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World Austism Day · Black Girl Interrupted Podcast

0:11
Black Girl. Y'all already know how y'all already know how that all right,
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all right, all right, all right, y'all, welcome back to another
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episode of Black Girl interrupted. Y'all already know who it is. It's your
0:47
favorite girl for the Bible. Hold my babies. What's good? What's good?
0:53
Happy Wednesday. It is hump day. It is wellness Wednesday. So
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let me first start off by saying, I apologize but not going live yesterday.
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I had to get everything situated with my daughter, some things that she
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has going on that I had to attend to. So I do apologize.
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I do apologize for the delayed tonight. Was having a couple of technical issues.
1:15
But we are up, we are running, We are live, baby,
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we are ready, ready, ready, ready ready. So Happy Wednesday
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again, y'all, it is wellness Wednesday. And this is not gonna be
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a long episode tonight. I do know yesterday was National Autism Awareness Day,
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and again my intention was to go live yesterday, so unfortunately I could not,
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But I'm here tonight again. This is not gonna be a very long
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episode. This is gonna be maybe thirty forty five minutes. I just want
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to recognize a few people that have autistic babies, y'all, they have been
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blessed with some of the most amazing gifts God could ever give any person in
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the world. But you guys already know before I start my episode, I
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always have to do my mental health check in. Yes, yes, yes,
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I do have to check in with my babies. Like I have to
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make sure y'all are good, not only mentally, but physically, emotionally,
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spiritually. I have to make sure you guys are good. With the suicide
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rates that are increasing every day, it's imperative that we check on one another.
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It's imperative that we do self care. You know. I encourage everyone
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take some time off from work. If you got the PTO baby, prepare
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them others. Okay, because you have to take care of you. You
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have to make sure you're good before anybody else. So before we jump into
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tonight's conversation, like I said, y'all know, I always do my mental
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health check ins. So here we go, and we're gonna jump into the
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conversation. Here we go. Success can be a lonely rob it can be
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a tough frud. What is the common denominator of failure? Why are you
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failing? You're never say because of me, Oh, it's the competition,
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it's the economy, it's the president, it's Congress. If you wake up
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tomorrow morning and blame your failure on someone or something else, you have no
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reason to change, do you. But if you woke up in the morning
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and looked in the mirror and said, I am failing because of me,
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the decisions that I make, the energy I put in, I'm not passing
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the blame. If you look in the mirror tomorrow and say that, you
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will change, because nobody likes thinking of themselves as a failure. Win and
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losers lose. And if you create a culture of losing, if you keep
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being a victim, if you keep letting losing happen to you, if you
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keep letting people do you and treat you any kind of way, it's going
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to become a culture. Take ownership. Take ownership of everything in your world,
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the good and the bad. Don't make excuses, don't blame any other
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person or any other thing. Take ownership of your mistakes, Take ownership of
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your short falls, Take ownership of your problems, and then take ownership of
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the solutions that will get those problems solved. Take ownership of your job,
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of your team, of your future, and take ownership of your life.
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The people in life that win play offense, not defense. Stop backing into
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everything, stand up, blow your back a little bit, start to walk
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a little different, Start to be a best version of you. You can
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do it in your quiet way, you can do it the way you do
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it, But somehow they gotta look at you and go, okay, I
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won't monkey with that one. You push back, you gonna get obsessed.
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You gotta get relentless. You gotta be a road doll. You gotta get
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intense. You gotta have a permeating attitude that you're gonna win. You gotta
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be a positive outlook. You gotta be optimist, sick. You gotta know
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you're gonna win. You gotta right now, you said I'm gonna win.
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I'm gonna win. My life is gonna win. There's gonna be a victorious
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life here because listen to me, the price you pay for losing her is
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too extreme. You have to carry the burden of failure the rest of your
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life. As we begin to elevate ourselves and not to follow the crowd,
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activating the thinker us and disciplining and putting on hold the emotional part of ourselves.
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It's not easy, but through practice and practice and practice, practice makes
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improvement. You can always better your best. You can always go beyond anything
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that you have ever done. You never hit a state of perfection. You're
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always bigger than what you do, and so are you looking for new breakthroughs.
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Through practice and practice and practice, you'll get better and better and better.
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Something you should affirm to yourself every day. Repeat this, please,
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no matter how bad it is or how bad it gets, I'm going to
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make it. The people that make it in this world look around for the
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circumstances that they wanted that they can't find them, they create them. It's
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hot, no easy, it's not an option. However, ladies and gentlemen,
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what you will discover it is that it's worth. There takes cuts.
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You gotta dig down deep, then gut it out, keep on going again
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and again it again. I tell you make it happen because you know that
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it is possible, and you are the determining factor. You know. It
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is always so refreshing to watch those videos, even when I'm having a good
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d like, it's always so refreshing. It's always good to get that confirmation,
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that affirmation stating that I'm doing a good job. It's always good to
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get the reassurance. It's always good to hear someone say they're proud of you.
