All Brains Belong, a leading organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a significant grant from the Vermont Dept. of Health. The grant allows All Brains Belong to expand its capacity and enhance its services, aiming to address health inequity for neurodivergent Vermonters.
The grant provided by the Dept. of Health recognizes the invaluable work being done by All Brains Belong in supporting neurodivergent individuals, who often face unique challenges in accessing healthcare and mental health services.
At least 1 in 5 people think, learn and/or communicate differently than the so-called “typical” brain. Some people have diagnoses such as autism, ADHD or others – but many do not. Autistic adults have an average life expectancy of 36-54 years, with premature cardiovascular disease and suicide as leading causes. Autistic adults have 2.5-4 times the rates of unemployment. Eighty percent of autistic adults experience social isolation and difficulty accessing medical care. All Brains Belong has been at the forefront of addressing these disparities.
In partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, this grant from the Department of Health is part of multi-million dollar Covid-19 funding to the state from the Center for Disease Control to address persistent health disparities. Neurodivergent people have higher rates of complications from Covid-19, including long Covid.
“‘One size fits all’ does not work for all,” said Mel Houser, founder and executive director of All Brains Belong. “Neurodivergent Vermonters are all too often struggling to have their needs met by the defaults of society — in healthcare, education, employment, and society at large.”
Houser says that this grant allows All Brains Belong to more than double the amount of Vermonters being served by the organization.
For information, visit allbrainsbelong.org.
