Ep 18: Autism, Unconscious Bias, and the Intersection of Race and Disability With Jackie Bess

You Don’t Want a Hug, Right? The Hilarity and the Hard of Raising Humans with Neurodiversity

Being a parent of neurodivergent children is challenging enough for most of us. But what does that look like when you introduce racial bias into the mix? How does that affect the way parents and children with disabilities are perceived by their schools and their providers?

In today’s episode, we’re interviewing Jackie Bess, a wife and mom of three boys with autism whose story is an excellent demonstration of the intersection of race and disability. Jackie describes many of the struggles she faced throughout the autism journey including how she has learned to serve as her sons’ most powerful advocate. You’ll learn some of the strategies she has developed to help keep her sons safe, how her experiences have impacted her own health, and why it’s essential for Jackie to ensure that her voice is heard. This is an episode sure to resonate with many people of color who are raising children with disabilities.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[1:46] Jackie’s background and how she became an advocate for children with autism

[5:59] The story of how Jackie’s three sons came to be diagnosed with autism

[24:11] Strategies that Jackie and her husband use to keep their sons safe

[34:12] How Jackie’s experiences have impacted her own health

[38:58] Why Jackie has to ensure that she is taken seriously

[51:19] What Jackie loves most about each of her kids

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://www.youdontwantahug.com/post/ep-18-autism-unconscious-bias-and-the-intersection-of-race-and-disability-with-jackie-bess/

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