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You're doing a great job, You're doing a phenomenal job. Keep up
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the great work. Those are some of the things. Those are a lot
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of the things that we need to hear to keep going. You know,
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yeah, it may seem small to somebody else, but I think it's very
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big to me. So I love when people tell me they're proud of me,
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that I'm doing a great job and I should keep up the good work.
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So I'm very very very very very humbled and grateful for that. But
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like I say, today, it's Wednesday, it is wellness Wednesday. So
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let me say this to you, and I say this every episode, wherever
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you are in life, I'm proud of you. I don't care where you
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started. I just want to see the finished product. I want to see
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you keep going. I want to see you continue. Regardless of how many
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people show up for you, you keep showing up for yourself. That's all
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that matters to you, to me, to everybody else. Everybody's so worried
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about the quantity. I prefer the quality over the quantity. As long as
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I keep delivering quality, quality content, the quantity is gonna come. So
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I say that to every person that is an entrepreneur. Whatever it is that
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you're doing, wherever you are in life, keep going. Who gives a
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damn what people have to say. Who cares if people don't show up and
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support you. There's someone on the sideline that is rooting and waiting for you
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to win. Just keep showing up for you. It's not a marathon.
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Stop trying to compete with other people, because your end result is not gonna
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look like everyone else's. Yours is gonna always be different, and you want
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to be different. You don't want to be like everybody else. God created
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a lot of us to stand out. A lot of us have a gift
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that we don't utilize. We are all born with the gift. We all
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have a purpose. It's just a matter of digging deep and finding that purpose
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and finding that gift and enhancing that gift and continuing on. No matter how
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many times you fall down, keep it up. I can't even begin to
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tell y'all how many times are fallen down. I can't begin to tell you
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how many days have been dark for me. But here I am. So
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I said that to encourage somebody that may be going through somebody, whatever transition
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you're in. I'm proud of you that you even took the first step.
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It's scary, it is. I know it's scary. I know it's unfamiliar
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to you. But unfamiliar can be a good thing. Change could be a
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great thing. It's all about what you do to enhance it and to keep
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it going. So don't stop, keep going, don't worry about what other
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people have to say, don't worry about who shows up for you, who
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doesn't show up for you. It doesn't matter because whatever's our dained for you
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by God Man can't take away. So I want you to remember that,
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remember that little nugget, baby, just like you say, faith the size
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of a mustard seed. Keep going. I'm proud of you, and I
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love you, and you're doing a phenomenal job. Okay, So tonight's conversation.
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Like I said, it's not gonna be a long show. Tonight.
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Tonight, April is Autism Awareness Month. And when I tell you, I
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have some of the most amazing people in my circle that are mothers and fathers
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to autistic children. Autism to me is special. It looks different for everybody,
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and it's I look at how phenomenal these children are and how they've flourished
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with all the resources out here. Your child can overcome anything. One of
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the biggest things that I heard, and I was speaking to a friend of
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mine a few months back. Her son graduated with my son and her son
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is autistic, and she said, for a long time, I used to
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blame myself, and I told her, I said, you know, it's
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not your fault. To me, a child with autism is special. They're
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gifted, they're resilient, they're my superheroes. Autism is not what you think
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it looks like. You know, people when they hear hear about a child
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having special needs, they assume that a child is not verbal, a child
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is has some type of deformity, and that's not true. That's not true.
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I get so emotional when I talk about things like this, these topics,
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because every parent that is has an autistic child, their story is different.
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I'm so sorry, y'all, but they're so special, and the world
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treats these children like their outcasts and they're not. I hate that when it
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comes to special needs children, that they're ostracized and these kids are made to
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believe that they can't interact with other children. I hate that. I despise
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that. I really wish people would stop treating these children, these babies,
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these these beautiful, wonderful gifts, like they like their lepers. Oh,
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y'all know how I am when when I have these conversations, y'all know these
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these these conversations are so near and dear to me. H, my nephew,
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like me and me and my friend Bib, we were talking today,
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well a couple of weeks ago, and you know, she says, you
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know, I think my baby is autistic. And I said, that's okay.
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I still love his little bad but the same because he's terrible, y'all,
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he is so bad, but he is my baby. I promise I
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fight behind that little one. And she says, you know, he doesn't
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talk. He's two years old and he has a delay. I say,
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you know, but all babies developed differently. And I say, all I
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got to say, if it comes that he is autistic, that's okay.
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I'm still gonna love him, to say, I'm still gonna treat him the
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SAME's I'm not gonna look at him any different because he's special. God created
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him different from everybody else, and it's okay to be different. So to
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you, Bb, to you, brand this, to you, Jessica,
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to Floor Takish and all the other parents in the world that have autistic children,
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I love you, and please don't let this world make your children feel
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like they are a burden. Please don't let the world make you feel like
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it's your fault. I'm so sorry, y'all. So we have some comments
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that have come in, so BB says blue lips blue for autism and all
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the puzzle pieces that are out there. BB says, there is nothing wrong
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with these babies. God gave us one of the greatest gifts when they gave
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us children on the spectrum. They are superheroes and they are Wow they are.
