Back in 2003, Christine Miserandino came up with the Spoon Theory to explain what living with a chronic illness is like. Since then, it's also been applied to neurodiverse people. Basically, spoons represent the energy—whether physical, mental, or emotional—that we have available at any moment. At any time, I might have ten spoons, but if I'm feeling mentally or emotionally drained, that can quickly drop to just one or two spoons. This has shown me how to respect my boundarie

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is pretty common in neurodiverse conditions like Disorder of the Corpus Callosum (DCC). Seriously, if you see 'processing disorder' in the name, there's a good chance it ties back to the Corpus Callosum. For me, it looks a bit like this: growing up, I often found myself in situations where I had to ask people to repeat what they just said. It was like my brain was on a bit of a delay. I’d start responding halfway through them repeating it be

Having Attention Deficit Disorder is pretty common for those with a DCC. Sometimes the symptoms overlap between the two. A neuropsychologist once told me I had "ADD on steroids," which I found amusing. Medication can really make a huge difference, though it might take some trial and error to find the right one for you. Without meds, I feel like a balloon just floating and bouncing around aimlessly through daily life. But with my Vyvanse, things get way better. Some of the co

Feeling Empowered in My Health Journey Now that I've been diagnosed with ACC and ASD, going to the doctor for my physical needs is way better. Before I knew what was going on, I never really got around to asking questions about my health or working well with the medical system. It was like I was just floating through appointments, not really sure what to ask or how to express my concerns. But now that I know what's going on, I feel so much more empowered! I've taken the time

Leaving a Legacy of Kindness When I'm not around anymore, I really hope I leave behind a legacy of kindness that people can look back on and feel good about. You know, I want folks to remember me as that person who was always there to lend a hand or share a smile, the one who genuinely cared about others and wanted to make their day just a little bit brighter. I mean, life can be tough sometimes, right? So if I can be that friendly face or the encouraging word that lifts som

Finding Clarity in Diagnosis I've touched on this a bit before, but now I really want to dive in. Getting diagnosed with ACC at 46 was honestly a huge relief for me; it felt like someone finally handed me the missing piece of a puzzle that I had been struggling with for years. It was like, "Aha! This is why I’ve felt so out of sync with everyone else!" All those years of confusion and uncertainty just melted away as I started to connect the dots. I had spent so much time fee

Working While Disabled While everyone's experience having a DCC and working, or trying to work, is unique, this is my story. You know, it’s kind of wild how each person’s journey can be so different, yet we all share some common threads. I've touched on some of my past jobs in other posts, but let me tell you, every single job I ever landed came with its own set of challenges. I was always pretty good at selling myself during the interview process—like, I could charm the sock

One of the things I value the most is the practice of meditation and mindfulness in my daily life. It's like a little oasis of calm in the midst of all the chaos that can happen day-to- day. You know, you don’t have to link meditation to any specific spiritual journey unless that’s what you’re into. There are so many ways to approach it, and honestly, it can feel a bit overwhelming at times. But for me, I like to keep it simple and just focus on my breath. It’s like the easie

I'm really grateful for a lot in 2026. I've got a place to live, food to eat, and a stability I didn't have when I was younger. Finding out I had ACC was probably the biggest turning point for me. I'm glad I realized I'm different, not less or broken. It was such a huge change that in many ways, I feel like a new person, or at least I see the world differently than I did years ago. The change, for one, was an internal one, not necessarily a change in my outer life (that would

My Journey into Emergency Medical Services As a teenager, I had high hopes for myself, even amidst all the issues I was having. I was totally obsessed with Emergency Medical Services and wanted to become a paramedic. I remember the excitement I felt every time I saw an ambulance rush by with its lights flashing and sirens blaring—it was like a calling for me. At 18, I entered the County's EMT training school, which was a big step toward making my dreams come true. The progra

Challenging Societal Views on Disability It’s pretty frustrating how society tends to look down on people with disabilities, right? We often get labeled as a burden or a leech, like we’re just sitting around and taking advantage of the system, getting “something for nothing.” It’s all based on these ridiculous standards of productivity that come straight from a capitalist mindset, where your worth is tied to how much you can produce or contribute economically. But honestly,

Neurodiversity is all about the idea that everyone sees and interacts with the world in their own unique way. There's no single "correct" way to think, learn, or act, and these differences aren't seen as flaws. Being 'neurodivergent' isn't an insult at all. It just means I'm not your average person; I'm unique compared to the usual crowd. Neurodivergent folks can totally rock it and achieve amazing things in all sorts of areas. Examples are Temple Grandin, Sir Anthony Hopkins

What is Theory of Mind Theory of mind (TOM) is all about understanding that people have their own thoughts and feelings. It's the ability to figure out what someone else might be thinking or feeling, (coined as mind reading) knowing that their perspective is different from yours. Many people think that TOM is missing in some neurodiverse folks, but I believe it naturally exists on a spectrum in all of us. I believe you can develop TOM, and I've noticed it in my own life. Thro

So, here’s the deal: a ton of therapies popped up before we really got a grip on what neurodevelopmental differences like autism, ADHD, and DCCs are all about. Back in the day, many of these approaches tried to "fix" the traits of neurodivergent individuals, thinking there was something wrong that needed to be corrected. And guess what? Some of that mindset is still hanging around today, which is kind of wild when you think about it. Now, neurodivergence and trauma have been

Embracing My Inner Child I’m a 64-year-old guy, but let me tell you, there’s a much younger kid hanging out inside me. I’ve got this little boy who just never wanted to grow up, and honestly, I think he's pretty cool. You know how psychologists chat about this concept of having an 'inner child'? Well, mine is alive and kicking! Sometimes, I find myself reflecting on the whole idea of the end of innocence, and it hits me hard. I can’t help but mourn for that boy who never got

What would I want to say to my teenage self? Dear Self Listen up. It’s going to be okay. Seriously. I know things feel pretty messy right now, and it seems like nobody really gets what you’re going through—not even you, some days. But here’s the thing: one day, all of this is going to click into place. You’ll look back and see how everything fits together in ways you couldn’t have imagined. I get it. Doubts creep in, and it’s easy to second-guess yourself when the world feel

I've realized I need to show appreciation to everyone who helps and supports me. I haven't said this in a long time. I've spent a lot of my life thinking about how others see me. Byron Katie mentions that there's 'God's business, your business, and my business,' and we end up causing ourselves pain when we don't 'stay in our own lane.' It's some of the best advice I've ever received. Finding My Way with a Little Help You know, it’s funny how life works sometimes. It feels li

Ableism is basically when everything around us is designed with the idea that there's just one "normal" way to have a body, mind, or brain, and anyone who doesn't fit that mold is seen as less capable, less valuable, or needing to be "fixed." It's not just one thing; it pops up in all sorts of ways, from the systems we deal with every day to the stories we hear and the messages we end up believing. Systemic Ableism Let’s dive into systemic ableism. This is all about the big p

Reasons for Writing This Blog My reason for writing this blog is several fold. First and foremost, I want to share my unique perspective as an adult living with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC). This condition shapes my daily experiences and understanding of the world in ways that I believe are worth sharing. By opening up about my journey, I hope to shed light on the nuances of living with ACC, which may not be widely understood. Secondly, I aim to reach out to other ad

There's this thing going around in neurodiverse communities where people say, "I wouldn't change anything about myself because then I wouldn't be me." I have a bit of a problem with that. Considering all the heartache and struggles I've been through, and what my parents had to deal with because of it, I'd definitely want to change some things. Reflecting on Life with ACC You know, I often find myself daydreaming about how different my life might have been if I hadn’t been bo