Being Black before being autistic Tiffany Hammond

EPISODE 76
Does Being Black Come before Being Autistic?, and other issues:
A Discussion with Social Activist, Mother and, Author, Tiffany Hammond

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Show Notes

Tiffany Hammond wears many hats. First, she is the loving mother of two autistic children, a developmental psychologist who provides professional consultation and she has a huge network with her Instagram  following on “Fidgets and Fries”. Based on her experiences as both a professional and a mother, as well as the way she has been treated herself as an autistic person, she has become a fierce, social justice activist. She also is a talented writer. We discuss issues she feels passionately about, as well as her forthcoming book, inspired by her son, “A Day with No Words”.

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Featuring

Tiffany Hammond

TIFFANY HAMMOND

Tiffany Hammond (she/her) is the voice behind the Fidgets and Fries platform. She is an Autistic mother, advocate, and storyteller who uses her personal experiences with Autism and parenting two Autistic boys to guide others on their journey. Tiffany has a Masters in Developmental Psychology and spends her time teaching, coaching, and mentoring others in Disability Justice issues. Her activism is rooted in challenging the current perception of Autism as a lifelong burden, cultivating a community that explores the concept of Intersectionality and inspiring thought leaders through storytelling, education, and critical discourse. Tiffany was born and raised in Texas and grew up on deep dish pie and stories from her grandmother. She is a dreamer by day and a cereal killer at night. You can usually find Tiffany writing in the light of the moon or thinking about what to write in the light of the day. When she isn’t writing, she is building epic pillow forts with her two sons or going on long road trips with her family. Her forthcoming book, “A Day with No Words” was inspired by her son.

…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) Due to her priorities in loving and caring for her children, Tiffany believes that she needed to put any focus on herself on the back burner. Ironically, by focusing on her oldest child, she learned a great deal more about herself as an autistic person. What struck you about this aspect of her journey? Have you, or anyone you know experienced a similar circumstance?

2) Tiffany believes issues of intersectionality for autistic people are too often overlooked, or even dismissed. Why does she feel that this is not only inaccurate, but dangerous when being dismissed?

3) Tiffany has many opinions regarding some of the areas of debate within the autism community, such as the use of identifiers (e.g., identify first language). Given her family’s experience, and those of many other autistic people, what are her feelings about some of the debates that are occurring?

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.