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They are the most beautiful, wonderful babies ever. To my girl,
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Monica, I love you. I love your baby like just keep loving your
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babies the way that you do. Please stop letting the world treat your children
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like they're nothing, like they're like they have a disease or something. BB
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says people are mad because their babies are part of a club. They can't
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get in facts. And then she tells me not too much on my boy.
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Girl, Lena, tell you something of that lebar Ain't nothing wrong with
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that lebar He just he just needs to see me. This all. I
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promise that. All she says, my baby is a superhero. No matter
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where he falls on the spectrum, he is amazing. I thank god he
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chose me to be him mommy with the blue heart. And she says,
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we love you too, baby, And I do like when I tell y'all
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when I was talking to my friend Jessica, her son's name is Doriyan Dorrian
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graduated with my son class of twenty nineteen, and Jessica felt like it was
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her fault, like she had done something, And I told her, you
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didn't do anything. That's simply the way God wanted your baby to be.
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He gave you a gift. He gave you a legend, he gave you
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an icon. He definitely gave you a superhero because baby. Let me tell
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you, Dora Well gonna give you a rum for his money. Floor to
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her baby, he's progressing so wonderfully. He's doing an amazing job. You're
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doing an amazing job as a mother, to my baby sister, brandis baby.
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Let me tell you about miss Zoe. Y'all. Zoe is doing ballet
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and she plays the violin and she's progressing very well. I can't wait to
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see her in person. Monica, you're your baby boy. He's so handsome,
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he's so cute. When like when I tell y'all, when I look
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at these babies, because there's their babies to me, I look at the
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greatest gift of all, I look at them, and I'm like, how
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could you not want to be around these children? How could you not want
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to be even though even the babies that are nonverbal, how could you not
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want to be around them? Like when I tell you these kids are a
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ball of fun, it's like it's almost like give them a ball of sugar
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and baby they go. I call them my little sonics, my little sonic.
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They had chalks, the blue ones, the little blue Sonics. Because
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they're so full of energy, they're soul, full of life. They just
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have progressed at a at a at a different rate than us, and that's
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okay. They're different in a beautiful way. So to every parent that has
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an autistic child, I stand with y'all on world autism they even though it
19:45
was yesterday. But that's okay. I still stand with y'all. So when
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people ask what is autism? What is it? Autism or the autism spectrum
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disorder ASD refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills,
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repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. I was having a conversation
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with my mom's Sunday last Sunday, and I think my daughter may be on
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the spectrum, and that's okay. I love her the same. So,
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according to the CDC, autism affects and estimated one in thirty six children and
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one in forty five adults in the United States today. This is the part
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that upsets me is when people say, well, how does autism look?
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It doesn't look the same for everybody. Autism looks different for everyone, and
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each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Some autistic
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people can speak, while others are nonverbal, are minimally verbal, and communicating
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other ways. Some have intellectual disabilities while some do not. Some require significant
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support in their daily lives, while others need less support and in some cases,
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excuse me, go on to lead healthy, productive lives with no help.
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So Bb says, Ups, let me go back. She says,
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there are so many people out here who are on the spectrum, and there
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are millionaires, billionaires and more. I can't wait to see where my boy
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and the rest of these babies fall. These kids and people teach us how
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to love unapologetically. They are who I strive to be. We as parents
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did nothing wrong. God gave them for us to see the world in a
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different light. We are the chosen ones because God thought enough of us to
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place them in our lives in our past. Y'all really got me up here
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with this ugly cry, Like y'all really got me truly up here with this
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ugly cry. I love to see and hear things like this because autism is
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different and it looks different for everybody. Again, when people look at special
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needs children, they automatically assume them to look us certain way. How is
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it supposed to look? Y'all have to bear with me because, like I
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said, these these conversations that I have are so near and dear to me.
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So I'm so passionate about the things that I speak about. So y'all
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have to forgive me so here it is in a little more detailed exactly what
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autism is. Here we go. According to the Centers for Disease Control,
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autism affects un estimated one and fifty four children in the United States. You've
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probably heard a lot of thoughts and ideas about autism, but here's an overview
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of what we know autism. Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a
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neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person's so and communication abilities. Persons with ASD also
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have areas of strong interest and sometimes have repetitive behavior and sensory sensitivities. Autism
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is sometimes associated with strengths in the areas of visual memory, music, art,
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math, and science, but each person with ASD is unique. Autism
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is a spectrum disorder and varies significantly from person to person. Some people with
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ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less
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support, and some live entirely independently. Changes in brain development associated with autism
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begin during the prenatal period. These changes are associated with differences in genetics.
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It is possible to diagnose ASD when a child is between eighteen and twenty four
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months of age. Early Behavioral intervention helps children with autism learn to communicate and
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socially interact and has a significant impact on LAFE long term outcome. Support for
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learning social and communication skills can be helpful throughout adolescents and adulthood. People with
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autism sometimes have other conditions, such as higher rates of sleep disorders ADHD,
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anxiety, depression, and gastro intestinal issues. Treating these co occurring conditions can
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make a big difference. As adults, people on the autism spectrum can become
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employed and contribute in important ways to society. The world is a better place
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if the qualities of people who are nurodiverse are accepted and valued. The Youth
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Center for Autism and Brain Developer provides state of the art, interdisciplinary clinical care,
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conducts cutting edge research, trains the next generation of scientists, and advocates
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for public policies to help ensure people with autism reach their full potential. MMM.
