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Hear Our Stories
Our digital storytelling series highlights the lived experience of individuals with mental health conditions and developmental disabilities. This effort aims to raise awareness and educate the public on best practices when it comes to working with this population.
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MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Tom from Arlington, VA
Tom from Arlington, Virginia is a 36 year-old man with Asperger's Syndrome. Tom is still adjusting to living mostly on his own, after more than thirty years living with his family. After losing both of his parents, he left his job after thirteen years to pursue new jobs and interests. With the support of his siblings and peers from several advocacy groups, Tom is now working on his next chapter in life. -
MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Tyler from Fairfax, VA
Tyler from Virginia is a history buff and board game guru, but through much of his life he struggled find confirmations for his diagnoses of Dyslexia and Auditory Processing Disorder. After finding educators that helped him realize that being different is okay, Tyler was inspired to complete his High School Diploma, a degree from Nova's online University Program, and is continuing to work toward his degree in Electric Engineering at ECPI.
Listen to other stories like Tyler's, and find more information about our National Training Center at mhddcenter.org. -
MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Raji from Fairfax, VA
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MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Elena from Fairfax, VA
Elena is a 20 year-old autistic woman who lives in Fairfax, VA. Adopted from Russia, Elena experienced childhood in a new country with adoptive parents that assisted her with getting adjusted in public school. In this episode, Elena shares some of her experiences in mental healthcare systems from multiple states, grade school and college, and working through various social situations. Elena wants people to know that truly accepting others for their state of mental health requires patience, understanding, and a general refusal to make assumptions about people with disabilities. -
MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Karina from Fairfax, VA
Karina Freilich is a 29-year-old autistic woman from Fairfax, VA. She was born in Russia but spent much of her childhood and adolescence adjusting to the education and mental health care systems in the United States, where she earned hastily presumed diagnoses of bipolar depression. Today, Karina has a part-time job with a positive community of coworkers and discusses her thoughts on advocating for those with disabilities. -
MHDD Digital Storytelling Series: Adam from Burke, VA
This story is about Adam, a 36-year old man living with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy from Burke, Virginia. Adam discusses his daily life living with a physical disability including the supports he needs, the assistive technology he uses, and the obstacles he has faced in getting mental health treatment. These stories represent personal experiences. Any opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by people in these stories do not necessarily reflect those of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center. Always consult your medical provider before making changes to your medication or health plan.
