In our fifth and final episode of season 1 of our podcast, Matt Medina talks with Riah Person, an autism advocate that focuses on topics including sensory processing, stimming, and the black autistic experience. She also runs the website riahsweirdjourney.com, where she shares her life experiences and knowledge she has gained along the way. One of her presentations explores play, stimming, and sensory processing in relation to autistics and divergent human experiences.

Follow Riah:

• Website: riahsweirdjourney.com
• Twitter: @lilririah

Topics of discussion:

0:00:18 Intro0:01:23 Blackness and autism0:02:47 Racism0:04:28 Cycle of racism0:05:26 George Floyd0:07:01 Peaceful protest0:08:04 Non-violent methods0:09:33 Jon Stewart0:10:48 Kenneth Clarke0:11:50 No action0:13:24 Blackness & diagnosis0:15:11 School difficulties0:16:17 Masking0:17:09 ADHD0:17:58 Military brat0:18:49 Living in Guam0:19:49 Not my fault0:21:06 1st grade fight0:24:01 School issues0:26:27 Misread0:28:43 YMCA abuse0:31:20 Being a parent0:32:55 Threatening appearance0:34:54 Enter advocacy0:38:19 Here together0:41:47 Space for being0:45:00 Stim-dancing0:46:41 Mind–body connection0:47:42 Ballroom dance0:51:07 Western-ayurvedic0:52:39 What is dance0:56:15 Special interests0:59:11 Neurodivergent friends1:03:20 Diagnostic support1:04:43 Stims1:07:54 Squeaking teeth1:10:27 Jamaica thanksgiving1:13:40 Riah’s contact information