The Unheard Forum

In the second part of my conversation with David Kaufer, we dive into the amazing growth of his son Stone’s confidence and the integral role brain enhancement therapy has played in their journey. David shares how his podcast, The Other Side of the Spectrum, has become more a resource for parents of non-speaking autistic children, creating a space for solidarity. We also talk about the wonderful community David has found through fel...

In this episode of The Unheard Forum, I sit down with David Kaufer, podcast host of The Lighter Side of the Spectrum and father to 19-year-old Stone, a non-speaking autistic young man with apraxia. David shares Stone’s early childhood and the times communication felt nearly impossible.

We talk about the life-changing discovery of the spelling to communicate methodology just before Stone’s 17th birthday. This was a breakthrough that ...

After nearly a year on strike, Morocco’s medical students returned to their classrooms. In Part 2 of my conversation with Iman, we explore the psychological toll of the student-led protest that shut down hospital rotations and classes nationwide. Iman recounts encounters with riot police, the losing two peers to suicide, and the what it took to keep going in the face of media pressure and silence. She discusses the hobbies she took...

In this second part of my conversation with Ellis Chung, Ellis reflects on her experience working with Action Youth Media, where she helped shape educational programs through film and learned the importance of building support systems for young leaders. We talk about where her love for film and her focus on uplifting unheard voices stemmed from. She says that three pieces of her identity (AAPI, young, and female) are integral to wh...

In this episode, I speak with Ellis Chung, an incoming freshman at Harvard University, and a filmmaker and activist using storytelling, advocacy, and leadership to create space for girls and the AAPI community. From tackling hate crime legislation and women's political representation in her films to leading initiatives like Girls Who Start and her school's Korea Club, Ellis shares the privilege and responsibility that comes...

In this final part of my conversation with Ms. Jennifer White, we shift from identifying problems to thinking of possible solutions. We discuss how restorative justice can transform school culture, but also how rare true implementation is. The conversation explores the importance of knowing your rights, the power imbalance between families and school systems, and how many parents are unaware of what their children are entitled to. ...

In part two of my conversation with Jennifer White, Education Staff Attorney at MAC, we unpack how students with disabilities are impacted by school discipline systems and what legal protections exist to advocate for their rights. Ms. White breaks down the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the importance of IEP meetings, and what happens when a child is suspended, excluded, or labeled as "disruptive." We...

Today I spoke with Ms. Jennifer White, an Education Staff Attorney at the Massachusetts Advocates for Children. We discussed her journey from social work to law, and how her background in both fields shapes her advocacy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Jennifer shared insights into her early work defending students in Massachusetts and highlighted the systemic issues that push vulnerable kids out of school.

We also spoke...

In the final part of my conversation with Ms. von Jess, we dive into the everyday realities of student stress, from academic pressure to the challenge of simply finding time to care for yourself. She breaks down the misconception that therapy is only for major problems, encouraging students to see it instead as a space for reflection, clarity, and connection.

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We talk about the mental toll of high expectations, the guilt of taking b...

Today's episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Ms. von Jess, a social worker of 30 years and the Director of Counseling at The Hotchkiss School, where she has worked for the past 12 years.

Ms. von Jess and I spoke about how social media affects mental health, particularly in the context of high-pressure environments like boarding schools. She describes Instagram and TikTok as “both exposing and comforting,” and invites students t...

In today's episode, I have a conversation with Ms. von Jess, a social worker of 30 years and the Director of Counseling at The Hotchkiss School, where she has worked for the past 12 years.

Ms. von Jess shares how mental health issues most commonly manifest in high-pressure academic settings, resources that students can rely on, and recent trends or changes in how students experience and manage stress. She also speaks about the role...

In a continuation of my conversation with Chloe, we touch on the racism, sexism, and ableism that pervade the mental health support system, and how some may not be able to access help for their condition due to these issues. Chloe says that in her role as a Peer Support Group Coordinator, she tries to serve everyone no matter where they come from, their positionality, or what they’re able to give in return. Chloe discusses how you ...

In today’s episode, I speak with Chloe, an advocate for mental health. As with the previous episode, we discuss the largest misconceptions in her specific line of work: assumptions that those with serious mental health conditions are violent, and that a mental health diagnosis defines your life. Chloe feels especially passionate about changing the notion that we have to fear people with mental health conditions. As a Peer Support G...

In the second part of my conversation with Caitlin, we discussed the most pressing issues she sees daily, ways YOU can become a mental health advocate in your community, what you can do to seek out support, and the concept of having others around you to lean on if you're having a tough time. Thank you, Caitlin, for this wonderful introduction to mental health and mental health advocacy. We appreciate it very much.

"Understand that ...

To begin our focus on mental health awareness and advocacy, today I had a conversation with Caitlin, Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness' NYC branch. In Part 1, she speaks about the definition and purpose of mental health advocacy, her daily routine and responsibilities at NAMI-NYC, and common misconceptions regarding mental health. "The big thing we always say is that one in five people...

This third and final episode of a three-part series is a continuation of a conversation with Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. Ms, Nicole informs us that every child in the public school system is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education; no matter how costly or time-consuming a student’s education is, the school district must fund all aspects of it. ...

This second episode of a three-part series is a continuation of a conversation with Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. We talk about the role that parents play in a child’s special education and how there are so many guardians who have no idea what they can ask for from the school district. Α parent has to be an advocate. But no one informs them. Ms. Nicole a...

In this first episode of a three-part series, we get an introduction Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. Ms. Nicole talks about her job as a parent trainer, someone who works closely with parents, teaching them how to be successful in a special education environment. She says her role as a parent trainer is her favorite part of her career. We also discuss Ms. ...