Ana María

Hello, I’m

Based in the Pacific Northwest, USA, I’m a neurodivergent communication scholar and community educator.

I combine my academic background, professional expertise, and lived experience as a Gifted and autistic person to reimagine how we communicate across neuro-differences.

Fundamentally, I care about research-informed systems, transformational frameworks, and empowering imaginations that can help us build more more effective approaches to cross-neurotype communication.

On a personal note, I’m a third culture kid (and native Spanish speaker), a mother, a playful creative, and lover of books, beauty, and imagination.

Academic Background

My studies have focused on personal and interpersonal dimensions of communication, all based in fields with a non-pathologizing approach to differences:

  • Master of Arts in Spanish Linguistics, with a special focus on politeness theory

  • Certificate in translation studies in Spanish-English translation

  • Several certificates in medical, legal, & community interpretation, as well as a trained trainer in community interpretation

  • Certificate in intercultural communication studies from the Intercultural Development Research Institute

Professional expertise

My work experience has focused on interpersonal and systemic dimensions of communication, with a focus on systems design and education:

  • Designed systems & training inside organizations (public education and refugee resettlement) and the larger community to help ensure language access

  • Facilitated communication across language (& cultural) differences for 10+ years as an interpreter and translator

  • Trained & supervised interpreters (communication facilitators) representing more than 40 different languages

Currently learning about

My current areas of study as I continue to explore autism, communication, and future-focused change from OUTSIDE the medical model:

Words are events, they do things, change things. They transform both speaker and hearer; they feed energy back and forth and amplify it. They feed understanding or emotion back and forth and amplify it.

Ursula K. Le Guin (source)

learn here

What you’ll

Step Beyond the Medical Model

Learn about neurodivergent culture as a framework, and reduce misguided pathologizing and harm.

Reimagine Communication

Unlock an approach to communication that expands access, promotes participation, & prioritizes belonging.

Lead with Neuro-Affirming Vision

Learn to imagine transformative futures that give you clarity to promote meaningful change right now.