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I didn't have to kind of take that in a little bit, because
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these babies are so phenomenal. I love to see their progress. I'd love
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to see when these babies come out of their shelves that they're in, Even
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the babies that are nonverbal I love just looking at them. I admire them
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from a distance because I said, these babies are there, they're they're ostracized,
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they're told that they can't do anything. They're separated from other children,
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and I don't like that. I want these babies to know that being autistic
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it's not a bad thing. I really wish these schools and these educators,
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not all, but some letting these children interact with what they call normal children.
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Because baby, let me take some of these kids y'all think are quote
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unquote normal. Some of them ain't normal. But I wish that the world
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would start looking at autism as a beautiful thing and not as a bad thing,
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not as Oh they'll never they won't be able to do this, They'll
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forever have to ask someone to do things for them. No. I know
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people right now that are autistic that do their everyday life like I do.
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Get up, wash the face, brush her teeth, whatever. Even the
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babies that are nonverbal, like baby's lettle boy, he's not vertal. He
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communicates, and I'm gonna beat him when I see him, just so y'all
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know that, la boy, he is terrible, y'all. Like when I
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tell you like he is so bad, But I love him though, like
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that's my baby, Like, can't nobody else fall him bad with me?
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Nobody? But he runs, he plays, he jumps, He does everything
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that a two year old child is supposed to do. He doesn't do anything
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differently. He goes to the bathroom the same way, he eats the same
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way, he sleeps the same way. So why make him feel like he's
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different because he's on the spectrum? Why? And then I look at Dorian,
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who's twenty three, well, will be twenty three this year, works,
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graduated in high school, has a job, who says that they can't
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go on and live productive lives. Who says this, Oh that's right.
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The world says that because he that's the mind frame that the world has taught
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people. Oh he's got a disability. Ooh, oh she's autistic. Ooh
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she has ADHD ooh she has add Ooh he has cerebral palsy. Oh.
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One of the ladies that was a helper to my children when they were in
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elementary school, her son has cerebral pulse. See and when I tell you
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he is, I mean he has Down syndrome. I'm so sorry. He
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has Down syndrome. And he's just as cute as he wants to be.
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I just want to love all over it. I just want to kiss up
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under the little fat pat up under, you know, the piece of U
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under. I just want to snuggle and just kiss all over him. Stop
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treating these babies like they're different. They know they are. Stop doing that.
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Stop ostracizing these children. Awareness needs to be brought to this because I
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feel let me say this, I know people in the world need to be
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educated on what autism is because these negative connotations, this this stigma around it
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disgusts me. It pisces me off. Let me just go ahead and say
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that pisss me off. So bb says, he is not. He is
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just better than them and the jealous absolutely, but not see it. The
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lla boy that I'm gonna have to sit down and have a talk with him,
31:07
I promise, because the laboyel what I'm gonna do with him, but
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just love on him, that's all. But he's still not allowed to come
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to my house. Okay. So Bbe says, my brother is autistic and
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he has support, but he does everything from babe to clean to cook his
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food himself. He is nonverbal, but he communicates in his own way,
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and we understand him perfectly, and he understands us. And that's all that
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matters to me, and that's all that should matter, is that he knows
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how to communicate with what's with who's important. And she says, at this
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time, we are going through the steps to figure out where my baby is
31:44
on the spectrum. He is very musically inclined and minim minimal verbal. We
31:48
understand him just fine. We know because he the way he be talking to
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me, and I know him give me love because he kisses the phone.
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So that's how we communicate. That's how me and Bibie's baby not here,
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that's how we communicate. He comes to the phone and he'll put his head
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on the phone, put his eyes all in the phone, y'all. He
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just as cute as he want to be. He really truly, y'all.
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He reminds me of Sonic the hedgehok, because he just you see him.
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He's everywhere and just. But I can't wait to meet him in person.
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I can't wait to see him in person, even though to be brief,
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because I can't be around at him too long because then I may have to
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talk take his little chocolate but home with me because he's so chocolate, y'all.
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He's so chocolate and just so as cute as he want to be.
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Put his little big head self. But no, but really don't. I'm
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just amazed that I have a circle of friends who are parents to artistic children,
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and I get to admire from the distance at their progress, because if
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you could see where they started to where they are now, you guys would
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absolutely be amazed. I look at Brandis, her baby's name is Zoe,
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and Zoe is autistic, Zoe does ballet, and Zoe now playing the violin,
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and Zoe is four four, yeah, five four, about to be
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five. And it was difficult. Branda said, you know, I blame
33:37
myself because I thought it was something I did. I totally no, it's
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nothing you did. I look at Floor and her baby. I don't believe
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her baby's verbal. I believe he's nonverbal. And Floor, if you're watching,
33:54
correct me if I'm wrong. But I believe her baby's nonverbal and he's
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put. I believe she posted not too long ago his colors and and his
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numbers. I believe that's when she posted not too long ago. And then
34:19
there's Bob would not see her. She was worried. She didn't know what
34:27
to do. I think baby kind of felt ashamed and felt like she had
34:36
done something wrong. But I told her, it's okay, nothing's wrong with
34:40
him. He's all right, even though I knew that her baby's on the
34:45
spectrum. But he's okay. He's fine because he's fine to me. They're
34:51
normal children to me. Then I look at Dorian, who's twenty two.
