Autistic Adults, Parents, Children - Meghan Ashburn Jules Edwards

EPISODE 59
Autistic Adults and Neurotypical Parents of Autistic Children: The Need to Work Together

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Show Notes

There is a significant divide between autistic advocates and parents of autistic children. Parents may feel attacked for their lack of understanding, and autistic adults who offer insight and guidance may also be met with rejection. Professionals face their own challenges in supporting autistic people. Limited by information that often excludes autistic perspectives, professionals may inadvertently contribute to this divide. 

Meghan Ashburn, a mother of two autistic boys of color, and Jules Edwards, an Ojibwe autistic mother, were no strangers to this tension. This book explores the rift between these communities and encourages them to work towards a common goal. Providing context to dividing issues, the authors use their own experiences to illustrate where they’ve messed up, where they’ve got things right, and what they’ve learned along the way. 

LINKS OF INTEREST

Meghan Ashburn Website

Jules Edwards Website

Book: I Will Die On This Hill

100-ish Books on Autism and Neurodiversity

100-ish Inclusive Children’s Books on Autism and Neurodiversity

Featuring

Meghan Ashburn

MEGHAN ASHBURN

Meghan Ashburn is an educational consultant, parent mentor, and co-author of the  upcoming book, I Will Die On This Hill co-authored with Jules Edwards. She is passionate about inclusion and communication rights. Her website, Not An Autism Mom, and her AuSome Book Club are loaded with resources to help educators and parents support Autistic children inside and outside the classroom.

 

Follow her on Social Media as @notanautismmom on Twitter, IG, YouTube, and Facebook

Jules Edwards

JULES EDWARDS

Jules Edwards is an Ojibwe Indigenous Autistic mother of Autistic children, passionate about sharing knowledge, healing trauma, and building community in alignment with her cultural values. She is the board president of Minnesota Disability Support Alternatives, chair of the Minnesota Senate Autism Council and founder of the Minnesota Autistic Alliance. Edwards is a board member for Minnesota Ombudsman for American Indian Families, Arc Minnesota and a parent advocate for the Multicultural Autism Action Network. 

Follow her on Social Media as @AutisticTyping on FB, Instagram, and Twitter

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) Meghan and Jules discuss the sources of differences and even tensions that are apparent, especially in online interactions, between autistic adult self-advocates and neurotypical parents. Why do these differences occur, and what misunderstandings perpetuate such disagreements?

2) Jules refers to differences in native and indigenous cultural views of how autistic and disabled children and individuals are viewed. What are some of these differences? Have you experienced this directly as a parent, professional or autistic person?

3) Meghan and Jules have been described as “co-conspirators in the pursuit of disability justice”. What is the need for such a mission, and what advice do they offer in achieving the goal of disability justice. What do you do, or can you do as a parent, professional or autistic person to achieve this goal?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.