Why Neurodiverse by Design LLC?
No two brains are the same. We all communicate, approach problems, and experience the world in unique ways. This variation is neurodiversity. Most of our organizations were not designed with neurodiversity in mind, which limits personal and organizational success. While neurodiversity is “the norm,” knowing how to talk about and support that diversity is not. That’s where Neurodiverse by Design LLC comes in.
Featured Blog Post
Access is a Human Need
Captioning Recently I invited two speakers to my class on Disability & Society to talk about employment and accommodation. They brought both professional expertise and lived experience with deafness. They discussed and demonstrated communication supports like ASL...
Meet Dr. Laura DeThorne
I founded Neurodiverse by Design LLC based on 20 years of expertise in communication, autism, and neurodiversity. Through my roles as speech-language pathologist, researcher, teacher, mentor, administrator, and parent, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the importance of neurodivergent perspectives, thoughtful communication practices, compassionate accountability, and the ability to think outside the box. Let’s connect and learn together.
What Services Are Available?
- Professional Education – variety of customizable courses or workshops on topics related to autism, communication differences, neurodiversity, evidence-based practices, and research methods
- Communication Coaching — one-on-one sessions aimed at leadership development and conflict-resolution through a neurodiversity-affirming lens
- Document Preparation – assistance in writing policies, grants, and evidence-based articles that support neurodiversity in everyday environments
- A flyer summarizing Neurodiverse by Design’s services can be found here.
Neuro Niche
This March I appreciated the invitation to speak about neurodiversity and the implications for school-based SLPs at the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s virtual conference. We talked about how to center Autistic perspectives and focus on environmental modifications within the confines of special education processes.
