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According to the medical model of disability, autism is considered a disability because it's an impairment, abnormality, or disorder to be treated, says Julie Landry, PsyD, ABPP, a clinical psychologist based in San Antonio, TX.

"People with ADHD have a disruption in their brain's dopamine reward pathways. With fewer dopamine receptors and transporter availability, individuals with ADHD may resort to reward-seeking behaviors that can help satisfy their brain's need for additional stimulation," explains Dani Rodwell, LCSW and co-founder of Neurospark Health.

Jule Landry, co-founder of NeuroSpark Health, says that "people with ADHD often struggle with something referred to as 'time blindness'" and explains that "smaller chunks are helpful for those who struggle with task initiation or are overwhelmed by large projects or too many things on their to-do list."

"Gaslighting occurs in abusive relationships and can cause significant damage," explains Dr. Julie Landry, a clinical psychologist and owner of Halcyon Therapy Group and NeuroSpark Health.

...sexual education is just as important in autistic youth, states Landry. "Autistic adolescents and young adults often receive less sexual guidance, support, and education than their neurotypical peers due to barriers such as ableism, assumptions, stigmatization, and exclusion."

Because a lot of these videos or posts oversimplify what it's like to live with the disorder, it's possible a neurotypical person who didn't get enough sleep or is dealing with relationship issues could assume their struggle to focus is ADHD-related, says clinical psychologist Julie Landry, PsyD.

Jennifer Alumbaugh found her neurodivergent status holding her back in jobs where she quickly outgrew her old position. Yet any attempts to move up the corporate ladder or present ideas to supervisors for improving the company were dismissed or disregarded. "It felt like I was always being rejected for promotions and now I look back and see it's because others couldn't see how [my neurodivergent brain] was one of my strengths."

"The theory appeared to be supported by findings from the Western Collaborative Group Study and the Framingham Study, but many subsequent reviews have not found strong or consistent evidence that type A is causally associated with coronary heart disease," says Dr. Julie Landry, clinical psychologist and co-founder of NeuroSpark Health.

Take a look at Elon Musk, says Julie Landry, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at NeuroSpark Health. The tech entrepreneur opened up about having Asperger's at a opening monologue and received praise for his intelligence and willingness to take risks. Virgin founder Richard Branson is another billionaire who has attributed his dyslexia for his ability to think outside the box.

While NeuroSpark seeks to fill a service gap, it's much more than that. Our vision is that NeuroSpark erupts into a movement, creating a community of people ready to lift each other up.