Autism and The African American Community (1 CE)
SPA E-Learning Center | Multicultural Psychologist Podcast
Description:
In this episode of The Multicultural Psychologist Podcast, host Dr. Linda Fleming McGee discusses autism, culture, and community with Maria Davis Pierre, licensed mental health counselor and founder of Autism in Black, and Dr. Shaneer Evans, a psychologist specializing in culturally responsive autism assessment.
The conversation explores the barriers many Black families face in obtaining accurate autism diagnoses and appropriate educational services, including stigma, delayed diagnosis, and systemic bias within healthcare and school systems. Maria Davis Pierre shares her personal and professional experiences advocating for autistic children and families, while Dr. Evans explains key elements of the autism assessment process and the importance of culturally informed clinical practices.
Together, they highlight the need for clinician self-awareness, culturally responsive care, and stronger collaboration between families, clinicians, and schools to support neurodivergent children in diverse communities.
Keywords: Multicultural psychology, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, autism assessment, autism diagnosis, culturally responsive care, cultural humility, autism in the Black community
Guest: Maria Davis Pierre, LMHC, and Dr. Shaneer Evans
Learning Objectives:
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Describe systemic and cultural barriers that contribute to delayed or missed autism diagnoses in Black children and other children of color.
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Explain the importance of culturally responsive and culturally humble clinical practice when assessing and treating neurodivergent children from diverse communities.
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Identify challenges within school-based special education systems, including rigid classification processes and barriers faced by twice-exceptional students.
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Discuss strategies for improving collaboration between clinicians, schools, and families in supporting children with autism.
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Recognize the role of clinician self-reflection and bias awareness in improving diagnostic accuracy and culturally sensitive mental health care.
Access the podcast at the following links:
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The Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Society for Personality Assessment is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0218.
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