For neurodiverse people, “masking” is a way to find acceptance — in social situations, school and the workplace.
Forcing eye contact and making small talk, for example, or hiding repetitive behaviors, enables those on the autism spectrum, people diagnosed with ADHD and others, to navigate a neurotypical world.
But creating a façade, or acting in a way that does not feel authentic, can be difficult, exhausting — even detrimental to emotional health.
Lauren Rosenblum
Lauren Brown Rosenblum and Chelsea Elkind take a different tack. They believe in “neuro-affirmation” — helping neurodivese people of all ages stay true to themselves, and embrace their “superpowers.”
Through individual and group coaching and support, career development, educational consulting, cognitive rehabilitation and more, they do not “improve” clients’ lives.
They prefer to say, “We help get people where they want to go.”
On their own, neurodivergent terms.
The Westport professionals do it through NeuroMind. Their collaboration embraces neurodiversity, prioritizes autonomy, and builds skills and confidence.
Their backgrounds are complementary. Rosenblum — a Staples High School Class of 2010 graduate, who earned a master’s in communication science and disosrders from Columbia University — worked in speech therapy, in New York schools.
Chelsea Elkind
Elkind — a New Jersey native, and competitive gymnast at the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s in occupational therapy — worked at large hospitals in Chicago and New York.
Both moved to Westport with their families during the pandemic. Rosenblum and her boyfriend (now husband) Jake came to live with her parents for what they thought would be a couple of weeks. They’re still here (in their own home, with one child and another on the way).
Elkind was pregnant. She and her husband had friends and relatives here.
Both have been invigorated by the influx of young families. “It’s like the first year of college,” Rosenblum says. “Everyone is making friends, and doing things together.”
The women met socially a couple of years ago. They share similar interests and work ethics.
Realizing a shared passion, they created NeuroMind.
They and their staff of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and licensed counselors offer a range of services, from executive functioning support for organization and planning, to career coaching, educational readiness, independent living skills and social skills training.
Clients include youngsters to men and women in their 60s and 70s. Some parents of neurodiverse youngsters have realized they may be neurodiverse too.
Neurodivergent “superpowers.”
“There’s a lot of neurotypical ‘projecting'” in today’s world, Rosenblum says.
Children are told, “you need to sit still so you can learn math, and succeed in life.”
But here are many ways to succeed, Elkind notes. Someone obsessed with, say, Dungeons & Dragons can earn a good living as a livestreamer.
“We help them advocate for their diagnoses, and find areas of growth,” Rosenblum explains.
“They often say ‘no one really understands how my brain works.'” The neurodivergent therapists on the NeuroMind team do.
One client, suffering from depression, lived at home with their parents. Eventually they got a job, joined a dating app, found a partner, and moved to Colorado to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. “All it took was a bit of support to achieve their goals,” Elkind says.
Olivia McGuffog, working with young clients.
A woman in her mid-20s, diagnosed with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, was burned out at work — not uncommon for neuro-divergent people.
NeuroMind’s staff helped her find a fulfilling career. Her “superpower” was seeing minute details. She is now a superb professional organizer.
A woman with ADHD — raising 2 children, and working as a New York attorney — struggled to manage her work and home lives.
NeuroMind helped her use an app to take mental rests. She also reduced her nighttime sensory overloads, allowing her to sleep better.
Much of their work is virtual. But they’ve reached out to local groups like Uniquely Mothering and Tilt, and will add more in-person support. In the works: home visits, and perhaps a brick-and-mortar location.
Autism, ADHD and OCD have been stigmatized for years.
Now — thanks to words like “neurodiversity,” and the public embrace of their neurodivergence by famous figures like Elon Musk — that stigma is fading.
“Superpowers” are having their moment. At NeuroMind, Lauren Rosenblum and Chelsea Elkind make sure that everyone gets a chance to show off theirs.
(To learn more about NeuroMind, click here. Their Instagram is @NeuroMindServices.)
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Thunderous applause to you! This is amazing! it is a paradigm shift that will benefit a lot of people. as the parent of a special needs adult son who has some amazing super powers himself, I *know* this will be a benefit to many. Just Wow!! Best of Luck!!
Wonderful.. Love the “superpowers.”