The Untold Link: How Ableism Built Racism with Janelle Johnson

In this episode, I talk with Janelle Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist and disability advocate. She sheds light on the critical yet often overlooked intersection of race, neurodiversity, and ableism. Janelle's work centers on understanding how ableism, historically intertwined with racism, impacts individuals with autism and other neurodivergent conditions, particularly within underrepresented minority communities. She discusses the challenges of underdiagnosis, the cultural nuances in symptom presentation, and how systemic biases perpetuate disparities in access to care and understanding. Her insights are crucial for healthcare and educational professionals seeking to provide culturally competent and inclusive support.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How ableism and racism are historically and systemically linked.
• The unique challenges faced by individuals with intersectional identities, where neurodiversity co-exists with minority status.
• Why autism and other neurodivergent conditions often go undiagnosed in underrepresented minority clients.
• The cultural variations in how autism and neurodiversity symptoms present.
• Practical strategies to dismantle ableist and racist practices in professional settings.

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