ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Neurodivergent people often find that navigating an inaccessible world can take a toll on their mental health.
While conditions like autism and ADHD are not mental illnesses, neurodivergent individuals face a statistically higher risk of developing conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Here @ Home sits down with the organizations and the people who know what it’s like to live on the spectrum, connecting our viewers with resources to help if you believe you, or someone you know, may live with a neurodivergent brain, and empowering everyone no matter their personal challenges to live a happy and fulfilling life
VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment offers evidence-based programming supports individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental challenges while compassionately addressing their mental health needs.
Through early intervention, family support, and community education, we empower the individuals we serve to live active, engaged, and supported lives.
VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment is a nonprofit providing compassionate, evidence-based services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities through specialized schools, adult programs, and early intervention services across central and southwest Virginia.
VIA has campuses in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Lexington.
With recent CDC data reporting that 1 in 31 eight-year-olds now receive an autism diagnosis, the need for data-driven services and compassionate care continues to rise.
Here @ Home welcomes Melanie Wilson, Clinical Director of the Roanoke VIA Day School to talk about the VIA approach and the importance of supporting the whole person and the importance of early intervention.
Having a neurodivergent disorder can also impact social skills, which can be especially difficult for young people trying to navigate friendships and romantic relationships.
The organization, PEERS RVA is working to help them with those challenges through its Social Skills Camps happening across Virginia this summer, including here in Roanoke.
Here @ home sits down with rising high school senior, Lianne Cranmer about her experience with neurodivergence.
One of the most common neurodivergent disorders is ADHD.
According to the C-D-C, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects about seven million children and 15 and a half million adults in the U-S.
For many of these adults, it’s taken a large part of their lives to get the correct diagnosis.
Kimberly McBroom speaks with a Roanoke ADHD counselor, who’s seeing that first hand among his own clientele, and also sharing his personal journey with the disorder.
He points out– ADHD testing can be expensive, ranging from 150 to over five thousand dollars, depending on the type of evaluation and your insurance.
That’s why he encourages people to do some of their own research before reaching out to a professional.
He recommends a couple of books “Spark” “Understanding Girls with ADHD” and ” ADHD 2.0″
Here @ Home also talks with Cathy Brown is the Division Director of Child, Youth, and Family Services for Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.
We also hear from Guy Isaiah Smith, an advocate for Autism about his advocacy work on the special needs project in Roanoke.
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