35:00
Dorian's working. He graduated high school, but now he's excelling. He's fine
35:06
to me. I don't treat these babies any differently. I look at Monica
35:14
and her baby boy. He loves cowboys. Every time she posts me's in
35:22
a cowboy had cowboy boots. He looks like a little black Woodie from toy
35:25
store. Y'all remember Woody. That's how her baby looks. He's so cute,
35:30
he's so handsome, and he's autistic. And I love these babies all
35:37
the same. I don't love them any differently. I'll never treat them differently
35:45
because my daughter could possibly be on the spectrum, and I wouldn't want anyone
35:50
to treat my daughter differently. I wouldn't want anyone to look at her and
35:54
be like, oh, and she's twenty one. Art is her way.
36:07
When I was talking to my mom the other day, she says, you
36:09
know, I think Mari maybe on the lower end of the spectrum, because
36:15
my daughter has almost like me, has difficulty expressing and saying what she needs
36:28
to say, almost like it's difficult for her to write it, but she
36:34
can physically. And I think sometimes things get a little twisted in her mind.
36:40
But that's my daughter, and I'm still gonna love her the same.
36:45
It doesn't matter. So Bob says him love his ttash. I know he
36:52
does, and don't have a food y'all. She's gonna take him anyway.
36:55
I might. We'll see. I can see how he acts for now,
37:00
because see, I don't know, but he'll probably be spaill ritten though probably
37:06
so most likely, yeah, he will be. Let me just gonna keep
37:08
it a buck, y'all. He gonna be spall riding down here playing with
37:12
me. That's what a god. I put that on everything. I can't
37:16
wait because he's such a lovable levard. He loves the cuddle. He loves
37:22
to snuggle. Now, I don't know if I want to snuggle with him.
37:25
I don't know, because then I'm gonna get too attached and then he
37:30
can't go back with his mouth. I don't know. We'll figure it out,
37:32
but I know that's my baby. So beebe leaves this message for all
37:38
parents with artistic children. This is not your fault. God chose you because
37:44
He knew you needed the love the most, needed the love the most.
37:47
He knew that you were the best to hand a child with that gift,
37:50
handle a child with that gift. Hould your head high because you were seen
37:53
as the best person to raise them the way God needs them to be.
37:58
Girl, Can I say hey man on that? I definitely want to say
38:01
amen on that one. Because I believe that God gives the best gifts to
38:08
the best people. That's not to say let me say that. That's not
38:13
to say that everyone's children's are not gifts. But sometimes God gives you a
38:19
gift with the extra bulloing. And that's the way I look at these babies.
38:24
So let's keep the conversation rolling because I want to bring awareness. I
38:30
want to keep bringing awareness to World Autism Day. Soul. Why is Autism
38:38
Day April second? So the reason they selected off April second to be World
38:49
Autism Awareness Day, they say. The United Nations General Assembly declared April second
38:54
is World Autism Awareness Day in two thousand and eight to draw attention to the
38:59
girl need for innovative programs designed to support those with autism. So let's keep
39:07
it going, Let's keep bringing awareness to autism. Here we go today's World
39:15
Autism Day, and experts are trying to raise awareness at autism and young girls
39:21
has often overlooked. Cbsas correspondent Michael George has more on one family struggle to
39:27
get diagnosed. Sixteen year old Cozy says when she was in sixth grade,
39:31
she struggled in school and battled anxiety, and neither she nor her mother,
39:37
Lisa knew why. What can be really hard to go through these struggles that
39:40
make you different from a lot of other people without a reason. Cozy was
39:45
eventually diagnosed with autism. It really happened after three years or so of trying
39:51
to figure out, you know, why somethings in school were hard for her,
39:55
why she was struggling. Doctor Cynthia Martin is senior director of the Autism
40:00
Center at the Child Mind Institute. She says autism is often overlooked in young
40:05
girls, and even misdiagnosed, we see higher rates of diagnoses of anxiety or
40:10
depression, and the autism really gets missed. Doctor Martin says the reasons why
40:16
can vary. Sometimes girls may not fit the criteria of autism, and girls
40:22
tend to be better able to mask symptoms by mimicking friends' behaviors, but getting
40:27
an accurate diagnosis can be life changing. Knowing that that's coming from a neurodevelopmental
40:31
disorder can really help them to better understand themselves and better navigate the world and
40:37
advocate for what they need. While autism is more common in boys, it's
40:40
important for parents and clinicians to pay attention to the signs in girls. If
40:45
a diagnosis is missed, a young person could miss out on the support they
40:50
need or develop other behavioral problems. Cozy says her diagnosis, along with therapy
40:54
and medication, have helped, and she's encouraging other girls who are struggling to
41:00
speak up. Sometimes you can know yourself better than anyone else, and you
41:05
can be going through something and nobody else will know, And if you don't
41:08
talk about it and try to find those answers, then you won't and finding
41:13
answers can make a world of difference. Michael George, CBS News, New
41:17
York. A local exhibit is making sure the magic of Walt Disney is successful
41:22
to everyone. Today, families are invited to Disney one hundred in Chicago to
41:27
celebrate World Autism Awareness tick. I just loved it. I love that so
41:36
much. I do because these babies are so beautiful, they're so wonderful,
41:46
they're so talented, they're so gifted, and most of all, they're human.
