We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation – with Eric Garcia
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
04/04/22
•46m
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Why has public discourse about autism been dominated by non-autistic voices? And, what's been happening recently to change this?
My guest Eric Garcia breaks this down in today's episode! Eric is a journalist based in Washington DC and the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. He is also the author of the book, "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation" which was published in 2021.
During this episode, you will hear Eric talk about:
- Why non-autistic voices have traditionally dominated the public conversation about autism
- How government policies have shaped and evolved the public's perceptions about autism
- Including a wide variety of autistic people's experiences in his book – including non-speaking autistic people – as well as his own experiences as an autistic Latino man
- How writing this book helped him confront some of his own biases – and what he learned about becoming a better ally and learning from criticism
- Where the public can find accurate information about autism and the autistic community
- How social media has helped autistic people share their experiences, amplify their voices and effect change (for example, by calling out harmful autistic stereotypes about autism in a recent movie by a certain singer)
Buy Eric's book, "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation"
Read Eric's National Journal article (the precursor to "We're Not Broken")
Check out Eric's recommendations for other helpful autism resources: The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism Sincerely, Your Autistic Child #ActuallyAutistic on Twitter – hashtag used by autistic content creators (a good place to listen to autistic people, and especially helpful if you're newly-diagnosed autistic) #AskingAutistics on Twitter – use this hashtag to post questions you want to ask autistic people
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!
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Click here for the episode transcript.
*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
Autistic is a powerful word
April 2, 2022
•9m
For World Autism Day, I've recorded a solo episode where I explain how my thinking has evolved about the word "autistic" – how I was once scared of it, how I overcame my outdated views and biases associated with it, and why now I consider "autistic" to be a powerful word that I'm proud to claim as part of my identity. I share why I prefer identity-first language over person-first language when describing my autistic self, and why we should let individuals choose how they want to describe themselves. What other topics should I discuss on a solo episode? If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know! Get in touch through my website www.beyond6seconds.net/contact/ or on social media.
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!
Click here for the episode transcript.
*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 ADHD mother and life coach – Kori Tomelden
April 11, 2022
•29m
Kori Tomelden is a late diagnosed autistic ADHDer, life strategist for autistic and ADHD women & a transformational purpose coach. She lives in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodivergent family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and gifted.
Kori brings her own life experiences as an empathic, intuitive autistic woman, mother and entrepreneur to her coaching work and her "Authentically Autistic and ADHD" podcast.
During this episode, you will hear Kori talk about:
- Her multi-year journey to discover she is an autistic ADHDer, which started while she was looking for resources to support her autistic daughter
- How her special interest in understanding human behavior shaped her chosen career
- How her first-hand experience with autism and ADHD has influenced her coaching
- What inspired her to revamp her podcast, and how she's using it to "unmask" herself
Learn more about Kori at her links below: YouTube
Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!
Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!
Click here for the episode transcript.
*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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