Intersections of Autistic, Asian American and Jewish Identities – with Ben VanHook
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
04/10/23
•37m
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Ben VanHook is an autistic master's degree student studying public policy at George Mason University, with the hopes of reforming employment and education policy to make them more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. Ben's passion for creating a more inclusive world stems from his own experiences as an autistic Jewish Asian American adoptee and has led to him speaking and presenting to employers, professors, researchers and self-advocates in the United States and abroad.
During this episode, you will hear Ben talk about:
- How he learned he was autistic while he was in high school
- The challenges he faced coming from China to the United States as an adoptee
- His insights about the intersections of his identities as an autistic, Jewish, Asian American adoptee
- How posting on LinkedIn led him to become a neurodiversity advocate and public speaker on the intersections of autism, race and religion
- His role in a TV documentary about intersectionality between race and autism
- His thoughts on supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace and in their careers
- What are the main goals for his advocacy
To learn more about Ben and his advocacy:
- Follow him on LinkedIn
- Watch the PBS documentary episode that featured him: "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity - Neurodivergence and People of Color"
- See his United Nations presentation about Autistic perspectives on Policy and Advocacy for 2023 World Autism Awareness Day
Listener shout-outs! A big THANK YOU to Elaine A. and Dan G. for supporting this podcast on BuyMeACoffee.com!
Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode!
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*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*
Previous Episode
Jordyn Zimmerman earned her bachelor's degree in Education Policy from Ohio University and her Masters of Education at Boston College. As a nonspeaking autistic student who was denied access to effective augmentative communication until she was 18, Jordyn has personal experience challenging the educational status quo. Her experience is featured in the 2021 documentary, "This Is Not About Me."
Technology helped open Jordyn's world, and she began advocating for students. She has keynoted and presented at conferences around the world, is on the board of CommunicationFIRST, works as Director of Professional Development at The Nora Project, and has been featured by prominent media outlets. Recently, Jordyn was appointed to serve on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Jordyn is passionate and determined to make a difference in the world of education — making sure every student can access effective communication and exercise their right to a truly inclusive education.
During this episode, Jordyn shares:
- What life was like before she could communicate by typing – and how it changed when she finally got access to effective communication technology at the age of 18
- The poor treatment and substandard education she received in school, from people who denied her access to communication technology and refused to recognize her intelligence – and how her experiences fuel her advocacy for inclusive education
- What was it like going to college away from home – and why she started a college cheerleading team that includes disabled and nondisabled students
- Her advocacy with the nonprofit organization CommunicationFIRST for people with communication disabilities
- How she got the opportunity to be featured in the documentary "This Is Not About Me"
- Her advice for nonspeakers and their allies
To find out more about Jordyn and her work, visit her website at JordynZimmerman.com and connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!
Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode!
*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*
Next Episode
Janelle Johnson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), is a wife, mother, and Founder of Bridges Family Life Center, a Systemic Therapy and Consulting group practice near Raleigh, North Carolina. An award-winning educator and innovative mental health leader, she is often sought out for her social justice advocacy regarding intersectionality of ableism, sexism, and racism. She currently serves as President of the NC Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. A graduate of NC State University and Chapman University, she has returned to her first alma mater as a doctoral student in the Educational Equity program.
During this episode, you will hear Janelle talk about:
- How she discovered she was autistic during an interaction with one of her clients
- Her experience in school as an undiagnosed autistic child
- How the struggles of a family friend sparked her lifelong interest in psychology
- The importance of having Black and brown therapists who can support Black and brown clients
- How she became a doctoral student in the Educational Equity program, researching the intersectionality of disability and race
- Her personal experience with unmasking as a Black autistic woman and code-switching
- How she teaches leadership teams how to have conversations about race, disability, and other challenging topics in ways that build organizational culture and connection
Find out more about Janelle and her work at the website for Bridges Family Life Center (her therapy and consulting group practice), on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Learn more about FACES for Autism, the advocacy and empowerment program for Black families raising autistic children that Janelle partners with as part of her doctoral research.
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!
Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode!
This episode features a promo for The Other Autism, a podcast hosted by Kristen Hovet that explores late-diagnosed autism, with a focus on autistic women. Listen to The Other Autism at other-autism.buzzsprout.com or on your favorite podcast app.
*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*
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