Terra Vance Autistic Social Activist NeuroClastic

EPISODE 83
A Discussion with Terra Vance:
Autistic Social Activist and Founder of NeuroClastic

Play the Episode…

Show Notes

Terra Vance discusses her work in developing NeuroClastic, the social justice on-line community that brings awareness and action to many social justice issues faced by neurodivergent and marginalized individuals. In this episode, she shares her background leading to her focus on social justice issues, and her current efforts to support individuals who too often have few resources to experience and obtain equitable support and justice.

Featuring

TERRA VANCE

TERRA VANCE

Terra Vance is an industrial and organizational psychology consultant and founder and CEO of NeuroClastic, Inc. Her passions are in the intersections of social justice, equity, literature, Truth, and science.

…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) Terra’s background growing up in West Virginia insulated her from popular culture, from mainstream social conventions and disability advocacy. How did this contribute to her passion for advocating for neurodivergent people and for changing systems that contribute to marginalizing people who think and act differently? Are there any aspects of your heritage or upbringing that have influenced your work or approach as a parent, neurodivergent person and/or professional?

2) As a late diagnosed autistic person, Terra discusses the trauma of not receiving an autism diagnosis in her childhood and into her adult years? What does she say to both parents and professionals who choose to delay or hesitate in getting a diagnosis for their family member?

3) What are the major social justice challenges experienced by autistic and neurodivergent people according to Terra? What is her approach in dealing with such challenges? Do her comments resonate with your experiences?

4) Terra has coined the term “Neuroinclusive”. Please describe the meaning and importance of this concept. Have you experienced any examples of neuroinclusive systems or services?

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.