Transcript

Black Autistic Leadership in a Time of DEI Erasure

February 23rd, 2025

Episode Preview

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs were designed to help businesses become better places for marginalized groups to be accommodated. DEI initiatives were working so that people with disabilities could access services and jobs. Since the current administration began, DEI programs are being eliminated, and companies are discontinuing their DEI programs to comply with the new laws. Kala Allen Omeiza and I are going to discuss the impact of DEI erasure for Black Autistic communities. Kala will emphasize the importance of prioritizing actions over arguments and staying true to values. Kala will highlight the challenges of being a DEI hire and the need for structural changes. Kala and I will also talk about the necessity of community building and interdependence to navigate these challenges effectively. Welcome to this episode of Today’s Autistic Moment.

Segment 1

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On Wednesday, February 26th at 2:00pm central standard time there will be a new episode of Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussion entitled: I Am Autistic: I Am Not Disordered. Eric Garcia and three other panelists will answer some comments that have been made that Autism, other Neurodivergents and differences are a threat to society and that their prevalence needs to be reduced. Our panelists will talk about being Autistic as a unique identity and how we are not disordered. Though Autistics have disabilities because of the microaggression of ableism that society uses to marginalize Autistics, we do have strengths to achieve success that go unrecognized. This episode of Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussion will be live and recorded on the YouTube channel @todaysautisticmoment.

Over this past month there have been restrictive actions that are impacting our intersectional Autistic communities. Just recently, an executive order stated that Autism, obesity, ADHD and other “conditions” are a threat to society. Other actions have been seeking to erase transgender individuals, many of whom are Neurodivergent. These activities trigger anger, fear, sadness, confusion, a sense of hopelessness, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Your feelings about what is happening are valid. The actions that have been taken are unjust, because they feed a culture of rejection and violence based on misinformation. Today’s Autistic Moment, our network of Autistic advocates, and sponsors support the full inclusion of all our intersectional Autistic communities. We will continue to have guests and shows that advocate for the Autistic culture. Today’s Autistic Moment’s focus of Navigating the Future of Multidimensional Autistic Leadership is about helping you and me find ways we can make our way forward in these very difficult times.

After this first commercial break, Kala Allen Omeiza will join me as we discuss Black Autistic Leadership in a Time of DEI Erasure.

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Commercial Break I

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Segment 2

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Philip King-Lowe

Kala Allen Omeiza, thank you so much for joining me for Today's Autistic Moment. I am very grateful that you accepted my invitation to be here. So welcome.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Yeah, thanks a lot. Thanks a lot for having me.

Philip King-Lowe

Glad you're here because we are in Black History Month and we're in a time of DEI being erased, being turned off, and there's lots of opinions floating around about whether it's a good thing to do or a bad thing to do. And so, as we were discussing before we started talking in this interview, I've been seeing lots of posts by various groups, thinking it's only about them. We need to recognize that DEI affects all marginalized groups, really. And so, I think we want to really talk about that. To start off, let's build a foundation for our conversation today. What does Black Autistic Leadership look like in a time of DEI erasure?

