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Now at Stanford Neurodiversity Summit: Natasha Nelson @supernovaparenting.org's keynote: Strengths in Connections: Reimagining Autism Research with the Black Communication at the Center. Her Intersectionalities: She is a Black, Autistic, Woman, raised in poverty. She is all those things. #SNS2026

We're going to have a little bit of fun, says Natasha. She is going to ask questions. Her slide is Triple Jeopardy Syndrome, which describes the discrimination disabled Black women face. Audience member Brittany says she was stereotypically autistic and yet she got missed most of her life. #SNS2026

Audience member: Adult person diagnosed two months ago. Part of the problem is that autistic people can be such rule followers, they are the "good" kids. Natasha says she was such a rule follower that she was put with the "bad" kids to help them regulate. #SNS2026

Brittany, who is a Black autistic woman, says that even though she was the good kid who excelled at everything; she always got in trouble for asking too many questions. #SNS2026

Jennifer, who is a white teacher in Baltimore, said that when kids were having issues, her training was usually that kids of color had emotional issues, not disabilities. Natasha says we need to stop assuming that parents aren't invested in their kids' success. #SNS2026

Natasha: She always says misbehavior (acting out or in) is communicating (bio, psycho, or social) unmet needs. We need to ask with curiosity instead of assuming intent. #SNS2026

Natasha: Autism can be interpreted differently in Black people. Natasha was ONLY labeled as gifted growing up. Even though she had so many autistic traits. #SNS2026

Natasha: What people do not think to acknowledge is that after 400 years of transatlantic slavery, then Jim Crow, then red lining, then and then and then, all of that lack of access. Which is why in the Black community, in her NW Georgia community, autism was considered a "white" thing. #SNS2026

Natasha: For the Black community, and working with orgs like Color of Autism, more information is getting out into the community about basic autism traits, supports, resources. Because a lot of people are still in the "awareness" tire, not ready for #AutismAcceptance. #SNS2026

Natasha: Black parents who push back against an autism diagnosis, who have a stress response, we have to understand that they are now dealing with another form of oppression and needing to fights. They can have a fear response. Doesn't mean they don't want to support their child. #SNS2026

Natasha: Medically, it is very expensive to be autistic. Autistic people are more likely to have chronic medical conditions. It's expensive for the average middle class family. For people who have other racial, cultural, gender, and financial barriers it can often be insurmountable #SNS2026

Natasha: When she told her mom she was autistic, her mom said that she couldn't be because she acted like everyone else in her family. And so if she was autistic so was everyone in her family. Natasha said hmmm. #SNS2026

Natasha's first daughter was more obviously autistic, her older daughter less so. So when her second daughter was diagnosed, Natasha said that if her daughter was autistic then she was too. The pediatrician said hmmm. #SNS2026

Factors contributing to barriers to access for autism for families of color: There are systemic barriers, for Black families specifically. There are inequitable healthcare systems, inadequate funding and research for autism programs. Addressing this issue is a justice matter. #SNS2026

Audience member: Autistic girls and women can mask more than autistic boys and men. Natasha says yes. Audience member: Sometimes the mask is so thick it fuses to your skin and you don't know where you end and the mask begins. #SNS2026

Audience member: Self denialism is a thing. Natasha says, yes, especially when the culture is hostile to autism. @faethinking.bsky.social: Two people can have the same traits, but be treated entirely differently depending on their gender, race etc. #SNS2026

@autisticenough.bsky.social the difference in presentation between autistic girls and boys leads to girls being discriminated against for showing the same traits, being told to act like a "lady" etc. #SNS2026

Camille Proctor: Women are expected to be the caregivers, like Natasha was with her six siblings. Those women can have weightier masking because if they're not OK then no one is OK. #SNS2026

Audience member Maiya: We're expected to be she boss badasses strong women, and anything that disrupts that is side-eyed. Natasha: And if you can't live up to that, it's bad. Can lead to mental health issues, e.g., depression. #SNS2026

Audience member: Autistic woman, Trans, AMAB, was constantly told she was doing masculinity wrong. Her brothers were diagnosed early, she was diagnosed at age 31. Natasha: Research often overlooks autistic people who were assigned a gender that doesn't fit. #SNS2026

Natasha: A lot of autistic people know that it's so much and often too much to take care of other people's need and they still do it. [And this is one reason why burnout can be an issue.] #SNS2026

Audience member: Chinese from Hong Kong, ESL. Came here because we live in a political environment in which it is such a gift to be able to find communities. In their culture, that doesn't exist as much, but also people are good at finding cracks to do things. #SNS2026

Natasha: Wrapping up by talking about actionable steps: Disability justice: She tells her kids they are an equity house not an equality house. We do not all need the same things. We need to move from independent stance to an interdependent stance, community minded. No One Is Independent. #SNS2026