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

Follow Riah:

• Website: riahsweirdjourney.com


• Twitter: @lilririah

Topics of discussion:

0:00:18 Intro

0:01:23 Blackness and autism

0:02:47 Racism

0:04:28 Cycle of racism

0:05:26 George Floyd

0:07:01 Peaceful protest

0:08:04 Non-violent methods

0:09:33 Jon Stewart

0:10:48 Kenneth Clarke

0:11:50 No action

0:13:24 Blackness & diagnosis

0:15:11 School difficulties

0:16:17 Masking

0:17:09 ADHD

0:17:58 Military brat

0:18:49 Living in Guam

0:19:49 Not my fault

0:21:06 1st grade fight

0:24:01 School issues

0:26:27 Misread

0:28:43 YMCA abuse

0:31:20 Being a parent

0:32:55 Threatening appearance

0:34:54 Enter advocacy

0:38:19 Here together

0:41:47 Space for being

0:45:00 Stim-dancing

0:46:41 Mind–body connection

0:47:42 Ballroom dance

0:51:07 Western-ayurvedic

0:52:39 What is dance

0:56:15 Special interests

0:59:11 Neurodivergent friends

1:03:20 Diagnostic support

1:04:43 Stims

1:07:54 Squeaking teeth

1:10:27 Jamaica thanksgiving

1:13:40 Riah’s contact information