Kala Allen Omeiza

Sure. I think when it turns in terms of black Autistics leading, I think what we've always had, like this issue with like perceptions of like, oh, is this person a DEI hire kind of thing. So, I mean, we, I think that's probably a big challenge now, like, oh, are we just grandfathered in a DEI hire especially if we're in corporate or, like, business owners or business executives, for example. I think it's really important for us, yeah, myself included, to prioritize, like, not it's easier. I mean, it's like, for lack of a better word, like, just rest, basically prioritize not always having to take up the fight, like arguing back with, with those people that are, that are saying all those words, like, just kind of Yeah, just kind of counter it with Yeah, with your actions, with by just being a better person. You get to quote Michelle Obama, to go to go high and, and, yeah, and just stay, staying with theory about values and morals. Because ultimately, when, when we're the ones that, when we're hearing all of these negative feedback about, yeah, anti-able like, yeah, ableist talk, racist talk, and then yeah, then this, all these myths about Autism too, all this like, all these other intersectional differences, that all these intersectionals basically on bullets I can that could bullets that can attack us with, with words primarily, or even actions, just trying to Yeah, make, make more ceilings for us. I think it's really important that we realize that when we're when we when we internalize and react, we're the ones that we're the ones that are getting affected, not them. They're the ones they're going to sleep really happy at night. And yeah, meanwhile, I'm the one that's yeah, up, think, yeah, being really resentful, being really annoyed, and no matter how much I'm like, arguing back, it does not work. The best thing to do is just to kind of take the high road. And that's, that's my plan, to continue to fight quietly, but also to like to make sure I uplift, yeah, those and did out all my communities as much as I can, but so just kind of ignore everyone that wants to kind of poke, poke it, poke at me.

Philip King-Lowe

I did a survey on LinkedIn, and I asked the questions, are the question, are DEI regulations genuine acceptance or conditional acceptance? I only got 11 votes, but 82% answered that DEI is conditional acceptance. You know, which implies that DEI was another opportunity for businesses to tokenize us. Autistics as well as people of color and many other marginalized groups. What are your thoughts about that?

Kala Allen Omeiza

Yeah, I, in a way, would agree. I think there are some sincere organizations that made actual structural changes. And those are the ones that obviously are probably continuing to utilize DEI today. The ones yeah, it's pretty clear, the ones that stopped it or yeah, it was more, yeah, my opinion too, was more tokenization, of course, is we need people to analyze the facts. There's any like, any more diversity in recruiting, and any ways to, like, make things more accessible in the workplace. But I always, I was, sometimes I'm joking with my husband or yeah, my yeah, my family and my parents, for example. And we're, we're just always hearing like, all these DEI hires. And like, yes, make creating all these unfair advantages. And we're just looking like, like, what, what are these unfair advantages? Like, how is it like, I mean, how is it unfair that, like, for example, like, yeah, like, my husband, who's a black man applied for, like, yeah, 500 jobs and yeah, and got one. How was that unfair for, for yeah, for him to get to that job? Versus, like, somebody applied at 50 and then getting he was just like, to me, it was thing. It was just like, to me, it was just like, wait, I didn't I think, I think both of us, we always, we always, like, kind of joke with each other, like, oh, like, no one's here to save us. Like, there's no company that's just gonna, like, rescue us. And I think black people, disabled people, realized that before after, like, Yeah, before, DEI, during, and then now post, yeah. Realize that nothing's really yeah, there's, there's no like, like, Oh, now we're Yeah. Now we have the same level playing field as this is not Yeah. It's just we all we have to be Yeah, four times yeah twice as good to have half as much. It's just one of those things that I grew up, I grew up being, I grew up being taught and I definitely kept that in mind when I yeah, when I want to reach particularly goals, and I yeah, I see that played out. I'm just like, Wait, how is Yeah? We see that yeah, there's, there's so many Autistic individuals that want to work, that that aren't, that can't, and I don't, so I definitely want to go verify, but I don't think that that that rate has gone up, that has gotten has gotten better over under DEI, yeah, African Americans have the lowest household income in the country, yeah, and we did before DEI. So just like, Yeah, where is, where is this unfair advantage? Like, how was it, yeah, yeah, like, besides, yeah, like, maybe, like, one, like, celebrity getting, like, one more extra pay bonus. Like, where, like, where is, yeah, how is this actually affecting? Like, how is this, like, actually love when they're playing field. And besides, besides, like, kind of yeah and making yeah people, just people, besides just opening ourselves up to people just saying, Oh, you're a DEI hire, for example, when that's not the case,

