Most AI systems are designed for a phantom user: neurotypical, non-disabled, and resilient to cognitive overload. The rest of us? We’re expected to adapt, or drop out. Here’s the problem: this is the Missing Level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs—what it takes to thrive in a sensory-laden, distracting, anxiety and fatigue-producing world. Not just survive. Not just comply. Thrive. Most AI systems--including yours--are using the wrong model. It’s not just inefficient; it’s une

I was sitting in a corporate meeting last month when someone said, "Our new AI productivity tool is amazing, it tracks everything!" The room nodded enthusiastically. But then I asked one question that changed the conversation: "Does it track the sensory load it's creating?" Silence. Here's the thing most organizations miss: your AI tools might be quietly exhausting your people. Not through bad algorithms or broken features, but through something far more insidious, sensory ov

I’m writing this first as a parent. Our daughter, Phoebe, is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and epileptic. Our family has done the whole tour: diagnoses, therapies, ER visits, and two craniotomies. So when I say “sensory load” isn’t a buzzword, I mean it in the most literal, nervous-system way possible. Now zoom out to work. You have invested millions in AI-powered tools to boost productivity. Your dashboards are sleek. Your notifications are instant. Your analytics are real-time.

Imagine walking into a grocery store. The fluorescent lights hum and flicker overhead. A dozen conversations blend into a wall of noise. The air conditioning creates a constant low drone. For many people, this is just... Tuesday. But for neurodivergent individuals: especially autistic adults: this sensory cocktail can trigger overwhelming distress, cognitive fatigue, and a desperate need to escape. This is the reality of sensory sensitivity. And it is one of the most underadd

I’m writing this as a parent first. Our daughter Phoebe is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and has epilepsy. We’ve done the full tour: diagnoses, therapies, ER visits, and two craniotomies. So when I say “distraction” isn’t just annoying, I mean it can be dangerous. Let’s be honest: most of the technology we use every day wasn’t designed to help us focus. It was designed to capture our attention and keep it hostage. From infinite scroll feeds to notification bombardment, modern AI

I’m writing this as a parent first. Our daughter is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and epileptic. We’ve done the diagnosis maze, the therapies, the long ER visits that blur into morning, and two craniotomies that changed how I think about “support” forever. When you’ve lived that reality, the workplace question stops being abstract. It becomes simple: will this environment help someone thrive, or quietly grind them down? We’ve spent this series talking about sensory sensitivity, a

Here’s a question that keeps executives up at night: Why do most AI projects fail? It’s not because the technology doesn’t work. It’s because the people don’t use it. But here’s my ‘why’ behind human-centered AI: it’s not just a business decision. For me, it’s a personal mission. I am a parent first. Our daughter Phoebe is 23. She’s autistic, has ADHD, and lives with epilepsy. She’s also brilliant. And the difference between ‘traditional’ and ‘human-centered’ tech isn’t ac

I’m a doctor and a scientist, but I’m a parent first. Here’s the question that keeps me up at night: Are we building AI systems that serve people, or are we reshaping people to serve AI systems? For me, that isn’t an abstract debate. It’s personal. Our daughter Phoebe is 23. She’s autistic, has ADHD, and lives with epilepsy. I’ve watched her endure every therapy imaginable, countless ER visits for seizures, and two craniotomies. When your family has lived inside hospital corr

I’m writing this first as a parent. Our daughter, Phoebe, is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and epileptic. Our family has done the whole tour: diagnoses, therapies, ER visits, and two craniotomies. So when I say “sensory load” isn’t a buzzword, I mean it in the most literal, nervous-system way possible. Now zoom out to work. You have invested millions in AI-powered tools to boost productivity. Your dashboards are sleek. Your notifications are instant. Your analytics are real-time.

Imagine walking into a grocery store. The fluorescent lights hum and flicker overhead. A dozen conversations blend into a wall of noise. The air conditioning creates a constant low drone. For many people, this is just... Tuesday. But for neurodivergent individuals: especially autistic adults: this sensory cocktail can trigger overwhelming distress, cognitive fatigue, and a desperate need to escape. This is the reality of sensory sensitivity. And it is one of the most underadd

I’m writing this as a parent first. Our daughter Phoebe is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and has epilepsy. We’ve done the full tour: diagnoses, therapies, ER visits, and two craniotomies. So when I say “distraction” isn’t just annoying, I mean it can be dangerous. Let’s be honest: most of the technology we use every day wasn’t designed to help us focus. It was designed to capture our attention and keep it hostage. From infinite scroll feeds to notification bombardment, modern AI

I’m writing this as a parent first. Our daughter is 23. She’s autistic, ADHD, and epileptic. We’ve done the diagnosis maze, the therapies, the long ER visits that blur into morning, and two craniotomies that changed how I think about “support” forever. When you’ve lived that reality, the workplace question stops being abstract. It becomes simple: will this environment help someone thrive, or quietly grind them down? We’ve spent this series talking about sensory sensitivity, a

Here’s a question that keeps executives up at night: Why do most AI projects fail?   It’s not because the technology doesn’t work. It’s because the people don’t use it.   But here’s my ‘why’ behind human-centered AI: it’s not just a business decision. For me, it’s a personal mission. I am a parent first.   Our daughter Phoebe is 23. She’s autistic, has ADHD, and lives with epilepsy. She’s also brilliant. And the difference between ‘traditional’ and ‘human-centered’ tech isn’t