author, artist, and advocate reframing synesthesia, ADHD, Tourette, and other neurodivergent traits
…a neurodiversity advocate, a public speaker, a conference organizer, and an IASAS board executive. I’m also a published poet and essayist. I host a podcast called Weird Sister, and I’m writing a memoir about my very strange brain. I have ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, and many forms of synaesthesia, a trait that confers blended senses. I…
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There are few joys in life equal to finding a vocation that is a perfect match for one’s passion, temperment, and aptitudes. I’ve practiced manual therapy for more than 28 years in a variety of settings, from an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic to a community focused yoga studio. My keen interest in the life…
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I’ve always felt the best leaders come from the populations they represent. As a neurodiverse person, I am committed to destigmatizing neurocognitive differences. I am a speaker, presenter, organizer, and author focused on synaesthesia, Tourette, sensory processing differences, Autism, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia, and other neurocognitive outliers. I sit on the executive board of IASAS,…
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In the maritime lexicon, “righting” is the procedure for reversing a keel or capsize. To right a boat takes tremendous focus, a knowledge of best practices, and an adherence to what may be a lengthy operation. I love the similarities between writing and righting. My essays, poetry, and book length works have demanded my concentration,…
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…life-affirming, perspective re-framing, provocative, political, risky. My mixed-media works explore anatomy, perception, and neurocognitive anomalies. My visual art has been exhibited in Russia, Spain, and the United States. Above is Cygnus Scotoma, a digitally manipulated photograph of London swans along Hyde Park’s Serpentine Trail as perceived during a migraine with aura. In the photo below,…
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My creative interests and endeavors cross various media and disciplines. I received my MFA from the University of San Francisco. My focus was writing, and during my studies, I took a deep dive into long fiction. I am a published poet and essayist, and I am currently crafting a book-length memoir about neurodiversity, community, and healing.…
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My brain is particularly squirrelly; I have several verified anomalies including synaesthesia, attention deficit disorder, Tourette, migraine, and sensory processing difficulties along with other conditions that are still getting tested. However, I’m fortunate to have these challenging outliers paired with the stellar memory conferred by grapheme->color and other synaesthesias. Some experts refer to my pu…
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I am a California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) licensed practitioner with more than 30 years of experience providing soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, orthopedic, deep tissue, and pre/post natal massage. I acquired my first manual therapy certifications in 1992, and have consistently focused my practice toward evidence based protocols that offer reliable results. Over my…
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Which to take? The blue pill? The white pill?
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It’s a pleasure to talk with neuroscientists; their curiosity about the brain is endless, and I always learn something new. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Eva Higginbothom, the host of How We’re Wired, a podcast from Fresh Air Productions. How We’re Wired explores the brain via true, personal stories of people’s…
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For the first time in my 30-year manual therapy career, I’ve given a client a code name: Italian Beauty. She is indeed gorgeous and has ties to Calabria, on the “heel” of Italy’s boot. But, my reasons are not about her visage or heritage. My neurocognitive differences have long fostered problems for me at work,…
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May 6th 2023 marked the coronation of King Charles III in London, and across the pond, the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. I didn’t watch either, but I did take Monday’s New York Times quiz on headwear to see if I could accurately pick which hats were worn at Westminster Abbey, and which at…
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Grapheme-color synesthetes, what is the color of your letter M?
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True confession: I still have my Christmas tree up. It’s perched in the corner of my living room, glitzy, glorious, and connected to a smart device that allows me to activate the lights with a simple command. I plan to keep it in place until February 1st and have it down before midnight on Candlemass…
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You could have knocked me over with a feather last summer when I won the “Sensing Colour” award at the AIC (International Association of Color) conference. Part of this prize is the opportunity to offer a talk for the Kaleidoscope Lecture Series organized by the Colour Research Society of Canada. My presentation “The Bone Stories:…
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Above: féileacán (butterfly) printed silk by Irish designer Jennifer Rothwell: jenniferrothwell.com I’m a Gen-Xer, which means I can remember a time when my wardrobe was mostly black. I listened to The Cure for hours back then, and I also had Depeche Mode and Siouxsie and the Banshees on heavy rotation via the cassette player in…
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