When four-year-old Marcus covers his ears and melts down in the grocery store, it's not a behavioral problem. When his sister Emma seeks out tight hugs and crashes into furniture throughout the day, she's not being destructive. Both children are autistic, and their behaviors reflect the profound ways that sensory processing differences affect how they experience and navigate the world.

Many parents of children with ADHD find themselves puzzled by a common contradiction: their child can't sit still for homework or follow simple instructions, yet they'll spend hours completely absorbed in building elaborate Lego creations, playing video games, or researching their latest obsession. This isn't defiance or selective listening. It's one of the most misunderstood aspects of ADHD: the paradox of hyperfocus versus distraction.

When one mother first heard the school psychologist say her eight-year-old son had a "learning disability," her heart sank. But when a private evaluator later described her son as having "learning differences" and spoke about his unique cognitive profile with both challenges and remarkable strengths, everything shifted. Same child, same academic struggles, but suddenly there was hope and possibility.

If you’re parenting a gifted/2E (twice-exceptional) kid, you likely notice that traditional parenting advice doesn’t always fit your family. Many parents of gifted/2e kids find that typical parenting strategies upset their kids or lead to power struggles.

Join Mind Matters as our Psychologists discuss why it’s crucial to understand that ADHD isn’t just about being hyperactive or easily distracted.

Everyone has differences in how their brain processes their environment. Those differences can lead to unique ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. We call this “Neurodiversity.”

Did you know that there are different types of tests that help us learn about ourselves and how we think, learn, and feel? These tests, or assessments, have special names and purposes that can help you and the people around you.

Berkeley, Oakland, and the surrounding towns in the East Bay are famous for their progressive and activist culture. Their inclusive atmosphere and environmental consciousness are recognized. 

Silicon Valley is renowned for its technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, but despite being the nerd capital of the world (and we wield “nerd” with pride here), it’s still harder for autistic and other Neurodivergent** folks here than it should be.