Philip King-Lowe

The one point that I kind of go back to, then I've been saying this on a few shows already. But what I feel is that when corporations and companies were required to have the have those things in place, and of course, doing so meant there was an "advantage" for them, because, you know, certain they got to say, okay, we are a DEI. We recognize equal rights for people. And then, you know, with these things, there's always a loophole for some business to just not do it, you know, sure, but you know, basically, it was a business advantage, and now that it's come along that they're realizing that there is no advantage, and now they're being, you know, they're going away. I mean, they just chose to just sweep them all under the rug, which tells me that, as with most businesses, it's about their bottom line. It has that do with their actual desire to be inclusive.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Exactly. Yeah. I felt like, yeah, like you said, is it a business advantage? Yeah, is it a consumer advantage? Is it an employee advantage? Yeah, I don't think so. Basically, yeah, that's my opinion, too. But yes, it was definitely a business advantage when it was and it's not when it's not to basically, if that makes sense.

Philip King-Lowe

Yeah, well, it's the same kind of thing that communities go through. Black History Month, for example. Suddenly we're all talking about the history of black people, and we're talking about everything from, you know, a lot of those, those channels on cable or Roku, they're showing Roots, and they're showing, you know, all the stuff that comes through. And then, you know, and then as soon as Black History month's over, they put those away. Yeah. In April, when we have Autism Acceptance month, they're pulling out all their Autism stuff. You know, businesses are supporting one organization after and we go through it during Pride month, they pull out all the rainbows, pull out all the stuff, and they sell it, and then after that, nobody sees it anymore. I mean, you know, it's really an external it's, it's, it's, as I say, it's a conditional acceptance on all these, all these communities, it's how they make money. I don't think it has anything to do with whether or not they genuinely mean to serve these communities.

Kala Allen Omeiza

I don't really know what else to add besides just Yes, I absolutely agree.

Philip King-Lowe

As Autistics, I mean, we're talking this year about Navigating the Future of Multidimensional Leadership here. And you know what I want to one of the things I'm trying to do this year is recognize that Autistics, we have abilities to lead. We have so many multidimensions. We are neurological. We are physical. We are cultural. We are social. We are relational. We are at awareness and avoidance through masking. We are engaged. I mean, I mean our Autistic individuals, however they're doing it, they're leading somehow. I mean, as you've explored it for yourself, can you think of any particular ways that you have found that you are leading here?

Kala Allen Omeiza

I guess. I guess to answer the question of what I guess is two questions here, like, what am I leading and how am I leading it? So, I guess with what I'm leading, yeah, yes, I definitely lead my nonprofit and directs and directs my advocacy initiatives, as well as my books and trying to understand what readers want to what we want to feel seen about, basically, and what we want others to know? Like, yeah? Like, neurotypicals, yeah, for people of color, like, yeah, white individuals, like, yeah. Just like, What? What? So, what will make us, like the target community, feel comfortable, and what like and feel Yeah, feel that this book isn’t necessary. It's changing their lives. Basically, it makes them feel seen in a way that they haven’t, and they haven’t, and they haven't before, and it's comforting. And then also where, yeah, and secondary, where those and yeah in research and education, etc., feel a way that they're learning basically, too. That's definitely I've been leading, yeah, I've been kind of trading, like my, like, for example, like my marketing director to help me analyze all of that too. And I guess how it's actually in my upcoming, well, not my upcoming book that I'm writing right now. So, it's not like, it's not like it's in press or anything, but with my coin term, the hedonic flywheel effect, how, like, we just kind of cultivate our passions and our interests to kind of to get us, to get us this kind of level, to go to level where, here, where we're seeking more information. We're connecting with others about it, and we're just kind of where we're following it. We're utilizing, like, our special interest, and we're utilizing, yeah, our unique talents and what suits us and our newfound connections to Yeah, to get to these higher levels of leadership and relationships in general, too, in all, in all, in all forms, and I am really proud of how My life has turned about has turned out by following these principles. And I'm Yeah, and I'm really excited to share it with others. I mean, yeah, what I just said was a good, like, good summary of it, of course. And yeah, I think that's definitely the power that we have in leadership, especially, yeah, all having such intersectional identities.

