Author: Samantha Pierce

Everyone experiences distressing events in their lives. You’ve probably heard about trauma, the emotional response to these events. Our emotional reactions to these events can have long term effects on the way we think, make decisions and relate to others. Developing resilience—our ability to cope with stress—makes responding to adversity easier. I’ve had my share of traumatic and resilience-building experiences, which continue to shape me into the person I am. My experiences shaped me into the kind of person who could recognize the interplay between these factors in the school setting. They also made me the type of person who…

Once upon a time I was Samantha. At times I am Mrs. Pierce. However, most of the time I’m Mom. The day my husband and I left the hospital with our first child I thought, “Are they going to let us walk out of here with a whole human being, just like that?” Yes, they did. I didn’t know it then but understand now that I gave birth to an incredible autistic child. Not long ago that child, now a young man, registered to vote. I’m looking forward to the day we walk into our polling place, and he receives…

The core of neurodiversity is the understanding that, regardless of label or perceptions, each of us is a neurological miracle possessing intrinsic value.