Tori Tuncan

In grade school, there was a time when I had a research paper due but could not figure out what topic to write about. My mom saw me stressing out under the self-imposed pressure and expectations of perfection and told me, "Just don't do the paper. If it stresses you out that much, just don't do it." I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but that was one of the most transformational moments in my Life. What I learned from that experience was that I could look at a challenge from a totally different perspective -- one that might be completely against the status quo. In this case, I still did the paper, but once I saw it as an option of which I was in control, the stress melted away, and the ideas flowed easily. Since then, I have learned to approach challenges by stepping back in my mind, looking at the challenge as an entity, such as a multi-faceted gem, and spinning it around, flipping it upside down, or changing the context around it. I guess this is what is known as "thinking outside of the box," and it comes easily to me now. On any given day, I find myself thinking of new ways of doing things or of methods that could improve a situation. From suggesting an idea for selling more coffee at the work cafeteria to creating a new way for families to find funding for their children's autism treatments, I am an "opportunity finder," an "idea generator," and a "changemaker."

Again, this may sound counter-intuitive, but I feel a connection in the places where I am not connected at all. I find deep satisfaction and meaning when I am in an unfamiliar location, without a map, and without an agenda. When I travel, I prefer to "get lost" as opposed to searching out the tourist sites. It is in these situations that I observe and listen, and I realize just how similar we all are at the core, as well as how beautiful and intense is the diversity of our experiences.

I would really love to see the traditional Western medical establishment listen better to and value more highly the observations, experiences, and ideas of parents in regards to their children's health and behavior.

Tori Tuncan is the founder of Lend4Health.org, a website that facilitates community-funded, interest-free micro-loans for individuals and groups pursuing optimal health. Currently, Lend4Health is facilitating loans for children and adults pursuing biomedical treatment for autism spectrum and related disorders. Tuncan has 10 years of professional experience managing and supporting public outreach and communications activities for Federal government clients as a consultant with URS Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Dade Moeller & Associates. Her work has focused on environmental and health issues, including occupational exposure to respirable silica, radiation protection and dose reconstruction, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), transportation and underground emplacement of high-level radioactive waste, and the safe disposal of chemical weapons. Her task management experience includes the writing, review, and editing of communications documents such as newsletters, fact sheets, brochures, information papers, correspondence, annual reports, briefings, Congressional testimony, speeches, guidance documents, and technical journal articles. She has planned, conducted, and supported several outreach activities including conferences, public meetings, facility tours, information booths, and special events. In addition, Tuncan has directed corporate communications activities, including the writing, production, and strategic distribution of press releases and brochures. Tuncan graduated cum laude from Bates College, where she created an interdisciplinary major combining the studies of psychology and women's studies. For her senior thesis, she conducted a study on the effect of hatha yoga practice on women's body image. With a keen interest in different perspectives, Tuncan lived as an AFS exchange student in Joinville, Brazil (summer program 1989) and Istanbul, Turkey (year program 1990-91) and later worked for AFS, providing guidance and counsel to incoming students at orientation programs. For a semester in college, Tuncan lived and studied in Kenya and conducted an independent research project in the rural village of Kianjai, studying the ancient practice of female circumcision among the Meru tribe. After college, she worked at the American Language Academy in Colorado, teaching academic English to university-bound international students. Tuncan also has traveled for work, school, or pleasure to the former Soviet Union, Egypt, and Japan, and solo-backpacked around Western Europe. She has studied French, German, Portuguese, Japanese, and Swahili, and is conversant in Turkish.