After this next commercial break Kala and I will talk about creating environments by reaching out to the individuals impacted by what is happening. We will also talk about the importance of interdependence.

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Commercial Break II

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Segment 3

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Philip King-Lowe

Well, you know, you're already leading into my second question, so I'm going to ask it, and then I'm going to ask you to talk more about what you're doing. We know that Autistics are engaging regarding black Autistics leading in this time of DEI erasure. And how can we create environments to affect change? I'm going to ask you to tell us a little bit about your organization, what you do, and then tell us about your books, you know, because I see those as helping to create environments.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Yes. Yeah. You nailed it. Exactly, definitely, what I hope to do basically, and it seems like that's what's definitely surfacing, especially after the release of my last book. So yeah, I have three books. I started with my fiction book Afrotistic, which was about a Black Autistic teen girl going to school. I wrote it mainly because I didn't see another book like that, like about a Black, Autistic teen girl, like going to new school, basically, and, and I thought it would be useful for somebody like, for example, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 24 I feel like it would have been extremely like, if I feel like, if a 15 year old me ran into that book, or anybody in my spear ran into that book, I would have been diagnosed, not a 24 basically, and I would have probably gotten help and support significantly earlier. So, I wrote it for those young black girls out there, basically, and their community members to see, like, another Representation of Black Autistics. I also wrote, like a spin out novel, like it was, it was extremely fun to write The Worst Saturday Ever about one of the characters in Afrotistic. There was, like a, there was a line in Afrotistic where the character Samuel went like, oh, I didn't like the summer camp two years ago. It was The Worst Saturday Ever. And my imagination just got going, and I wrote a whole dystopia novel about it that talks about, it's yeah, really, allegorically talks about, like, the pitfalls of AI and like, I'm sorry, unregulated AI, to be specific, and how it can impact Yeah, marginalized communities, intersectional marginalized communities. So, we're thinking, yeah, they get Autistic. Think black. Think Black Autistic, basically. And I'm sure you can, you can foresee, like, what, what kind of what can play out in that book? My latest book, Autistic and Black. It's our experiences of growth, progress and empowerment that explore the unique challenges and triumphs faced by Black Autistic individuals from over seven countries, four continents. And yeah, like you said, I'm the founder of I'm Heard, which is a nonprofit channeling effort towards the worldwide destigmatization of mental illness and minority communities. And I take all of all of this from like my research around the world, primarily at places like Harvard Duke and as a Fulbright scholar in Nigeria, and kind of try to utilize storytelling like kind of fact-based evidence, like research and, and, yeah, yeah, yeah. And, of course, yeah. I guess just to emphasize storytelling too, to drive change for at this point, for Neurodivergent people that are struggling with mental health issues, and to try to and, yeah, find community, find I love what you said, like, find an environment and for it.

Philip King-Lowe

So, yours is an advocacy kind of thing and or also reaching out to these communities, maybe finding them to find a place where they can do some community building?

Kala Allen Omeiza

Yes, yes. So, its advocacy, it's where I put a lot of my so it's where most of my projects are, for example, storytelling initiative where we're looking at Neurodivergent people of color, where and community members, such as like psychologists in like in communities where is underrepresented. So, we got, for example, like a psychologist in Pakistan, an Autism Research Coordinator in Iran, for example, people like, people that are that we here in the West, we don't really hear from as much. People all come together and, like, talk about, like, best practices. And I'm writing, I'm writing that up basically, and I'm looking forward to posting it on blogs and articles, and then eventually is one book for all of us to have access to.

