Living with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities – with Aashna Parikh
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
06/10/24
•27m
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Aashna Parikh is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant and inclusive marketing specialist based in India. Living with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities, she has consulted and collaborated with Forbes-listed and Fortune 500 companies across diverse sectors such as Fintech, Sustainability, Agriculture, and Technology. A strong advocate for neurodiversity, disability, and gender, she examines these issues through an intersectional lens.
During this episode, you will hear Aashna talk about:
- What was it like growing up and going to school with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities
- Living with disabilities in a world where people tell her she "doesn't look disabled"
- The type of work that she does as a DEI consultant
- Her thoughts on DEI through an intersectional lens
- How DEI is addressed in different countries
- Her advice for requesting accommodations at work and in job interviews
Connect with Aashna on LinkedIn or via email at aashnacparikh at gmail.com .
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
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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
Martina Kuzenski is a late-diagnosed autistic woman who received her autism diagnosis at age 28 near the end of her Master's degree program. She is an IT Specialist for the U.S. federal government. She shares her experiences as a Black autistic woman in tech as a mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program and as a co-author of the best-selling book "Ladies in Tech: Sharing Expertise for a Successful Career".
During this episode, Martina talks about:
- Discovering that she is autistic in her late twenties, and what her life was like growing up
- How she got into a tech career
- Her experience of not being "seen" in the tech industry as a Black autistic woman
- The importance of mentorship, and why she decided to become a P-TECH program mentor
- The challenges she has faced when trying to find leadership programs for neurodivergent people
- Why she doesn't feel "autistic enough" in autistic spaces, and the flaws she sees in the neurodiversity movement
Connect with Martina on LinkedIn and read her writing on Diary of Self (Martina's blog posts about neurodiversity) and her book "Ladies in Tech: Sharing Expertise for a Successful Career."
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.
Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!
*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
Autistic and Black – with Kala Allen Omeiza
June 24, 2024
•15m
Kala Allen Omeiza is a prolific author at the intersection of race, culture, and autism. Her latest book, "Autistic and Black: Our Experiences of Growth, Progress, and Empowerment," has received widespread acclaim for its in-depth exploration of the unique challenges and triumphs faced by autistic individuals of minority backgrounds. She has also worked on various research projects on neurodiversity and mental health at Harvard, Duke, Harvard Medical, and as a US Fulbright scholar in Nigeria. She is a graduate of Miami University and a masters graduate of Psychological Research from the University of Oxford.
During this episode, Kala discusses:
- What inspired her to write "Autistic and Black" and share the experiences of Black autistic people across the African diaspora
- How she uses the Kwanzaa principle of Ujima to bring the stories in the book together
- Her experience interviewing nonspeaking autistic individuals
- Writing about her own life experiences as a Black autistic woman
To find out more about Kala and her work, you can visit her website, subscribe to her newsletter, and buy her book "Autistic and Black: Our Experiences of Growth, Progress, and Empowerment".
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.
Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.
Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!
*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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