Eyram Bossiade, MSW Student

Eyram Bossiade (pronouns: he/him) is a first-year master’s student in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a student intern with Neurodiversity Empowerment Services and currently observes therapy sessions, helps research mental health resources, and assists the team with administrative tasks. With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Biology and Chemistry, Eyram uses an interdisciplinary lens to understand all aspects of his clients lives.

Eyram plans to become a psychotherapist and looks forward to training in various therapeutic interventions to support neurodivergent clients, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT). As a Black clinician, he hopes to connect with future clients of color to address the intersectional needs of neurodiverse minorities. He hopes to foster welcoming environments through his professional rapport and employ strength-based practices to help his clients heal, self-advocate, and positively meet their challenges.

He has experience working with aging adults and addressing their needs with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, physical therapy, hearing disabilities, self-aggressive behavior, and coping skills. He was most recently a support professional at the Carolina Living Learning Center with the UNC TEACCH Autism program and has worked as a research assistant in the Biobehavioral Research on Addiction and Emotion (BRANE) lab.

Eyram’s hobbies include yoga, walking on nature trails, learning French and ASL, reading books, and listening to audiobooks. Most recently, he has been reading Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk and would recommend it to anyone interested in the intersections of disability justice movements and Black cultural work. He is excited to be part of the Neurodiversity Empowerment Services community!

Bennett Wood, MSW Student

Bennett Wood (he/him) is a second year master’s student in the School of Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill, where he studies as a Primecare for Youth fellow and a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) trainee. Ben is a proudly queer, trans*, and neurodivergent practitioner who approaches this work with strong convictions regarding social justice, community care, and liberatory practices.  He has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. As a student, Ben has worked in placements with the Autism Support and Advocacy Center as well as the Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care Clinic.

Before returning for his MSW, Ben spent nearly a decade working with dozens of electoral and advocacy campaigns where he served as an organizer, strategist, and trainer. Outside of campaigning, he has bargained union contracts with the Campaign Workers Guild, developed trainings with the National Conference for Community and Justice, and analyzed state and local policy for various LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. Prior to UNC Chapel Hill, Ben attended UNC Greensboro where he majored in behavioral economics and history and completed his first master’s degree in peace and conflict studies with a concentration in transformative peace and conflict.

Bennett strives to exist in this work with compassion and humility, and works to show up as authentically as possible. He is particularly invested in working with trans*, non-binary, queer, and intersex folks as they navigate the world as well as with organizers and activists working through stages of burnout.

Outside of school and work, Ben loves gardening, playing music, and engaging in shenanigans with his partner, Nicole, and their dogs, Ava and Noodle. He is excited for the opportunity to learn and grow with Neurodiversity Empowerment Services (and you!).

Amelia Currie, MSW Student

Amelia Currie (she/her) is a final-year master’s student in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work where she is an Inclusive T.E.A.M.S. Scholar. I- T.E.A.M.S. is a collection of students dedicated to treatment, empowerment, assessment, mentoring and social work services for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth and families. Amelia is a student intern at Neurodiversity Empowerment Services and is currently observing sessions.

Amelia hopes to gain wisdom and knowledge from her practice at NDES to continue serving autistic/neurodivergent/disabled individuals through a holistic lens. Amelia uses an eclectic client-centered approach that pulls from multiple modalities. She understands that many neurodivergent individuals may often feel like, or have been told, they are “so self-aware” or “treatment resistant” and hopes to help clients find new pathways to better understanding themselves and strategies to curate a supportive environment around them.

Amelia has worked with autistic/ND/disabled individuals for the past 7 years since graduating from UNC-CH with a B.S. in Psychology. Her journey through multiple systems, designed, but failing, to support autistic/ND/disabled individuals, has shaped her passion for wanting to support young adults with the transition to adulthood, as well as wanting to participate in larger advocacy and policy work on the local and state level. Amelia has also recently discovered her own neurodivergent identity and is excited to use her personal experiences as a window into understanding her clients concerns and to create an affirming space for sessions.