Umbrella US

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Who are we?

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A neurodivergent (ND) person is someone who has one or more co-occurring neurological conditions that may cause disability when interacting with or moving through their environment or in relationship to other people.

 

Umbrella US will focus specifically on local initiatives that are identified by US NDs for US NDs.

 

Working alongside our allies in creating meaningful change, we take an intersectional approach to identifying and addressing the barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals.

I am multiply neurodivergent: I’m Autistic, epileptic, have PTSD, have cluster headaches, have a chiari malformation. Neurodivergent just means a brain that diverges. Autistic people. ADHD people. People with learning disabilities. Epileptic people. People with mental illnesses. People with MS or Parkinsons or apraxia or cerebral palsy or dyspraxia or no specific diagnosis but wonky lateralization or something. That is all it means.
Neurodivergent K Avatar from page Radical Neurodivergence Speaking
Kassiane Asasumasu coined the term "Neurodivergent"AKA Neurodivergent K, Radical Neurodivergence Speaking, Twitter @UVGKassi
Neurodivergent, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer.Com
Neurodivergent is quite a broad term. Neurodivergence (the state of being neurodivergent) can be largely or entirely genetic and innate, or it can be largely or entirely produced by brain-altering experience, or some combination of the two. Autism and dyslexia are examples of innate forms of neurodivergence, while alterations in brain functioning caused by such things as trauma, long-term meditation practice, or heavy usage of psychedelic drugs are examples of forms of neurodivergence produced through experience.
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
A person whose neurocognitive functioning diverges from dominant societal norms in multiple ways – for instance, a person who is Autistic, dyslexic, and epileptic – can be described as multiply neurodivergent.
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
Some forms of innate or largely innate neurodivergence, like autism, are intrinsic and pervasive factors in an individual’s psyche, personality, and fundamental way of relating to the world. The neurodiversity paradigm rejects the pathologizing of such forms of neurodivergence, and the Neurodiversity Movement opposes attempts to get rid of them.
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
Other forms of neurodivergence, like epilepsy or the effects of traumatic brain injuries, could be removed from an individual without erasing fundamental aspects of the individual’s selfhood, and in many cases the individual would be happy to be rid of such forms of neurodivergence. The neurodiversity paradigm does not reject the pathologizing of these forms of neurodivergence, and the Neurodiversity Movement does not object to consensual attempts to cure them (but still most definitely objects to discrimination against people who have them).
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
Thus, neurodivergence is not intrinsically positive or negative, desirable or undesirable – it all depends on what sort of neurodivergence one is talking about.
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
Neurodivergent is not a synonym for autistic. There are countless possible ways to be neurodivergent, and being autistic is only one of those ways. There are myriad ways of being neurodivergent that have no resemblance or connection to autism whatsoever. Never, ever use neurodivergent as a euphemism for autistic. If you mean that someone is autistic, say they’re autistic. It’s not a dirty word.
Nick Walker
Dr. Nick WalkerAuthor, Educator, Neuroqueer Theory, "Neuroqueer Heresies," "Weird Luck" - NeuroQueer
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"In fighting for the rights of our most marginalized community members, we fight for the rights of all of us."
AJ Locashio
Founder & Executive Director

Vision

Inclusion, equity, and the opportunity to thrive for all neurodivergent people.

Mission

Building a neurodivergent-led intersectional community to develop resources, education, and self-advocacy support for ND folks and their allies.

Our Pledge

Community-led

We will empower NDs to be part of every conversation and decision affecting them and our community from beginning to end.

Partnership-focused

We will consider the opinions of every person, respecting and valuing that opinion as their own, even when it is not in alignment with ours.

Equity & Inclusion

We will provide a safe space where all members of our community can be their authentic selves exploring and advocating for their individual needs and those of the community as a whole.

Sustainability & Growth

We will focus on Transgender, Queer, and Global Majority members of the ND community first and foremost and, in doing so, serve all members of the ND community.

The Team

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AJ Locashio (she/they)

Founder & Executive Director

AJ Locashio, M.Ed., affectionately known as The Octopus, is proud to be an ÂûDHD, Queer, Nerd, Military Spouse and Mom. She is a credentialed educator, board certified clinical sexologist and coach, sensory environment strategist, and passionate advocate for the ND Community. When not working, AJ can be found playing D&D with her family or virtual zombie bashing.

Jessica Jahns (she/her)

Co-founder & Chief Advisor

Jessica Jahns is just a small town squirrel refusing to live in a lonely world. This human systems sorceress values connection with her community, loves to ponder politics, economics and social systems, and plays sweet tunes on her Yanagisawa T880 tenor sax. She’s a multitasking data processing analyst by day, listening to more podcasts than you ever knew existed (at 2x speed, of course).

Sarah Phelps is a white woman with short, curly hair. She is smiling gently at the camera and wearing a black top with a keyhole opening at the neck. The shirt has white, pink, purple, and teal planets, stars, and moons printed on it.

Sarah Phelps (she/her)

National Board Chair

Sarah Phelps is the Director of Operations and Programs at OutNebraska – a statewide education and advocacy organization that is working to celebrate and empower thriving LGBTQIA+ communities. With degrees in history and international relations and over 20 years of non-profit and corporate experience, Sarah brings a strategic, inclusive, and innovative approach to programming, strategy, and thought leadership. Sarah is a co-founder of Leaders for Equity, Allyship and Diversity, facilitator for Inclusive Communities, content strategist for multiple entrepreneur and DEI groups, and a member of FlowLAB startup community, and Anti-Racist Leaders Association. She specializes in founding boards and is currently an executive on the boards of MomPower Inc (BIPOC working moms) and Rainbow Rest Stop (Safe spaces for trans youth), as well as the Umbrella Alliance US. 

Ben VanHook (he/him)

Community Education Liaison

Ben VanHook is an expert on the autistic employee and student experience, who has spoken at colleges across the United States. He has been featured on PBS and in the New York Times as well as written articles for the American Psychological Association. Recently, Ben spoke at the United Nations on a policy panel addressing the needs of autistic individuals. When not focusing directly on advocacy, he plays the piano, writes poems, and watches sports.

Brady Esham (he/him)

Higher Education Advisor

Brady Esham is a Neurodivergent and Autistic Youth Mentor, Marketer, and executive on several student clubs at Mercyhurst University where he studies as an Early Childhood/Special Education major. He has a passion for creating social change and to inspire children around the world that they can achieve anything which they put their mind to. When not in class, on conference calls, or in business meetings, Brady can be found hanging out with friends, visiting with friends and family, traveling, or at the beach.

Projects

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The ND23 Project recognizes the diversity of our human experience and engages the ND community in present-centered and future-focused change. By creating community defined action plans, representative of the challenges we face, we are able to move toward sustainable systemic change that supports us individually and as a community.

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