We’re pleased to sit down with Maria Davis-Pierre for today’s conversation!

Maria is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who works with children who are on the spectrum and their families. Her oldest daughter is autistic, and as both a parent and professional, Maria noticed gaps in the representation and servicing of black families with ASD diagnoses. Her passion is to bring awareness and advocacy to these under-represented families through her Autism in Black organization, of which she is the Founder and CEO.

Listen in to hear how Maria’s organization educates and supports the parents and couples of the black community with children on the spectrum. 

Show Highlights:

• Maria shares an overview of her advocacy within the black community.
• As Maria explains, there is shame and stigma associated with certain disabilities in the black community and her outreach helps families lose that shame and fear.
• One thing that stands out to Maria where black ASD families are concerned is that they are not being heard.
• Advocating for a black child involves a few extra considerations.
• Certain IEP tests cannot be performed on black children because of evaluator bias. 
• Bias is one cause of the high rate of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of black children, often leading to the prison pipeline. 
• Maria describes the conundrum that many black parents find themselves in when advocating for their child.
• Maria discusses why she wanted to write her Self Care Affirmation Journal.

Connect with Maria!

Autism in Black - Website 

Autism in Black - on Facebook 

Autism in Black - on Instagram

Autism in Black Podcast

Self Care Affirmation Journal: 52 Self Care Affirmations to Reconnect with Yourself and Develop a Healthy Mindset by Maria Davis-Pierre

Links/Resources:

Thank you for listening!

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