The Autism in Black Podcast

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Tiana "Tee" Townsend, LMFT , a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Amazon bestselling author, and founder of Wiselign Consulting, LLC. As a single mother to her nonverbal autistic son, True, who communicates using AAC, Tiana brings both clinical insight and lived experience to the conve...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Dalbin Osorio , Executive Director of the Dyslexia Tutoring Program, social worker, educator, and father of two. With over a decade of experience, Dalbin works at the intersection of literacy, advocacy, and neurodiversity. His work centers on supporting Black families in navigating systems...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Elise Horne , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Together We Thrive Disabilities Foundation, Inc. As a Black mother raising a child with autism, Elise brings both lived experience and leadership to her work supporting families of children and adults with intellectual and developmental dis...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by La Shona Johnson , an advocate, author, and social services professional with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and families. As the mother of a son with autism, La Shona combines personal experience with professional expertise to help families navigate diagnosis, advocac...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC.   In this episode, we're joined by Catina Jenkins , a dynamic TEDx speaker, autism advocate, and Founder and Principal Consultant of Catina Speaks .   Catina helps organizations build and retain great talent through inclusive learning strategies, leadership development, and people-centered workplace cultures that create re...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Mark Ingrassia , an educator, advocate, and parent coach with 37 years of experience supporting children and families—30 of those years spent teaching in a school for the Deaf. Throughout his career, Mark has dedicated himself to empowering families navigating the world of special education...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Briana Barner —media studies scholar, podcast researcher, professor, mother of three autistic children, and a proud late-diagnosed AuDHD baddie. Dr. Barner is currently working on a book exploring the cultural production of Black podcasts, examining how our stories, voices, and platform...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Maritza Hines, MA —Founder of SPEDtacular Kids and a passionate Special Education Advocate committed to empowering families of neurodivergent children. As the Owner of SPEDtacular Kids | Ritzi Laverne LLC , Maritza supports parents, guardians, and educators in navigating special education s...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti—an author, artist, and late-diagnosed autistic elder who embodies resilience, authenticity, and joy in every chapter of her story. Diagnosed just six months before turning 63, Gloria's discovery of her autism brought clarity and healing to a lifetime of experiences...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by CleAnn Davis , the founder of Neurospicy Black Women (NBW) —a vibrant, unapologetic community that uplifts and supports Black women navigating ADHD, autism, and other forms of neurodivergence. CleAnn created NBW in March 2024 as a safe space for women like her to unmask, connect, and celebr...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Coach Lee Hopkins, a Social Connections Coach and CEO of Patterns of Possibility LLC. After years of masking and struggling with loneliness, Coach Lee discovered the power of authenticity—and now helps late-identified autistic adults and professionals create real, meaningful relationships w...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Kea Lee , a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, wife, and proud mother of two. As the founder of Moment of Behavior , Kea brings nearly a decade of experience helping parents, caregivers, and educators understand the "why" behind behavior and create meaningful, lasting change. Blending her pr...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC.   In this heartfelt episode, we're joined by Tia Howard , a Family Team Meeting Facilitator at the Child and Family Services Agency in Washington, DC. With over 23 years of experience supporting children and families, Tia has dedicated her life to creating collaborative spaces where families feel heard, supported, and empo...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode we're honored to have Dr. Berry Pierre for a critical conversation on healthcare misinformation, trust, and advocacy. Together, they explore how gaps in communication allow misinformation to spread — often causing real harm — and why healthcare providers must take an active role in educating, protecting, a...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by two powerful voices in healthcare and higher education— Carl A. Frizell, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C , and Dr. Sheena D. Brown . Both are late-diagnosed autistic professionals whose journeys through medicine and academia have fueled their commitment to equity, inclusion, and disability justice. Carl,...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Charlotte Bachelor —a dynamic writer, advocate, and proud voice for the experiences of Black Autistic women and girls. Diagnosed with Autism and ADHD later in life, Charlotte began documenting her journey as a student at Michigan State University, where she earned her degree in Professional...

Welcome to the Autism in Black® Podcast, hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Erin Nkele, LCPC—a licensed clinical professional counselor, clinical supervisor, and co-founder of Melanated Wellness, LLC. As a Black Autistic therapist, mental health advocate, and parent, Erin brings a deeply personal and professional perspective on the intersections of neurodiversity,...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Quintina Briscoe, M.S., CCC-SLP—an experienced speech-language pathologist and founder of Pediatric Speech Lab . With over a decade of experience, Quintina has become a vital support for families navigating the long wait for therapy services. She shares practical strategies for parents to...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC—a licensed therapist, late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD mom, and special education advocate—whose work sits at the powerful intersection of mental health and education. With lived experience as a neurodivergent parent and professional expertise supporting families and...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're honored to have Dion Chavis, a certified parenting coach and founder of The Glad Dad , a national initiative focused on helping schools build stronger, more intentional relationships with fathers. As the father of a autistic child, Dion brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional e...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're honored to have Ivory Duncan, an educator, consultant, and founder of Embracing Neuro-Diversity™, LLC, a company committed to transforming how families and schools support neurodiverse children. With over 15 years of experience in education leadership, including roles as Assistant Principal and Seni...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're honored to have Dr. Samara Toussaint, a passionate advocate for neurodivergent children and their families, dedicating her career to empowering them through education, advocacy, and culturally sensitive care. Her journey as a Haitian-American woman navigating mental health stigma in her community de...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're honored to have Cori Fonville Foster, a homeschooling mom, educator, and advocate with over six years of experience in personalized education. After transitioning her own neurodivergent child from traditional schooling to homeschooling, she has helped numerous neurodivergent students thrive in indiv...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, we're honored to have Cheryl Poe, the founder and Executive Director of Advocating 4 Kids, Inc., a special education advocacy organization dedicated to empowering parents and professionals, especially those supporting Black and Brown children with disabilities, through resources, information, and workshop...

Welcome to the Autism in Black Podcast , hosted by Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC. In this episode, We're back and more grounded than ever. In this welcome back episode, host Maria Davis-Pierre shares why Autism in Black® took a pause and how the break brought clarity, new projects, and deeper purpose. This space continues to be rooted in truth-telling, joy, advocacy, and unapologetically centering Blac...