41:55
So an honor of World Autism they from Black Girl interrupt that I love
42:00
you, and let's light the world up blue. There we are, and
42:07
hence the blue that I have on tonight, the blue shirt, the blue
42:08
lipstick, in honor of World Autism Day. Yes, I know it was
42:14
yesterday. I know it was, but I'm celebrating to day and I'm gonna
42:19
celebrate and speak on it every day because babies are not autistic just one day
42:24
out of the year. They're autistic every day and should be celebrated every day.
42:30
Parents of autistic children, I commend you for staying so strong, for
42:39
not letting the world tell you that your child is different. I commend parents
42:49
of autistic children the resilience, the battles that you've gone through to get the
42:58
diagnosis for your children, to get the support for your babies, to get
43:04
the resources that are available. Don't let the world put your children in a
43:09
box. Don't let the world ostracize your children and have your children believing that
43:16
they're different. They're not different, they're special. Hell I'm different. But
43:27
I commend the parents. I appreciate y'all sharing those beautiful babies with me,
43:38
not only me, but the world. I appreciate you being the voice for
43:46
the babies that can't speak. I'm trying not to get emotional, y'all again,
43:58
I'm speaking to the parents. Y'all did it. You're doing an amazing
44:07
job. Keep up the great word that you do. I know you're tired.
44:15
I know some days you want to give up. I know some days
44:17
you want to throw on the tip. But don't do it. Your baby
44:22
needs you to stand strong and to keep advocating for them. World Autism Day,
44:32
April Teco four, We're gonna light up the world blue. If you
44:43
are a mother, a father, a brother, or sister to a person
44:50
that is autistic, love on them. Don't treat them like they're different world,
45:00
define who they are. You keep encouraging your babies to be the best,
45:08
regardless of how many obstacles that they encounter. You keep advocating for your
45:14
babies. You keep educating people, You keep speaking out because someone's listening.
45:27
Again. Today we're celebrating autism. We're celebrating autistic women, men, boys,
45:37
girls, infants, children, We're celebrating. We're lighting the world up
45:45
blue. And we'll keep lighting up the world blue. We'll keep loving and
45:53
supporting your babies. We'll keep love and supporting on you because I know it
46:07
takes a toll on a mother and a father mentally, because I know they're
46:12
beating their selves up and trying to figure out what did they do? You
46:15
didn't do anything. Just keep loving those babies the way that you do.
46:22
Keep showing up for those babies the way that you do, Keep supporting those
46:27
babies the way that you do. And whatever I can do here with black
46:31
Girl interrupted to continue bringing awareness. You let me know, y'all know I
46:38
love the kids. Y'all know I love the babies. Y'all know I do.
46:44
Man Again, I'm just honored to know parents of these beautifully gifted,
47:00
intellectual, creative children. I'm so glad that God placed y'all in my path.
47:09
I'm grateful that I can advocate for your children. I'm glad that I
47:17
could utilize my platform to do so and to keep people educated. So again,
47:28
hear a Black Girl Interrupted. Whatever we can do and support, please
47:31
let me know, Please let me know. Into my puzzle piece. Babies,
47:44
my babies, I love you, and I love you, and it
47:49
love y'all, my big girls and my big boys, my grown men and
47:53
my grown women. I love you, and ain't it priding you? And
48:00
I promise when I tell y'all, I can't wait to see the next stage,
48:05
in the next chapter of their lives, because they're ever so changing every
48:09
day and it's a beautiful thing. And I love the fact that I get
48:13
to witness day. So as we close out this episode for Black Girl Interrupted,
48:21
I want to end with this six forty three. Today we honor World
48:27
Autism Awareness Day. The day is even more special for many KPRC two families
48:30
who have direct connections with autism, including our own Britta Merwin, and one
48:35
of our sons was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and the
48:37
idea of kindness for everyone is something that is very important to her. Earlier
48:42
this week, she held a zoom conversation with several local families and advocates to
48:45
share their inspiring journey. She joins us now to talk about it. Bretta,
48:49
Yeah, I'm really excited to share this with everyone at home, Lisa
48:52
Owen. This group was inspiring. We chatted for about forty five minutes.
48:57
There were laughs, there were also a few tiers, and they acknowledge the
49:00
challenges they face every day because autism is an everyday thing, but they also
49:06
shared the beauty about it. One thing we all have in common. We
49:09
all just want people to be kind. I have a son that has autism.