Philip King-Lowe

Yeah, I found your website. I will be adding this to my Adult Autism Resources Links page, so I'll just, oh, yeah, thank you. You're welcome. You know, my first show this month was with Shalese Heard, who is known as the Autistic Travel Goddess, because that's what you know she does. Talks about, you know, being Autistic and traveling and that sort of thing. Okay, I did a show with her in November about Autistics Traveling. It was brilliant. And, you know, one of the things that Shalese said earlier this month is that some of the challenges just for black individuals who are Autistic, you know, finding some community within their black communities as well. I mean, Shalese has been in groups where she has spoken and there's to me, and she's been told You're much too loud in a space where, you know, Black Autistics are black people are kind of loud, and already they're very, you know, open and very forthcoming as they as they are. And she was, like, too forthcoming, you know. And so, you know, she's spoken about, you know, how a lot of that happens, you know. So, you know. And then another one of my guests that appeared has appeared is Precious Lesley, again, you know, a lot of what she said is that she finds it difficult to find her places among all of these communities.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Sometimes I think us in yeah, the black community, we, especially the, like, African American community, like the sentence of slaves community, we kind of, we kind of, I see, like, at least the online kind of chuckle going, at least, like, the good thing about these years is that yeah, is that at least everybody sees like everybody else sees it, not just us feeling and everyone thinks that we're just yeah, that we're over exaggerating, like no racism is gone, like there's no way that somebody could be doing that, like in New York or Connecticut or something. At least it's yeah, that that kind of conversations gone down, basically, that's like this. And one of the good things about all of this, like the silver lining. Yes. I think if there talks, well, I maybe I don't have an opinion about like if they were, if they're talked more openly, but I think they're believed more basically, especially with racism. To be honest, I don't really have much to add about like ableism before, pre-2017, for example, just because I wasn't diagnosed as Autistic. So, I'd never considered myself disabled, even though I was, I, definitely was, was ostracized and left out for yeah for yeah for being Autistic and disabled as I didn't know that. I probably assumed it was because of something else. I assumed it was because of something else back then. And so, me saying, like, oh, if I talked about, like, oh, this person's ableist, I didn't have those words to say that pre-2017 basically. So, I can't confirm or deny if, like, if so, that's definitely for you to, for you to share about if, how that has, how that's developed. But for the racism, racism, yes, I think the just the how people believe, the now people now believe, like, when, yeah, when you tell like, like, a well-meaning person that, yeah, I don't think this person is treating me well because of this there, yeah, they it's not, it's not just, like, completely scoffed off and I and I do, I yeah, I'm not sure, like, what, yeah, what's done about it, and like, the good that's been done about it, but at least just the awareness is, yeah, is comforting, at least on my social media.

Philip King-Lowe

I fear that this DEI erasure is an attempt to silence those conversations.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Sure, yeah, that sounds like it's gonna backfire, but it might, yeah. I mean, it might sound like a boardroom, but in any casual place, yeah, I think, that's gonna completely backfire.

