All Categories

Differences in Sensory Processing can look like opposites

10/20/2021

Val's Take: We all have differences in sensory and information processing --- BUT at some point that can start to look SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT than the MAJORITY.

These differences can impact among other things TRADITIONAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

These differences can come as a shock even to the person ---- "Well, nobody could do that or remember that." Well, Bob you're the only one in the room who can't do that.

On the other hand, restricted or enhanced SENSORY and INFORMATION PROCESSING is likely to provide Bob a VIEW ON THE WORLD ---- that nobody else in the room has either.

Further, it is often those INTENSE --- often DIFFERENT NEURO-DIVERSE WORLD VIEWS --- that create a lot of the DRAMA in the HUMAN WORLD.

THIS IS THE BIG KAHUNA --- Neuro-Diversity is a BIG SOURCE of "Mental Illness"

10/14/2021

ADHD, AUTISM, DYSLEXIA and GIFTEDNESS --- seem in some ways OPPOSITES --- but they all generally or often involve:
- Developmental Inflammation, AND
- Executive Functioning Differences or Deficits

One way to look at this is to say something like "ADHD" generally comes with or develops one or more psychiatric co-morbidities contained in the DSM.

Another way to look at this is that "psychiatric co-morbidities" are additional manifestations of DEVELOPMENTAL and AFTER AQUIRED INFLAMMATION.

The DSM with its CLUSTER OF SYMPTOMS has done the best it could --- but it hasn't been able to get us to the UNDERLYING BIOLOGY --- which a lot of the RESEARCH of the last 10 years is uncovering.

Further, that UNDERLYING BIOLOGY is involving not only NEURO-TRANSMITTERS and the NERVOUS SYSTEM but also the IMMUNE SYSTEM, the MICROBIOME and the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM as well.

NO WONDER THIS HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT.

That ADDITIONAL INFLAMMATION brings GIFTS and plenty of CHALLENGES, really regardless of the SOCIETY.

BUT the SOCIETY can certainly make it WORSE and is making it A LOT WORSE.

Advanced Psychiatry, Inc. --- Majority of People with ADHD have at least 1 comorbidity.

Understood: Thriving with Learning Differences

Quite frankly, for many people in the Criminal Justice System --- the BIGGEST WEAKNESS is SENSITIVITY.

So working on "COPING SKILLS" to deal with the Emotional Dysregulation that often comes with NEURO-DIVERSITY is IMPORTANT.

BUT if we are not DEVELOPING THOSE GIFTS and finding WORK-AROUNDS for those EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES --- we're not making a place for the person in the SOCIETY and that will have LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES for the INDIVIDUAL and the SOCIETY.

Overcoming the challenges and realizing the gifts of Dyslexia

10/7/2021

Tedx @ Martha's Vineyard
The True Gifts of a Dyslexic Mind --- Dean Bragonier, Executive Director of NoticeAbility

Bragonier is thankfully NOT about turning people with Dyslexia into Neurotypicals.

Instead, he recognizes 4 potentially strong vocational areas for people with DYSLEXIA ---- ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE & THE ARTS.

YCDC Applauds New Federal Dyslexia Policy (2019)

Department of Justice Announces Enhancements to the Risk Assessment System and Updates on First Step Act Implementation (Jan. 2020)

(See also prisonlegalnews.org)

Colorado SB20-180

Dyslexia Education In Criminal And Juvenile Justice System Concerning services for persons with dyslexia in the criminal justice system.

05/26/2020 Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely

People in Prison Are Way More Likely to Have Dyslexia.

The Justice System Sets Them Up to Fail.

A new initiative will require federal prisons to screen for the disorder—if it ever gets off the ground. (2019)

By Dr. Kathryn Currier Moody

"While the prevalence of dyslexia in the general population is about 20%, the prevalence of dyslexia in prisoners is more than twice that, or 48% according to a scientific study my colleagues and I, conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch in conjunction with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice ( ...

Dyslexia in the Prison Population - Education Update (2008)

Neuro-Diverse People are INNOVATORS

9/30/2021

We NEED INNOVATORS working with

Community Organizers and
Institutional Players such as non-profit and governmental agencies

For a lot of people, it's not that they don't UNDERSTAND the GROUP DYNAMICS -- BUT they DON'T APPROVE OF THEM.

For all our talk about the RULE OF LAW --- It is STILL LARGELY A POWER GAME.

That was innovative thinking in 1776, I'm not sure how INNOVATIVE it is now --- BUT it is in a DIFFERENT CONTEXT and that often brings ADDITIONAL INSIGHT and UNDERSTANDING.

Asperger's from the Inside
Autistics are Not Leaders (We're THIS Instead)

Adult ADHD DIAGNOSIS and the Compicated NEURO-DIVERSE Landscape in Criminal Justice

9/24/2021

What I like about this video is --- it is made by A GIRL NEXT DOOR TEACHER with ADHD --- and she's talking among other things about ANGER.

Hamilton

I've become much more a FAN of DRAMATISTS and ARTISTS for being able to CAPTURE COMPLICATED INTER-DYNAMICS in the SOCIETY.

4 of the things that I remember of my long ago days in the Oklahoma County Courthouse were:

2 judges getting in trouble for sexual harassment
1 intellectually gifted judge who enjoyed being VERBALLY ABUSIVE on the BENCH, but strangely wasn't off the BENCH --
- Really enjoyed BULLYING EVERYONE --- so it was EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
2 judges being open and supportive regarding their ALCOHOLISM and trying to encourage DUI Defendants

That is a MIXED BAG.

Orchid Themes & Symbols

There are a lot of NEURO-DIVERSE People in CRIMINAL JUSTICE running up and down that line.

The ADHD Academic:
Adult ADHD Diagnosis

PROCESSING INFORMATION: It is sometimes said that ADHD is an EXCESS of ATTENTION --- NOT A LACK OF ATTENTION.

For me personally, I'm FOCUSED on understanding and solving the problem ----
- If I feel like the CONVERSATION is not FOCUSED on solving the problem --- I lose INTEREST quickly.
  - I UNDERSTAND the role of SOCIAL GRACES --- I understand CHAIN of COMMAND--- BUT at some point ya gotta solve the problem AND
  - We're over 20 YEARS OUT FROM OLMSTEAD, and
  - We've got a CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM that is the HORROR of much of the WORLD.

ADHD and BLACK

9/23/2021

How To ADHD: What It's Like to Be ADHD and Black

Unmasking

9/22/2021

Asperger's from the Inside
(Paul MiCallef)
Unmasking: 3 Steps to Take Off the Mask

P.S. Neuro-Diverse people need their own STANDARDS OF SUCCESS -- if it is just the SOCIAL MIRROR --- that can be both HARD & DISTORTED.

Val's Take: This is really to contrast / show the commonalities between two groups we think of as opposites --- CREATIVES or Athletic people and Engineering Types --- ADHD vs. Autism.

These categories are at the very least blurred, and I don't think are going to hold up for too many more decades.

They both have differences in Information and Sensory Processing and they are both HIGHLY VULNERABLE to Psychiatric Disorders.

I think one of the BIG STRESSORS is that often what is being paired is HIGH ABILITY in some SUBSTANTIVE AREA and an UNEXEPECTED DIFFERENCE or DEFICIT in some or more aspects of EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

NEURODIVERSITY 101

9/22/2021

UK's Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body
What Is Neuro-Diversity?

Neuro-Diversity Index

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