Books & Podcasts

Podcasts & Podcasts Episodes

• Divergent Conversations Podcast: Exploring the Intersection: Neurodivergent Experiences and Chronic Health Conditions featuring Dr. Mel Houser

Books

• The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
• Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau
• Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
• How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
• Love Sick by Cory Martin 
• My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem, LICSW
• Movement for Every Body by Marcia Dernie, DPT
  • a beautiful, inclusive book on connecting with your body at whatever level of ability you have while centering joy & compassion
• Part of You Not All of You by Jenneh Rishe
• Rest is Resistance by Trisha Heresey
• This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley (book with deconstructed Christian themes)
• This Too Shall Last by KJ Ramsey (book with deconstructed Christian themes)
• When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté M.D

Many of these books can be found at your local library, and if not, you can also request your library to add it to their collection [article: how to request a book at your library].

Employment Support

Also see “helpful organizations” heading, as many of the disability & justice organizations listed have resources for disabled people navigating workplace needs.

• Job Accommodation Network
• Workable TN from TN Disability Coalition
• Finding work-from-home jobs:
  • ScribeAmerica – Medical transcription, on the job training
  • FlexJobs – Full Time Telecommuniting

Misc Helpful Organizations + Online Tools

for a list of financial resources & healthcare funds, click here

• Accessible GO – travel website for disabled folks planning trips
• Center for Chronic Illness
• Clinical Trials Listing Service
• NSU Florida Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
• Rare Disease Community
• US ME/CFS Clinician Coalition
• ME/CFS Navigator
• Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Healthcare of Autistic & ADHD Adults
• TN Justice Center – can help with TennCare enrollment, appeals & more for free.
• TN Disability Coalition + TDC Resource Links
• SouthEast ADA Resource Center – find resources divided by topic

Groups & Internet Communities

Therapy & Peer Support Groups

In addition to formalized groups that meet over zoom, internet communities are one of my favorite tools for accessible connection, validation & resources. Examples of this are reddit threads, Facebook groups & discord servers.

When searching for online community, my general recommendation is to ensure they have strong guidelines around centering the experiences of people with illness, being open to new ideas, and refraining from ableist language & paradigms. I also recommend avoiding communities that are focused on trying to sell you something.

• PMDD Support Group – Hannah Pollok
• Living with Chronic Pain & Disability – PayWhatYouCan Peer Support
• Gilda’s Club (for people impacted by cancer)

Facebook Groups I find helpful

Tennessee-Specific

• Nashville’s Chronically Strong
• Tennessee POTS Support Group
• Ehlers-Danlos Nashville

Not TN-Specific

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / CFS ME / CFIDS / Long Covid
• POTS, EDS, MCAS & Related Disorders

Home Cleaning Support

Online Resources & Communities

• House Cleaning and Organizing Tips When You Are Disabled
• Inclusive Cleaning Tips for the Disabled & Chronically Ill Communities
• r/disability: How do people with disabilities clean their house?
• Facebook Group: Neurodivergent Cleaning Crew
• I also recommend checking neighborhood groups or buy nothing groups on Facebook and/or Reddit & asking if there are folks on there who know of someone you could hire or barter with.

Government Programs

• TN OPTIONS Program – qualifying members can access homemaker, personal care & meal services
• TN CHOICES Program – services for qualifying members to maintain living in their own home

Housekeeping Companies

• Spruce: they have add-ons where you can have a housekeeper help with dishes, laundry & more
• There are lots of great companies, national & local. I highly recommend searching online to see what shows up for your area.

Professional Referrals (TN Only)

Mental Healthcare Providers

All the providers below from my understanding have a good understanding of chronic illness. If they have additional specialities, I have included that info from the best of my knowledge. All of these therapists are LGBTQ+ affirming to the best of my knowledge.

** = takes some forms of insurance

Medication Providers

• **Brandon Teeftaller
• **Kiara Porro
• Lila Homan
• Mindstream Integrative Health
• Wildflower Psychiatry

Therapists

• New Moon Rising Wellness
• The Gaia Center for Embodied Healing
• ** Works Counseling Center
• Healing Umbrella Psychotherapy
• ** Abby Myers – preteens & up, individuals, families & groups
• Alison Moore – adolescents & up, individuals & families – autism, trauma (EMDR), spiritual abuse
• Bailey Basham – individuals, couples – LGBTQ+, depression, grief, trauma & religious trauma, body acceptance
• ** Calli Morgan – individuals, all ages – autism, ADHD, LGBTQ+, anxiety, psychosis
• Danielle Ryder – individuals, adults only – trauma, self-esteem
• ** Hannah Pollock – individuals, families & couples – preteen & up
• James Hammons – individuals – ADHD, addiction, children of dysfunctional families
• ** Jay Reid – individuals & couples – ADHD, executive functioning
• Jennifer Knowles – teens & up, individuals – trauma, somatic work
• ** Katie Casey – individuals, adults – trauma, anxiety & helping professions
• ** Katie Larson – individuals & couples, ages 12 & up – autism, ADHD, trauma, somatic therapy
• Maria Miller – individuals, couples & families – ADHD, relationships
• Molly Lubin-Fosha – individuals, adults only
• Rachel Hammons – individuals, preteen & up – autism, ADHD OCD, anxiety, gender identity
• Reece Thomas – individuals, – autism, OCD, gender identity, eating disorders, BIPOC

These are the names of various providers & groups that have been crowd-sourced from trusted colleagues & friends. These providers are reportedly knowledgeable about various chronic issues, all based in the Nashville area.

Physical Healthcare Providers

• Database of Affirming Fitness & Movement Practitioners
• Cardiology & Autonomic Dysfunction at Vanderbilt
  • Requires direct referral: Morgane Giesecke NP, Meghan N. Adams APRN, Dr. Muldowney
  • No referral required: Dr. Kolli
• Endometriosis + General Gynecology Care
  • Heritage Medical: Dr. Arielle Grand, Dr. Joy Cox
  • Women’s OB & Gyn Nashville: Lizzie Napier
• Endocrinology
  • Dr. Lara Hollar at Heritage Medical
• Trauma-Informed Dentistry
  • Oak Hill Family Dentistry
  • Hall Dental Studio
  • Gaston & Murrell Family Dentistry
  • Michael Vaughan Dentistry
  • Sweet Truth Dental
• Gastrointestinal Care
  • Vanderbilt: Dustin Cross APRN
  • Tristar: Mackenzie Thomas APRN
• Long Covid Care
  • Dr. Eve Bowers at Vanderbilt
• Trauma-Informed Pelvic Floor Care
  • Stacey K Affedlt at Results Physiotherapy
• Trauma-Informed Personal Trainers
• General Primary Care –
  • Vanderbilt: Dr. Eve Bowers
  • Tristar: Dr. Ronya Green, Megan Huning APRN
  • Cool Springs Internal Medicine: Dorsey Rickard, Danny Edmondson, Kavita Karlekar, Chelsey Medley
• Osher Center for Integrative Health at Vanderbilt – can be good addition to regular primary care
• Nonnormative Body Club Workout Database (does cost a fee)
• Trauma-Informed Weight-Lifting Practioners