Mel Houser, M.D., Executive Director, All Brains Belong VT (5/7/2025) Why Mistrust of the Healthcare System Isn’t Just a Personal Issue Healthcare is supposed to be a place of support, healing, and care. But for many neurodivergent, disabled, and multiply…
Author: Melissa Houser
Vermont Medicine: Health Care for the Neurodivergent Community
(Janet Essman Franz, 4/18/2025) “If we can do one thing to improve health care experiences and relationships, it’s to explicitly tell patients that we believe them,” says Melissa Houser, M.D.’12, clinical assistant professor of family medicine at UVM, in a…
Vermont Public: Neurodivergent Vermonters launch fund for medicine, groceries as Medicaid cuts loom
(Elodie Reed, 2/28/2025) Neurodivergent Vermonters are organizing a new mutual aid effort to supply each other with medicines, groceries and ways to take action during an uncertain time. The effort, led by the Montpelier-based community health organization All Brains Belong, began…
Seven Days: An Autistic Doctor Is Redefining Neurodivergent Health Care
(Ken Picard, 1/15/2025) “People don’t just join a medical practice. They are joining a community,” said Dr. Melissa “Mel” Houser, 41, who founded All Brains Belong in November 2021. The Long Island native moved to Vermont in 2008 to attend…
All Brains Belong Announces its 2nd Annual “Improving Autistic & ADHD Healthcare” Webinar
Autistic & ADHD adults often have multiple intertwined health conditions. The healthcare system often gets in the way of clinicians addressing multiple medical problems at a time. Yet by treating these intertwined medical conditions as separate, this may result in…
Blog: 15 Steps to Losing a Client
Mel Houser, M.D., Executive Director, All Brains Belong VT Once upon a time, I decided to fire a consultant. Why? Because they are committing harm to the 1 in 10 people whose brains work like mine. And I cannot support…
Blog: Neuroinclusive Gatherings are Safe Gatherings
Mel Houser, M.D., Executive Director, All Brains Belong VT (11/25/2024) Staying safe this winter As the holiday season approaches, gatherings often play a central role in how many of us connect with others, whether personally or professionally. . However, the…
Kid Connections Project Administrative Coordinator
Position is no longer accepting applications
Blog: Hybrid Meetings Done Well
Mel Houser, M.D., Executive Director, All Brains Belong VT (10/15/2024) There are MANY reasons people benefit from meetings being offered in hybrid format. Yes, it’s extra work. And yes, it takes some intentional thought behind it. But this is about…
Montpelier Bridge: ‘One Size Fits All’ Does Not Work for All
(Mel Houser, Guest Columnist, 8/21/2024) At least one in five people thinks, learns, or communicates differently than a person with a so-called “typical” brain. Some have been identified with specific diagnoses (i.e., autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], dyslexia, bipolar disorder, traumatic…