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EvoLibri Consulting provides direct and referred services
to provide end-to-end care.
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Q: What does Neurodiversity mean, and why do we use this term?
A: The term neurodiversity, as it applies specifically to ASD, attention deficit, learning difference, and pervasive mood disturbances, was posted on Wikipedia by two Asperger individuals as a more neutral term than 'disability'or 'disabled' -- indeed, to be neurodiverse simply means 'a diverse brain', without any negative connotation. I choose this term because as the mother to an Aspie, I know that along with some weaknesses, there are enormous strengths in neurodiverse individuals. First as a mother, and then as a counselor, my belief has always been to play to an individual's assets. There is no need to change neurodiverse individuals -- only to help them build the skills they need to flourish in the neurotypical world, which is what EvoLibri endeavors to do. | |
About EvoLibri's Principal
Jan Johnston-Tyler, MA
Neurodiversity & Career Counselor
 Jan Johnston-Tyler earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Santa Clara University, with an emphasis on Career Development 26 years after completing her Bachelors of Arts in English Literature with Distinction from UC Berkeley. Ms. Johnston-Tyler is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Counseling Association (ACA), the California Counseling Association (CCA), and the California Career Development Association (CCDA). She is published both in books and in professional journals, and frequently speaks about hidden disabilities and neurodiversity in educational and non-profit settings.
A refugee from high-tech management with an annual IT, Operations, and Personnel budget of over $22M, Jan has extensive experience in employee development and enterprise project management, and holds several awards from her innovative work in technical and ePublishing, including numerous awards from STC. Jan is also a laureate for the prestigious Smithsonian Award of Innovation.
With her extensive corporate experience, Jan brings energy, creativity, and vision to her work as the Principal of EvoLibri, which she founded in 2007. As a counselor, Ms. Johnston-Tyler brings practical and empathic solutions to all of her clients. Finally, as the mother of an Asperger Syndrome son, she knows first hand what interventions can do for neurodiverse populations, and how exceptional these people are. In her free time, Jan loves to travel, camp, ski, cook, write, garden, and spend down time with her teenaged son and primary school-aged daughter, and their Corgi and tabby cat.
About EvoLibri's Partners and Consultants
We maintain a large network of multidisciplinary professionals in the area, and refer our clients to these professionals, depending on need. These professionals include psychiatrists, psycho-educational assessors, psychologists, therapists, occupational and physical therapists, and other service providers. EvoLibri also regularly partners with professionals to develop programs and services to serve neurodiverse individuals -- here are a few we are proud to be working with!
Lynne Baldwin, PhD
Freestyle Puppetry
 Lynn has a background in special education working with children, especially adolescents who have ADHD and specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia. She earned a PhD in Educational Psychology at Stanford University where her research focused on reading and language arts instruction. Lynne is a member of CHADD, and national organization that provides information and support for individuals (adults, children, and parents) affected by AD/HD, and is a certified Parent-to-Parent CHADD trainer.
Freestyle Puppetry is Lynne's brainchild -- she spent several years as a musician and puppeteer with The Puppet Workshop, Inc., a National Endowment-funded educational and performing troupe located in Providence, RI. She composed and performed music for puppet shows, created hand and rod puppet characters, and performed as a puppeteer before audiences in schools, parks, playgrounds, and private homes.
Lisa DiMarino, LMFT
Pacific Wellness Center
Young Women's Group Leader
 EvoLibri is proud to sponsor Lisa DiMarino's Young Women's Group, treating anxiety in neurodiverse teens and young adults. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist with over 10 years of clinical experience working with adolescents and families. She worked for 6 years with Palo Alto Unified School District's Department of Special Education providing school-based therapeutic treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, ADD/ADHD, oppositional/defiant, and learning disorders, and spent 12 years working with various school systems and community agencies focused on developing and providing comprehensive support services in the areas of mental illness, adolescent substance abuse, recovery from trauma related to sexual assault and violence, conflict resolution and mediation, and gang violence. Lisa earned a BA in Psychology from University of California at Santa Barbara and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara, and is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Shani Kleinhaus, PhD
Service Advocate
Shani Kleinhaus, PhD, earned her doctorate in Ecology from UC Davis and worked aws an environmental consultant in government, private, and non-profits for many years. A parent to a child who shines on the spectrum, she started advocating and devloping social programs to enrich her daughter's academic and social opportunities. While living in the East Bay, she initiated a popular teen Tai-Chi group and led a nature expiernce group for youth with Asperger's Syndrome, NLD, and HFA. She served on the Advisory Committee to Mount Diablo School District's Adult Education program where she has been an active participant in the creation of a community-based life skills and functional academics transition program (TOPS) for young adults. Currently, Shani is helping Palo Alto School District improve their post-secondary transition services for high school students. Shani has developed deep understanding of the process and methodologies needed to successfully apply for government services (Regional Center, SSR, DoR) and started applying her resourceful solutions to help other parents qualify and receive resources.
Hanan Lang
Intake Coordinator/Executive Assistant
Hanan brings a great deal of first-hand experience to EvoLibri, as the mother of a neurodiverse teen. She is currently changing her career and has applied to Santa Clara University's Counseling Psychology program and plans on getting her Masters and pursuing her MFT with a career counseling emphasis. Her last career, as a technical writer, gives Hanan extraordinary organization and writing experience, and so she is helping Jan with both report writing and administrative tasks to keep EvoLibri moving forward as we expand our services and our client base. We are thrilled to have her on board!
Judy Pearce
Employment Attorney, ADA Specialist
 Judy is an employment lawyer who has practiced disability discrimination law in the Silicon Valley for over 20 years. Judy also trains managers about how legal protections should be afforded to people with disabilities. She has handled accommodation issues involving epilepsy, cancer, brain damage, chronic fatigue syndrome, urinary dysfunction, learning disabilities, social and behavioral problems, heart surgery, anxiety, stroke, chemical dependency, anger and rage, and related areas of gender reassignment and pregnancy. She represents employers and employees alike. This brings a special understanding of the needs of all of the parties when she is resolving workplace issues
In 2006 Judy founded a high school in San Mateo specializing in students with ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. For over two decades Judy has represented students and their parents in IEP related litigation. Judy graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1977. She worked herself through school as a police officer. She received her law degree in 1981 from the University of Minnesota where she was managing editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Judy has twin 17-year-olds that she is crazy about.
Ernest Schmidt, LCSW
Palo Alto Therapy
Young Men's Group Leader
EvoLibri is proud to sponsor Ernest Schmidt's Young Men's Group, treating anxiety in neurodiverse teens and young adults. Ernie has been working in the field of mental health since 1996, earning his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of the Pacific and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He earned his Masters Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California at Berkeley.
In addition to private practice, Ernie works at Foothill Community College in Los Altos Hills where he provides individual and couples counseling and teaches self-help strategies, stress management, and emotional wellness. Before this, he was employed with Santa Clara County Mental Health as the lead clinician of a team of specialists who helped young adults ages 16-30. Among other counseling agencies, he has also been affiliated with the Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center in Los Gatos, where he counseled patients with chronic pain.
Ernie spends his personal time gardening, playing tennis, traveling, and going on walks with his wife and children.
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