Philip King-Lowe

Yeah. Well, what we want to talk about next is about the question around interdependence. You know, let's talk about how Black Autistics are leaders in their lives, in their unique contexts. You know, this is where I really like to focus on being proactive, and this is why this focus about Navigating the Future of Multidimensional Autistic Leadership is so important. You know, a lot of us Autistic are presumed to be incompetent and incapable of speaking up and defending ourselves. So that's why they often do what they do. But the point is, is that we are proactive when we, for example, turn social media off and take care of ourselves. Yes, we are proactive by creating spaces like this podcast, like what you're doing on I'm Heard, by creating those spaces where it's safe to be who you are, to talk about the things that are affecting you and how they are, you know, impacting you and your community. And, you know, while you talk about some ways that you are surviving or working through these things together, you know, so maybe you'd like to elaborate on that. I mean, you know, where do you see black Autistics leading again? And, you know, talk about some interdependence that may be going on in these in these situations.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Yes. I think yes, leaning on, as you're talking about interdependence, I would say leaning on the communities we have in person, the ones that we formed online. It's been really crucial and by and also trying to disengage with, with, yeah, with things that can harm our mental health, or just, really, just don't even just distract us from, yeah, what we're over made for, basically, honestly, I yeah, I try to say about myself, this is a huge distraction, and I need to be writing my book, and I'm not going to let somebody, I'm not going to let Yeah, some Yeah, news thing, just stop me from writing that's not that doesn't help anything, basically. And I, I also lean on my Yeah. It's really important to Yeah. It's a to really lean on my, for example, my husband, make sure I Yeah, take good care of people that, yeah, the people that are dependent on me. Like, for example, like my son, yeah, it's time to, it's time to, sometimes the way to fight back is kind of just to kind of really nurture the next generation. I think I recently brought a lot more like, I got, like, the ABCs of black history and, like, a lot of, like, history of Nigeria, kind of the books and stuff to render me. And I think I've been a lot, I've been intentional about it before, but I've the past few weeks, I've been extremely intentional about it, basically from reading, like, one book of those a day to, like, like, I and I'm yeah and I, yeah and this is a really huge honor to Yeah, nurture and yeah, and to nurture him and watch him grow and help him grow. But and, like my online community, to online communities, especially on LinkedIn, it's been yeah, it's been really nice to see the community I've yeah, just, I want to say accidentally built, but like, I didn't really see I've been surprised at how, how big it's got. Basically, I've been somebody who just has like 200 followers basically, on Instagram for like seven years in a row. So now have like 6000 on LinkedIn. It's a really huge, huge deal for me and I, and it's really nice to talk with so many like-minded people consistently on, on messaging, through posts. And I really, I really appreciate the people in in my LinkedIn, sphere specifically. And I, and I do like my Instagram too, for flip book recommendations a lot, too. And it's been, and I've been, yeah, definitely tapping into that.

Philip King-Lowe

Yeah, no, I love the LinkedIn community. You know, when I started Today's Autistic Moment now, four or five, nearly five years ago, I mean, I, I didn't know how far it was going to go, and I was on the other to me, I was, and still am on Facebook, and I've left, X, Twitter, X. I'm still on Instagram, and the podcast is now on Blue Sky. But I just want to say that the LinkedIn communities, the Autistic communities, the advocates, they’re incredible there. I love the communities and the people I've engaged with on LinkedIn. I started having these shows in February about black autistic adults, because I know that they are not often well represented within the conversations about being Autistic and Neurodivergent. I mean, you know, and I started these conversations with the people I've had on and what we've been talking about is, you know, like Precious Lesley said this a while back, but you know, if we're going to see the positive change we're looking for in the Neurodiversity movement, then we need to have all of these different groups at the table talking together, yeah, you know. And, and I'm going to say one thing, you know, I have seen many conversations go through my personal Facebook page that have been you know that the removal of DEI is about LGBTQ people. Yes, I agree with that, but no one there talks about how it affects people with disabilities. Sure. And then I see other conversations happening that it's about disabilities, but it's not about people of color. It's like, it's like, you know, and that's one of those things that I would just have to say, sounds like a failure of DEI.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Sure right? It's so, it's so, like, oh, it's yeah, it's sometimes, sometimes, I wonder if, if it's like, if it's happening by accident, like, and how, like, for example, like, people like me are communicating, or if it's or if, yeah, if there are people that, like, sincerely, kind of like, have this kind of like, battle of the oppression, they're going to like, being like, who's the most?

Philip King-Lowe

What should have happened, and what we're hoping, hoping still will happen, is that we can bring the disability communities, the LGBTQ communities, the communities affected by racism, immigration and, and you know, Autistics, Neurodivergents and others that we see, we all see each other as needing the supports we need, and yeah, and how we can work on them together.