49:15
I have two daughters on the autism spectrum. I'm just I'm thirty nine
49:21
years old. I was diagnosed on the spectrum of since elves three. My
49:24
son, Talent is on the autism spectrum. He just turned ten and he
49:29
is amazing. I'm a mother of a thirteen year all unique and wonder famili
49:32
boy with autism. Autism. I live with it every day. It's my
49:37
nine to five job and I just love what I do. I love my
49:39
client. When they see girls, they don't think autism with some behaviors because
49:46
girls persent much differently than boys. Every chap wants to feel value, loved
49:52
and important and appreciating. I really didn't know a lot about autism and how
50:00
it affects people, how it affects families. When encountering, you know,
50:04
people with autism, even if you don't have any previous experience, there's no
50:08
need to treat them differently or tiptoe around them, or you know, they're
50:12
just like normal people. So just yourself get to know them. Basically,
50:15
clinical support minister where I work at, I get a lot of the statement
50:21
maybe like they don't look autistic, and I don't think that necessarily autism has
50:29
a look. Most people have no idea what we go through behind closed doors
50:36
when the school day is over, and things like that. Autism lives on
50:39
your entire life frame. So I want people to accept everyone, whether they're
50:45
children or adults, and also help our kids identify their strengths so they can
50:51
continue to grow and you know, go from an awesome child with autism to
50:55
an awesome adult with autism. Under proud to feel like I said's a belonging.
51:00
Basically, everything's a struggle. You know, it takes probably forty five
51:05
minutes for us to eat cucumbers, and it took me two years to get
51:07
them to eat cucumbers. He's still your same, your son, and this
51:14
diagnosis doesn't change that. Well, my goodness. Now I have a few
51:19
tears, but there's a lot more smiles than there are compared to the tears.
51:23
And it really is something that we want everyone to just spend some time
51:28
to talk about their kids and also their friends about today. It's all about
51:31
spreading kindness and spreading acceptance, so take that extra time. You can go
51:36
to our website clickihuston dot com slash autism. On there you're going to find
51:40
a parent's guide to autism. It's full of resources and actually put this together
51:45
about three years ago with local autism moms. So please go to our website.
51:50
It's clickiheuston dot com slash autism, so you can download that parent's Guide
51:52
to autism. And I'm also always adding things, so if you have something
51:58
that's not on there, please email me. That's Bmerwin at KPRC dot com
52:01
so we can add to it. If you would like to donate to Autism
52:05
Speaks, that's one of the organizations that we are supporting today. You can
52:07
call seven one three, seven two four five zero nine to two. We
52:13
also have their address on the screen and if you have a smartphone, you
52:17
can open your camera, hover it over the puzzle piece next to our logo
52:21
on the corner of the screen, and it will take you directly to a
52:24
donation page for Autism Speaks. Eighty five cents of every dollar will go to
52:29
fund research, advocacy programs and services. On top of that, I want
52:32
to invite you to go to my Facebook page that's KPRC to Britna Merwin.
52:37
On there, I've posted many local nonprofits that I work with throughout the year
52:42
and they do amazing work with the daily challenges and also the daily successes that
52:46
we face in the autism community. So please go there on my Facebook page
52:50
to highlight some of those local nonprofits that you can get involved with. But
52:53
definitely, you know, just an important day to my family until a lot
52:57
of people out there, so we appreciate Channel two studying a little more light
53:00
on autism today. Yeah, oh, I'm so sorry, y'all. Like
53:16
I just have to kind of let that digest a little bit because I'm just
53:21
I'm smiling from ear to ear because looking at all those beautiful faces brings such
53:30
a great joy to my heart. These beautifully made children that God gave to
53:42
some of the most wonderful people. I'm just blessed to just to know then
54:01
I'm able to utilize my platform to spread awareness for everything from autism to sexual
54:13
assault, to miscarriage and et cetera. I just thank God every day forgiving
54:22
me this gift to advocate for y'all. Mm I do, I just I
54:37
I just appreciate y'all for just everything to those autistic babies, those beautiful,
54:55
beautiful faces. Keep doing what your parents do for your children. These babies
55:06
deserve that these babies have earned that, keep enhancing on their strengths and like
55:19
she'd says, so they could grow up to be wonderful adults with autism.
55:32
Such a beautiful way to close out another episode of Black Girl Interrupted. It's
55:39
spreading awareness and celebrating and all of the resources and the things that they do
55:51
now that they specifically designate for children with autism. Saluta, Chuck and Cheese
55:58
for the things that for the sensory events that they have shout out to.
56:05
I believe it was Disneyland or Disney World yesterday that I believe they only allowed
56:15
children and adults with autism to come into the park. I believe, I
56:19
believe. Please don't don't quote me on that. I just love the many
56:25
beautiful things that they do. I love the people that support, I love
56:30
the people that advocate, and I especially love the parents that continue to fight
56:36
and advocate for their children. Thank you for not letting society make you feel
56:45
like your children are less than or make you feel like it's your fault.
56:51
I just I love that, and I want you guys to keep up the
56:59
beautiful work that you do and keep me updated on their progress. I would
57:06
love to revisit this conversation in six months and brag about my autistic nieces and
57:15
nephews. So I'm definitely, you know what, I'm gonna do that.
