An episode that’s spooky and spectacular!

In Episode 117 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela are joined by Tiffany Hammond—autistic mother, writer, and the voice behind @FidgetsAndFries—to explore Monster High, intersectional autism advocacy, and the importance of authentic neurodivergent representation in media.

Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode:

* Why autistic people often relate to monsters, feeling different or set apart—making Monster High the ultimate autistic-coded franchise.

* Tiffany shares her experience consulting with Mattel to help create Twyla Boogeyman, the first canonically autistic Monster High character.

* How Twyla’s body language, stim behaviors, and sensory tools were developed with input from actually autistic voices for an accurate and affirming portrayal.

* A deep dive into intersectionality in autism advocacy—Tiffany speaks candidly about navigating the space as a Black autistic mother raising autistic children.

* The realities of police interactions with autistic people, especially those who are multiply marginalized, and why systemic change is urgently needed.

* We unpack the “autism mom” narrative and how Tiffany reframes it through a lens of empowerment, justice, and lived experience.

* The impact of authentic autistic representation in media, and why seeing ourselves reflected—even in fictional characters—can be deeply validating and life-affirming.

Tiffany Hammond is the voice behind the powerful platform @fidgets.and.fries. She is an autistic mother, writer, and disability justice advocate raising two autistic sons. With a Master's in Developmental Psychology, Tiffany brings both lived experience and professional insight to her work in intersectional autism advocacy.

Her storytelling challenges outdated, deficit-based views of autism and inspires community dialogue around neurodiversity, race, identity, and authentic representation. Tiffany was born and raised in Texas, fueled by deep-dish pie, late-night writing, and road trips with her sons.

📚 Author of:🟣 The Day I Found Out I Was Autistic🟣 A Day With No Words – Available on Amazon

📲 Follow Tiffany Online:

* Instagram: Fidgets and Fries

* BlueSky: fidgetsandfries.bsky.social

“We [autistic folks] tend to have an affinity for monsters because we are often misunderstood. We are often persecuted, villainized, & made out to be the bad guy because we are different. So, we often want to extend courtesy to monsters, because we say, ‘that beast surely is misunderstood. Perhaps there are good things there.” - Matt Lowry LPP

“That’s a big problem with the world in general, because a lot of the world, especially neurotypical people, operate with sound bytes and hashtags and make things as simplistic as possible. But when you have the complex intersectionality of racism and colonialism and ableism and all this stuff contributing to make a real, massive threat, a danger to your existence, it’s so much bigger than that.” - Matt Lowry LPP

“She [Twyla Boogeyman] represents one kind of representation of what autism can be. This is just an invitation for the audience to learn more, for you to see that there is disabled representation, even in animated, made-up shows.” - Tiffany Hammond

Did you enjoy this episode? We explored the impact of autism representation in media, from Monster High's canonically autistic character to the power of seeing ourselves reflected in pop culture. Tune in as we dive into how these portrayals shape our identities, creativity, and connections with others. Share your thoughts in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to connect with us and share your experiences!

Resources:

SPELLRBOARD APP:Created by listener Julie Kazaks’ son for his non-speaking autistic brother, SPELLRBOARD is a digital letterboard app designed for people who communicate nonverbally.

🌐 Learn more and watch the demo at spellrboard.com

Because everyone deserves a voice.Related Episodes:

Beauty and the Beast is AutisticX-Men are Autistic

Follow us on Instagram

Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com

Our Autism-affirming merch shop

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.