Kala Allen Omeiza

No. I mean just besides, just Yes, I agree. I absolutely agree that. I think, yeah, I think we could do better by yeah, working together and not doing like this, oppression olympics and it also it's just to add some like, just another, another pointer slash perspective. And I'm sure he should probably share his perspective too. When you're seeing, like, this one, maybe it's one Facebook page post where it's like, oh, this is the worst thing to ever happen. Like, if you're Autistic person, like, this is going to be like, the worst four years of your life, kind of, like, just really, really, really, like, it's really specific. Like, yeah, like Yeah. Like, you said, like, you said, this anti DEI thing is about us, basically, about this one group. But then it's so it's, it's, it's concerning, and its invoking panic, at least in me, kind of thing. But then, like, you see again, like, this is the worst thing happened to black people. You're like, oh no. So yeah, I'm just hearing like, to me, I personally go like, Oh my gosh, oh no, no, no. It's like, this is even, yeah, like, my internally, I kind of start, like, panicking, kind of getting like, those, like, yeah, really tense feelings in my chest and stuff, and, and, yeah, getting really stressed about the situation before, before I start to think about, like, No, this is just affecting everybody, like DEI but I think, I think when you have all these intersectional identities, or even just that, or even just one, it's, it provokes a lot of a lot of people, maybe, to freeze more than, more than do something, what's the word, do something like tangible or do something that can, yeah, that's useful for themselves or to the community, basically about it when it's really, when it's really sensationalized about like, it just being only about this. That's, I think that's another, another, another, a bad thing about it, about that, about that.

Philip King-Lowe

That's where some community building is important. You know, social media can be used to create groups of people to have these conversations together, and to find someone to just to say, this is really frightening. And people say, you're right. It is yeah, just to have someone validate what you're feeling sometimes. But we need to do that so that we can perhaps start to talk about a way forward, you know. And you know what's happening with all these communities that DEI affects is, you know, we have those moments of panic. We're going to have those moments when it just hits us in the heart, it just hits and knocks us down. But we can't stay there. We have to, at some point say, okay, what can I and with others, what can we do and how can we do it? I mean, this is how organizations have started. This is how books are getting written. This is how, you know, people are finding ways to ask for the supports they need. I mean, this is a real time for black Autistics and Autistics in general to think about what supports they need and where they're going to get from, and how can they inspire movements or people to really begin to think about how to receive these supports.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Absolutely, absolutely. It's definitely a reflection period. I remember, yeah, in 2017 actually. I thought about it, I was thinking like, oh gosh, I really could use more, like, close friends, when I felt just kind of alone, basically, and like, just overwhelmed about Yeah, about everything going on in Yeah, our country and the world, yeah, and yeah, understanding, yeah, understanding Yeah. When I was diagnosed with, yeah, when I was diagnosed as Autistic too, and yeah, and what I want to do with my wife after, just in general, I thankfully. I've, I what, yeah, being like, in like, a slightly similar situation now I've, I just kind of looked around and has been really thankful, basically, to Yeah, that, yeah, that community is here, basically, even though I'm in the same scenario, like I just moved to North Carolina in 2017 now, just moved to North Carolina in 2024, so, but just, but I really learned a lot of skills with community building, utilizing hedonic volume effects and everything, just to Yeah, find Yeah, find people, my, my people, like, in Yeah, in church and like, just yeah with, like, other moms and child care and yeah, with my family and stuff. I think, I think I'm in a better place. And I want that for Yeah, I want that for all of us. And, yeah, absolutely, I completely agree that is definitely a moment to reflect on. Yeah, what do we what do we need? And how do, how do we get there? Like, how do I get there? So, this doesn't happen again in a few years. I don't feel as alone.

After this final commercial break, we will express our appreciation to Kala for this excellent conversation followed by Today’s Autistic Community Bulletin Board.

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Commercial Break III

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Future Shows

On March 9th, Carole Jean Whittington will be here to talk about What is Autistic Leadership? What exactly is Autistic Leadership? What does Autistic Leadership mean for each Autistic person? Carole Jean-Whittington brings her enthusiasm and energy to what is sure to be a great conversation that is sure to be an exciting approach to what Autistic Leadership is about.