57:19
Let me, I'm gonna do that. You know what, in six months,
57:22
we're gonna come back and we're gonna revisit this and hopefure I could get
57:27
these these babies on the show. I don't know, well, fingers crossed
57:30
on that, okay, because again a lot of times it's a sensory issue
57:36
things like that. So I'm gonna work that out, and we're definitely going
57:40
to honor those beautiful babies. And I want them to know that and they
57:47
love you and and they got you. Don't worry about it. Ain't nobody
57:52
gonna touch all over here on this show. We're definitely gonna celebrate so again
57:59
and honor of world autism. They Yes, I know it was yesterday,
58:02
but Black Girl interrupted, we love you and I'm lightening up the world Blue.
58:15
I'm sorry, y'all. Y'all know, I just when I do this,
58:17
like y'all know, I'm so passionate about these episodes, in these conversations
58:24
and these topics that I bring to my show. Y'all know, I'm passionate.
58:28
Y'all know, I'm the biggest cry baby in the world. But to
58:31
close out Black Girl Interrupted, I do want to let you guys know April
58:36
is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month. So for the month of April, I
58:40
will be discussing all topics with regards to sexual assault awareness. I will have
58:49
trigger warnings. I will be speaking on a lot of sensitive topics, so
58:59
I will we'll post warnings, trigger warnings, so let you guys know beforehand.
59:06
So, yes, again, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Again,
59:09
I want to bring awareness to that also provide resources or if you yourself
59:17
are, are or have been a victim of sexual assault awareness, I will
59:23
provide resources as well. So that will be for the whole month of April.
59:29
So tomorrow night I will be live and I will be on time.
59:32
So don't worry, y'all. We are having to show tomorrow night streaming lives
59:37
of Facebook and YouTube at eight thirty pm Central time nine thirty Eastern time.
59:42
Again, we are kicking the month off discussing sexual assault awareness. That will
59:49
be the topic for the month of April. So wear your teal, show
59:52
up with your teal and support of sexual assault awareness. MMM and on that.
1:00:00
Now I'm gonna bring it to a close again. The website is up.
1:00:07
It is www dot bg I podcast dot org. The link is down
1:00:13
at the bottom of the screen. Don't forget to go and sign up so
1:00:17
you can start receiving your monthly newsletters that will keep you updated with all the
1:00:22
events and shows that are coming for a Black Girl Interrupted. It will also
1:00:28
keep you in the loop with regards to when the merchandise will drop for Black
1:00:31
Girl Interrupted that I'm really truly looking forward to. So again we are still
1:00:36
working on that in the on the back end again, we're hoping to launch
1:00:39
excuse me, uh bg I podcast merch this summer. We are looking for
1:00:45
that. Just a few things we have to work out before we get to
1:00:50
drop in that, so I'm excited about that again. Don't forget to register
1:00:53
on the website. It is www dot b g I podcast dorg. If
1:01:01
you are wanting to be a guest on Black Girl Interrupted, the email is
1:01:07
down at the bottom of the screen. It is Black Girl Interrupted Podcast at
1:01:12
gmail dot com. Please allow me twenty four till forty eight hours to respond
1:01:16
so that way we can set up a time and do a meeting and discuss
1:01:21
the conversation that you would love to come on the show and discuss. Again,
1:01:24
I'm not taking in a guest right now at this particular moment, but
1:01:30
I will be looking in the near future, hopefully June. Excuse me,
1:01:35
hopefully at June, I'll be looking for guests, but I will be doing
1:01:39
some collaborations. So I can't wait for you guys to see that. I
1:01:45
can't wait for you guys to see the beautiful thing that we have planned for
1:01:49
the end of April. I can't speak on that right now. But I
1:01:52
just can't wait for you guys to see so stay tuned for that April twenty
1:01:58
seventh. Oh my god, I can wait. BB. I hope you
1:02:00
are still listening, girl, because Abra twenty seventh will definitely go down in
1:02:05
the books for twenty twenty four. Who am so excited. But again,
1:02:10
you guys, I love you so much. Again. Today is Wednesday.
1:02:14
It is hump Day. It is also wellness Wednesday, so I will be
1:02:19
online in just a moment to post some wellness things for people to I'm just
1:02:23
kind of relaxing and take in for the night. But I will see you
1:02:28
guys tomorrow night, eight thirty pm Central Time, nine thirty Eastern Time,
1:02:31
streaming live to Facebook as well as you two. And for the people that
1:02:36
do not like watching it live, you could always catch this tonight's episode as
1:02:40
well as past episodes streaming on any streaming platform. So wherever you listen to
1:02:45
your podcast, that baby put in Black Girl Interrupted, and I promise you
1:02:49
I'm gonna pop up. You may not get to see me, but your
1:02:52
hear this beautiful New Orleans voice. Baby, So on that note, I
1:02:55
love you, guys. I will see you guys tomorrow night. I hope
1:03:00
everyone has a beautiful night. I love you and i'm gonna see you then. Hello.