Check Out Phenomenally Autistic’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phenomenally Autistic.

Hi Phenomenally, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started advocating for autism , Black autistic women especially about 6 years ago, I was a late diagnosed Autistic and until I received my diagnosis life was more of a challenge, in the beginning I was just posting my story what I go through my feelings and how I live as a late diagnosed Black autistic women, one day I got an email someone asking me to be a guest on their podcast, when the promotion came out they named me an autism advocate a title I didnt give myself and I was like wow I guess I am an advocate, in the beginning I will say my advocacy was more light hearted but once I started to see how marginalized groups were criminalized and punished instead of supported I felt I needed to do more, I started challenging those who felt like autism has no color, I start speaking about systemic racism , I made it a point for people to know Black autistic people do not have the same experience as white autistic people, another form of my advocacy is art, its actually a big part of my advocacy I wrote and illustrated a children’s book called ‘Im Autistic & Im Phenomenal’ which focuses on the day in the life of a little Black autistic girl, the boy shows some of the challenges she goes through but I made a point to also include the joys because little Black autistic girls can experience joy and bring joy to others, I intentionally chose to write about a little Black autistic girl because little Black autistic girls need representation too and I didnt see enough if it, im the founder of Black autism acceptance day this is our inaugural year the observance will take place September 19th, I started this initiative Black Autism Acceptance Day to uplift Black autistic people, who are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, and to push for real acceptance, equity, and visibility by amplifying our voices and challenging stigma around race and disability.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
no it has not been a smooth ride with anything you do you will have challenges , one of the struggles of being an autism advocate is dealing with the racial pushback you get for simply amplifying the voices of Black autistic people and seeking about the disparities Black autistic people face, you get a lot of hateful comments , you get threats, some people feel your way of advocating isnt the right way, some people think you aren’t doing enough, lucky for me ive found community and have more support than I could have ever imagined, im lucky to know other Black autistic advocates, and some really dedicated allies

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
im most proud of my children’s book “Im Autistic & Im Phenomenal’ hearing from parents that my book has given them hope for there child is something I never expected, when I wrote and illustrated this book I looked at it as a tribute to my younger self, the things I wish I understood then the things I needed to hear then, things I wished I knew about autism, knowing there was a word for what I was, art has always been an outlet for me to express myself, art saved my life, coming from a dance and theater background those outlets were escapes for me and sometimes the only way I could communicate, as far as the book is that I see a lot of autism books but they are written by non autistic people, im autistic so this is lived experience and people need to understand theres a difference in witnessing something and living it, what sets me apart, im just being myself im not trying to impress anyone and I dont care what other people think, I express myself differently and thats okay

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I feel like its worth to take the risk I always say when it comes to my advocacy that the uncomfortable conversations need to be had because you dont grow in comfort, im not afraid to have uncomfortable conversations, some people will like it, for some it may not be there cup of tea but thats all fine because there is a space for the work I do

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.linktree.com/phenomenallyautistic
• Instagram: phenomenallyautistic
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/phenomenallyautistic
• LinkedIn: ayanna Sanaa davis
• Twitter: ayannasanaa
• Youtube: YouTube.com/phenomenally autistic
• Other: tiktok : phenomenallyautistic