Becca Lory will be here on March 23rd for the episode Self-Care Is Personal Autistic Leadership. Self-care is the best way you can help other people. When you take care of yourself by setting boundaries to regulate your Autistic needs, you are doing personal leadership. Becca Lory Hector and I will talk about how self-care is taking ownership for your health and well-being so that you can do the important work of leadership through the example of how you interact with the world around you.

Autism Acceptance month will feature two shows about Educating the Future of Autistic Leaders and Mentoring Future Autistic Leaders.

Thank you for listening to Today’s Autistic Moment.

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Segment 4

Philip King-Lowe

Well, Kala, I want to thank you for being a guest on Today's Autistic Moment. Your insights are excellent. Gives us all some things to really think about and hopefully to put into action. And this is very, very helpful. So, thank you for being here today.

Kala Allen Omeiza

Sure. Yeah, you're welcome. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. It's an honor.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Today’s Autistic Community Bulletin Board

All these events and many others with their links not mentioned here are available on

todaysautisticmoment.com/bulletinboard.

You are invited to the Adult Coffee Club for Autistic Adults in Minnesota. They are held on the second Tuesday of every month (weather permitting) at Dogwood Coffee located at 2700 University Ave W. Suite 100 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Zip Code is 55114. The Adult Coffee Clubs will begin at 4pm to 6pm on March 11th. April 15th. May 13th. June 10th.

Understanding Autism virtual classes are offered by The Autism Society of Minnesota. The next classes will be on March 10th, 6-7pm. April 14th, 10-11am. May 12th, 12-1pm and June 9th, 6-7pm. Classes are free of charge, but you must register to attend.

On March 7th from 9am to 11am Leah Kuypers will present the workshop What’s New with Zones of Regulation? Updated Approaches and Curriculum.

Beginning on Saturday, March 15th and continuing March 22nd and the 29th, from 10am to 1:30pm, Jillian Nelson will present the workshop Policy Power: Advocacy for An Inclusive Future.

Register today to attend the 30th Minnesota Autism Conference, April 16th through the 18th at the Doubletree by Hilton Minneapolis Airport Hotel, on 2020 American Blvd. in East Bloomington, MN 55425. There will be keynote speakers, in person and virtual breakout sessions, social opportunities for community building, and resource tables. The hyperlink to this event is on the transcript.

Go to ausm.org to get more information about these and other social and recreational programs, educational events, counseling services and support groups at The Autism Society of Minnesota.

MNeurodivergent is a social club rooted in a vision of bringing Neurodivergent Minnesotans together to build meaningful connections. Its core principle is to foster an environment where all are treated with dignity and respect regardless of ability or preferences. Go to their new website mneurodivergent.org for more information, become a member, volunteer and attend their events.

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network invites Autistic college students to join them for The 2025 Virtual Autism Campus Inclusion Academy that will be held on July 14th to the 20th. Click on the ASAN Autism Campus Inclusion Academy link on todaysautisticmoment.com/bulletinboard to get more information and apply by midnight on Sunday, March 9th.

Umbrella US invites you to a webinar by Brainbow Media on March 19th, at 10am Central Standard Time entitled: Accessibility Today Equals a Better Tomorrow. The cost is $20.00, and scholarships are available. Go to the transcript for this episode or todaysautisticmoment.com/bulletinboard and click on ACCESSIBILITY TODAY to register.

Today’s Autistic Moment is here because of the generosity of supporters and sponsors. Please go to todaysautisticmoment.com and select “Support Today’s Autistic Moment” to donate.

If you have questions about Today’s Autistic Moment, please send an email to todaysautisticmoment@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening to Today’s Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult.

May you have an Autistically Amazing day.

♫ Closing Background Music with credits ♫

All of the guests meet with me on Zoom to record the interviews. The interview transcripts are provided by Otter. The podcast is prepared and edited on WavePad Masters Edition by NCH Software. The podcast is published by Spotify for Podcasters. The Music that you hear is licensed to Today’s Autistic Moment by premiumbeat.com.

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