Raising Neurodivergent Children of Color, with Jaya Ramesh and Priya Saaral

EPISODE 96
Raising Neurodivergent Children of Color:
A Discussion with Jaya Ramesh and Priya Saaral,
Neurodivergent Parents and Professionals

Play the Episode…

Show Notes

Jaya Ramesh and Priya Saaral, both neurodivergent professionals and parents of neurodivergent children bring a unique perspective to the challenges and gifts of raising children of color. Based on their new book, Parenting at the Intersections, we discuss the barriers that families of color face over and above those encountered by all families who have children with neurodevelopmental differences, as well as all that can be learned in each family’s journey.

Find out more about the Book here

Featuring

Jaya Ramesh

JAYA RAMESH

Jaya Ramesh, MA LMHC, is a psychotherapist in private practice in the greater Seattle area, specializing in supporting BIPOC neurodivergent individuals and couples in having more authentic relationships. She also runs a DEI consultancy coaching leaders at organizations on creating an anti-racist culture in the workplace.

Learn more about Jaya’s work here

Priya Saaral

PRIYA SAARAL

Priya Saaral, MSW, LICSW, RPT-S is a “neurodivergent mama”, a play therapist and a parenting coach in the Greater Seattle area, specializing in the emotional wellbeing of neurodivergent children and parents by helping them reconnect to their playful spirit amidst personal and structural adversity.

…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) Jaya and Priya states that they have faced similar journeys in receiving a diagnosis following the diagnosis of one of their children. Is this a circumstance that has occurred in your life, either directly to you, or for people, you know? How does that help, or complicate the journey ahead?

2) Both Priya and Jaya talk about the layers of oppression that parents that neurodivergent parents of neurodivergent children of color face daily in their lives. What are some of the types of oppression they discuss, and how does that impact services they seek for their children? What sources of oppression do you face in your life, and in the lives of your children (if you have children)?

3) Jaya discusses the “love ethic“, which guides her in raising her children. What does she mean by this, and what do you take away from this discussion in your own lives, and with your own children (if you have children)?

4) Priya and Jaya also discuss the impact on their own personal growth in this journey. Do their reflections resonate with your experience in your own life, and if so, how so?

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.