Today’s episode an expert visit with Dr. Mel Houser—family physician,
autistic PDAer, and founder of All Brains Belong—about the realities of
navigating healthcare systems with neurodivergent kids and teens. Mel
shares how their clinical work and lived experience have revealed
predictable patterns in the “constellation” of intertwined neuro-immune
conditions many autistic and ADHD people experience, why traditional
medicine often misses them, and what families can
do to get safer, more informed care. This conversation is packed with
practical tools, system workarounds, and hope grounded in community and
bottom-up change.
Note: This is a special release of an expert conversation held inside the Differently Wired Club. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways
How advocacy can look like bottom-up
systems change—building parallel supports, community-driven solutions,
and using an oblique angle instead of fighting institutions head-on
Why the predictable “constellation” of medical issues in autistic and ADHD people is often missed by traditional medicine—and how a whole neuro-immune lens changes that
How self-knowledge at any age becomes a medical and emotional game-changer, empowering kids and adults to understand, predict, and manage their own bodies
Why teens who feel “tired of trying” need a new narrative and bigger framework, not just more interventions or treatment plans
How proactively preparing for healthcare encounters—with visuals, scripts, and flexible goals—reduces dysregulation and builds long-term trust and capacity
Why community and collective problem-solving are essential infrastructure when systems fail, not optional extras
Additional Resources
All Brains Belong (Dr. Mel Houser’s website)
Dr. Mel Houser on Navigating the Healthcare System as a Neurodivergent Individual (Tilt Parenting podcast)
All Brains Belong on Instagram
All Brains Belong on Facebook
Dr. Mel Houser on LinkedIn
All Brains Belong Resource, ALL THE THINGS (Free resource for navigating neurodivergent healthcare)
All Brains Belong Kid Connections (Free customized friend-making program for kids age 4-17 based on shared interests)
Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Healthcare of Autistic & ADHD Patients
Brain Club: (Weekly virtual community education program for older teens & adults)
Practical Strategies for Neuroinclusive Healthcare (webinar)
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