My Mother’s Apprentice Gyasi Burks-Abbott

EPISODE 71
“My Mother’s Apprentice”
The Special Qualities of my Upbringing.
A Discussion with Gyasi Burks-Abbott

Play the Episode…

Show Notes

Gyasi Burkes-Abbott has a unique perspective as a late-diagnosed autistic man, who is African-American and raised by his mother in a white-dominated culture. In today’s episode, he discusses how his mother was vigilant about exposing him to role models in black literature and culture, and how his upbringing led to a strong sense of identity, confidence and purpose. He shares the special way his mother accepted and appreciated his differences that all parents could benefit from hearing, and how it motivated him to become a strong advocate in supporting neurodivergent individuals. He also challenges concepts such as lack of “Theory of Mind” that have pathologized the autistic experience.

LINKS OF INTEREST

Gyasi’s article in Autism in Adulthood Journal
My Mother’s Apprentice Book

Featuring

Gyasi Burks-Abbott

GYASI BURKS-ABBOTT

Gyasi Burks-Abbott is a writer, public speaker, and autism self-advocate. In addition to serving on the boards, committees, and commissions of several autism and disability organizations, Gyasi is a faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital LEND Program that stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. He graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, with a BA in English and psychology, and he has an MS in library and information science from Simmons University in Boston. Recently, Gyasi published a book about his life called My Mother’s Apprentice: An Autistic’s Rites of Passage. He lives in Bedford, MA.

FOLLOW GYASI ON FACEBOOK
CONNECT ON LINKED IN

…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) Gyasi credits so much of his success as a person, and now a professional to the special way his mother supported his identity and his sense of self. What were some of the qualities of his upbringing that his mother demonstrated? If you are a parent or family member, what have you learned that you hope to emulate?

2) In his article entitled “Theory of Mine: My Perspective on Perspective Taking”, Gyasi challenges the concept that autistic individuals lack this most human of qualities. What is the basis of his arguments that theory of mind needs to be dismissed since it has become a symbol of misunderstanding that only serves to pathologize the autistic experience?

3) Gyasi states that he sees parallels in the history of slavery, and the way autistic people have been treated historically, and to some extent, currently. What are some of the similarities and what changes are needed to help us move to a more inclusive and respectful approach for improving quality of life for all neurodivergent people.

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.