Mel Houser, MD, is a board-certified family physician and the founder and Executive Director of All Brains Belong VT, a nonprofit community health organization pioneering neurodiversity-affirming healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Houser discusses what healthcare can look like when it is designed for different brains and bodies rather than expecting every patient to communicate, process information, and participate in the same way.

We explore the overlap between neurodivergence and complex chronic illness, including conditions such as POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, Long COVID, chronic pain, and migraine, and why treating these conditions as interconnected rather than isolated can lead to more effective care.

Dr. Houser also shares practical ways clinicians and healthcare systems can better accommodate neurodivergent patients and explains why belonging and community are important parts of health. We discuss All Brains Belong’s free virtual Brain Club® as well as the organization’s free resources for clinicians, patients, families, employers, and community organizations.

Learn more and explore resources at All Brains Belong:
https://allbrainsbelong.org/

Other mentioned resources and links:

• Dr. Houser's book coming out in October, 2026: A Failure of Imagination: How the Healthcare System Fails Neurodivergent Patients--And What We're Doing Instead: https://allbrainsbelong.org/book
• Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Healthcare of Autistic & ADHD Adults: https://allbrainsbelong.org/all-the-things
• Autistic & ADHD Healthcare Clinician Guide: https://allbrainsbelong.org/clinician-resources
• Brain Club®: https://allbrainsbelong.org/brain-club
• Universal Design for Healthcare, Employment & Community Events: https://allbrainsbelong.org/universal-design-menus/

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Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!

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Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

When Amy's POTSy child struggled with the (all-too-common) problem of doctors, schools, family and friends not understanding POTS, Amy realized that POTS needed a Public Relations Manager. Since she was in a Master's Degree program for Public Relations, she came up with a solution. In this episode, Amy describes the document she created to help her son's school, medical team, family and friends better understand him, his situation, and how to help.

The short videos explaining POTS that Amy put in her document (via links and QR codes) are here, here and here.

If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate

Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!

Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our
Website: www.standinguptopots.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Jessica was a kindergarten teacher with three advanced degrees, two young children, a husband, and busy life before COVID, despite having POTS, which she managed with salt, fluids and compression. But soon after her second COVID shot she experienced a series of new symptoms, diagnoses, and disappointments in the systems she thought would be there to help. Jessica recounts her (sometimes harrowing) odyssey to get medical help and disability insurance, and shares what she wishes she'd known sooner. Above all, Jessica wants patients who are fighting the same battles to know they aren't alone. And she hopes that vaccine injured people will have their stories heard without pre-judgment.

If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate

Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!

Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our
Website: www.standinguptopots.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.