All Brains Belong VT is proud to announce a collaboration with Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance to advocate for the creation of school environments where children with all types of brains can thrive. Specifically, we advocate for…
Author: Melissa Houser (page 3)
The Impact of Stigma on Autistic Health (4/11/2023)
Autistic people have an average life expectancy of age 36-54 years, with leading causes of death being premature cardiovascular disease and suicide. Extensive research shows that autistic people are dissatisfied with their healthcare, experience significant barriers in accessing care, and feel marginalized and…
VT Digger: Vermont lawmakers consider limiting restraint and seclusion in schools
(Peter D’Auria, 3/15/2023) Vermont lawmakers are considering placing restrictions on restraints and seclusion, controversial practices in which students are physically immobilized or detained in school. On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education heard testimony on H.409, which would prohibit schools from secluding students and limit the use of physical restraints. As written, the bill also would require officials to report and track any instances of restraint and seclusion in schools. Advocates argue that the practices can be dangerous and traumatic and disproportionately affect students with disabilities. “That kind of trauma does stick with students and their families,” Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury, the bill’s sponsor, told lawmakers Tuesday. “It’s not something that staff and teachers also want to do.” Dr. Melissa Houser, executive director of the neurodivergence advocacy group All Brains Belong VT, testified in favor of the bill Tuesday. “Vermont has made so much effort over the past decade enhancing trauma-informed schools, trauma-informed health care, trauma-informed everything,” she said. “And yet Vermont law currently allows for children to be traumatized by being immobilized by physical force at school.”
Neuroinclusive Employment Education
At a time when employee burnout is at an all-time high, we have an epidemic of “quiet quitting,” and employers are struggling to fill open positions, the “defaults” of employment are clearly not working for all brains. Here’s what All…
Family Lunch & Learn Series
In 2022, All Brains Belong hosted a virtual educational webinar series to learn and connect with like-minded families. Archived recordings are available at no cost.
Vermont Edition: Neurodivergent Vermonters Share What Inclusion Looks Like
Vermont Public: Host Connor Cyrus on Vermont Edition discusses with panelists what it means to think differently than the “typical” mind. He also interviews advocates, including Mel Houser MD, Executive Director of All Brains Belong VT, who say every brain…
Virtual New Year’s Eve Celebration
Join ABB on Sun 12/31/23 5-7:30PM ET for a virtual New Year’s Eve Celebration of community! The neurodivergent community is at increased risk of complications from COVID, including Long COVID, and we want to offer a COVID-safe alternative to large…
2022 Community Health Education Fair
Recording from All Brains Belong’s Community Health Education Fair (8/27/2022): Topics include COVID safety in schools, youth mental health, Long COVID, and community inclusion. Recording courtesy of Orca Media.
Implementing Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model at Home (Sara Wilkins)
Sara Wilkins presents Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model. Sara is Lives in the Balance’s Lead Advocator for Vermont, and All Brains Belong’s Community Programs Coordinator.
Neuroinclusive Healthcare (Mel Houser MD)
Recording from 9/14/2022 episode of Brain Club, featuring a one-way livestream of Mel Houser MD’s presentation for the Central Vermont Medical Center medical staff. Many thanks to CVMC for allowing the community to view the presentation, as well as to…