR. MAI PHAM - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/exceptional-care-for-the-neurodivergent-with-dr-hoangmai-mai-pham-edb-291/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.ie-care.org/

DR. COLE GALLOWAY - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/go-baby-go-independence-through-mobility-with-dr-cole-galloway-edb-288/ | learn more about their work here: https://sites.udel.edu/gobabygo/contact/

DR ERIN BROOKER LOZOTT - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/els-for-autism-creating-lifelong-resources-for-the-neurodivergent-w-dr-erin-brooker-lozott-edb-287/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.elsforautism.org/

JOSEPH LENTO - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/rethinking-education-making-school-work-for-every-brain-with-joseph-lento-edb-307/ | learn more about their work here: http://differentbrains.org/author/joseph-lento/

LAUREN SHURE - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/psychology-social-justice-with-lauren-shure-ph-d-lmhc-edb-301/ | learn more about their work here: https://www.barry.edu/en/c-vitae/professors/lauren-shure-ph-d/

JR HARDING - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/pioneering-workplace-inclusion-with-dr-jr-harding-edb-297/ | learn more about their work here: https://jrharding.com/

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In the first part of our review of 2023, we hear from the neurodivergent self-advocates that have appeared on the show. Featured are:

JR HARDING - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/pioneering-workplace-inclusion-with-dr-jr-harding-edb-297/ | learn more about their work at: https://jrharding.com/

HAYLEY & MATTHEW LEACH - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/autism-advocacy-siblings-with-hayley-and-matthew-leach-edb-306/ | learn more about their work at: https://linktr.ee/hayleyleach

KAYLAH TAYLOR / AUTISM THEATER PROJECT - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/the-autism-theater-project-creating-inclusion-on-the-stage-screen-edb-303/ | learn more about their work at: https://autismtheaterproject.org/

TRAVIS MISURELL - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/making-democracy-accessible-with-travis-misurell-edb-302/ | learn more about their work at: https://futureis.org/

SHANNA ANSSARI - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/studying-psychology-maintaining-mental-health-with-shanna-anssari-edb-295/

JOSE DEL CUETO - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/succeeding-after-trauma-with-jose-del-cueto-edb-294/ | learn more about their work at: https://www.josedelcueto.com/

CYNTHIA HAMMER - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/living-with-inattentive-adhd-with-cynthia-hammer-edb-312/ | learn more about their work at: http://www.iadhd.org/

GABRIELA GUARDARRAMA - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/navigating-mental-health-challenges-with-gabriela-guardarrama-edb-310/ | learn more about their work at: https://differentbrains.org/author/gguardarrama/

MICHAEL ELLENBOGEN - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/living-with-dementia-with-michael-ellenbogen-edb-286/ | learn more about their work at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%98%85michael%E2%98%85ellenbogen%E2%98%85/

BROOKE SCHNITTMAN - full interview: https://differentbrains.org/activate-your-adhd-potential-with-brooke-schnittman-ma-pcc-bcc-edb-309/ | learn more about their work at: https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/

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Cynthia Hammer, self-advocate & founder of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, shares her experiences with the disorder, and how it can differ from other types of ADHD.

Cynthia Hammer is the Founder and Executive Director of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, and author of the book She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1972. For many years she was a stay-at-home mom raising three sons while her husband spent long days at work as a general surgeon. She started a non-profit organization in 1993 to help adults with ADHD, and she recently started a different non-profit, the Inattentive ADHd Coalition to create more awareness of Inattentive ADHD.

For more about the Inattentive ADHD Coalition: www.iadhd.org

To learn more about Cynthia’s book: https://a.co/d/h8EpdXI

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