Autism in Black with Maria Davis-Pierr [IEP 147]

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re pleased to sit down with Maria Davis-Pierre for today’s conversation!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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</span> <a href= "https://www.autisminblack.org/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Autism in Black</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">organization, of which she is the Founder and CEO.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listen in to hear how Maria’s organization educates and supports the parents and couples of the black community with children on the spectrum. </span></p> <p><strong>Show Highlights:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maria shares an overview of her advocacy within the black community.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One thing that stands out to Maria where black ASD families are concerned is that they are not being heard.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Advocating for a black child involves a few extra considerations.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Certain IEP tests cannot be performed on black children because of evaluator bias. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bias is one cause of the high rate of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of black children, often leading to the prison pipeline. </span></li> <li style="font