V.O.I.C.E for Neurodiversity
The Collaborative Empowerment for Neurodiversity
The mission of Villages Overcoming Intersections: the Collaborative Empowerment (V.O.I.C.E) for Neurodiversity is to address access to care inequities and disparities via collaborative research and building sustainable infrastructure and networks that connect persons challenged with neurodivergence to resources and relevant information. We are intentionally inclusive of those who’s experiences are compounded by marginalization and lack of privilege because of cultural, ethnic, or other demographic difference. We work directly with other organizations and institutions to create destigmatizing, educational messaging and materials to enhance public awareness and trust. We pursue and support the development and implementation of culturally sensitive and culturally relevant training on neurodiversity and related topics that promote cultural humility and cultural consciousness to our audience of providers, public health and community-workers (clinical and non-clinical), organizations, and caretakers.
Our Vision is to create an infrastructure and collaborative network that improves access to care for those impacted by neurodiversity through research, resources, and relatable, reliable information.
Research that Improves Access to Care
We raise public awareness through research conducted in diverse communities with diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. Our research activities encompass designing, collaborating, conducting and/or learning (and sharing) about public health studies, surveys/screenings (students/adults/parents), or other evidence-based projects and initiatives. Our work also entails the exploration of non-pharmaceutical interventions, as well as consultation and education from pharmaceutical companies on medication capabilities and their clinical trials. Our activities and efforts aim to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of neurodiversity conditions as well as co-occurring conditions. Additionally, we seek to understand the access to care disparities, their impact, and attainable solutions. We believe in the pursuance of quantitative and qualitative data from evidence-based research to help inform treatment approaches. Click on the research tab to learn more about our current endeavors.
Collaborations that Build Infrastructure
Experts in a variety of fields have partnered on this empowering collaborative to create a network for improving quality of life for people adversely impacted by neurodiversity. Because misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis occurs regularly and can lead to negative trajectories to include life-altering outcomes, it's our goal to help increase access to appropriate care that entails accurate, culturally-sensitive and culturally-conscious diagnosis and treatment and the implementation of meaningful screeners and practical, reliable assessment tools. We work in partnership with scientists, providers, researchers, engineers and various organizations to determine how to enhance accessibility of treatment, accommodations, and resources through the use of traditional methods, nontraditional methods, as well as technology and AI (i.e., apps, wearables, virtual support groups, etc.). Visit our 'about us' page to learn more about our team and their expertise.
Culturally Relevant Education & Training on Neurodiversity and Related Topics
Through evidence-based, practice-informed mechanisms, we develop and implement training curriculum on neurodiversity and related matters for providers (clinical and non-clinical public health/community workers), educators and parents/caretakers. We seek to ensure training is culturally grounded and culturally relevant. We currently have three main training initiatives which are: (1) Cultural Humility and Cultural Consciousness Training for providers and those involved in the Access to Care Research Study. (2) “There’s Something Off with My Child,” a five-week training program we conduct for parents/caretakers who have young children (ages 4-7) that recently received a neurodevelopmental diagnosis (i.e., ADHD, autism, etc.). (3) Our Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Neurodiversity model features evidenced-based curriculum designed to equip public health workers (clinical and non-clinical personnel) with comprehensive skills and strategies for managing clients/cases that present with neurodiversity and co-occurring conditions. Click on the training/education tab to learn more about each program.
Your Help Fuels Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund the programs within our mission.
