Blog Archives

Dyslexia, HoMelessness & Justice-Involvement

3/29/2024

Val's Take/Conjecture

Maternal Immune Activation and Neuro-Diversity are not that new.
Our appreciation of what is going on is linking back to 'Aristotle.
There are a lot of different aspects to neuro-diversity
- It may come in the guise of Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, Giftedness, OCD, etc.
My experience is that a great deal of human suffering is wrapped in having that "Genius" but often struggling in ways that do not seem "REASONABLE."

Getting a MORE BALANCED VIEW of these STRENGTHS & CHALLENGES might be something the Ancient Greeks could appreciate.

Having PARADIGMS that ACTUALLY REFLECT REALITY--- is also CALMING.

I can't pretend anymore that I don't know more than most people "in some respects."

BUT I also can't pretend anymore that the CHALLENGES that I have (that many people don't have) --- don't exist --- THOSE CHALLENGES DO EXIST.

“Too Far Gone”: Dyslexia, Homelessness, and
Pathways to Drug Use and Dependency (2016)

Strength-Based Approach

Common challenges for many neuro-diverse people across wide swathes of the "SPECTRUM," include:

Fatigue
Emotional Responses that are Greater than the Norm
And Pain Responses that are greater than the Norm.

This is fairly problematic, especially if these challenges are not perceived as "REASONABLE" --- which they often are not.And people push themselves and other people, and are getting pushed beyond their limits, and the consequences can be quite disastrous.

Neurodivergent Rebel
Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries

High IQ and Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

Overcoming the Challenges & Realizing the Gifts of Dyslexia

Reading Disorders and Psychiatric Co-Morbidity

I think there are a lot of Neuro-Diverse people who wouldn't necessarily see themselves as having a problem with READING, BUT they might be somebody in which VISUAL-SPATIAL thinking is difficult or auditory processing----

or something else

An important point is that who gets to STRUCTURE THE ENVIRONMENT has been very important and people typically structure it to suit themselves.

I've been in environments in which I've THRIVED and I've been in environments in which I've WITHERED and there was A LOT MORE TO THAT than I appreciated at the time and that the people around me appreciated.

As an adult, I saw that in my own children who have their own DIFFERENCES and need ENVIRONMENTS that work for them.

To me, this is a JUSTICE ISSUE.

Imperfect Knowledge, Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt & Punishment

3/26/2024

Val's Take/Conjecture

Certainly Christianity historically struggled with the image of Jesus as a harsh Judge or a loving Judge providing Salvation.
With the advent of the Modern Age ---- the "Meritocracy" has largely taken over as the "Judge" today ----
- For those who have lived through it, it's flaws are rarely acknowledged.
- Another big fly in the ointment is recognizing that DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES of the Neuro-Developmental/Psychiatric Continuum as well as "Brain Injuries" are HIGHLY RELEVANT to:
  - Metabolism
  - the Endocrine System
  - the Microbiome
  - the Immune System
  - the Nervous System, and
  - Behavior

Conservatives and Liberals often have radically different views of Criminal Justice and some of them do seem to go back to dueling ideas of Jesus as Judge.

One of the BIG CONCERNS that I have is that we seem to be unable to deal ethically with our own IGNORANCE.

"Come back to me when you've got this all figured out."

The problem is that kind of CERTAINTY is often quite "BRITTLE" and that it seems to me is where we are at with the Mental Health Profession and Criminal Justice.

Smarthistory
"The Harrowing of Hell" --- 1440-70

The BETTER THE SCIENCE is the BETTER THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

Transitional/ Translational Justice Monday

Dyslexia, HoMelessness & Justice-Involvement

Imperfect Knowledge, Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt & Punishment

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