The Resistance, Persistence and Resilience of Black Families Raising Children with Autism presents nuanced perspectives in the form of counternarratives of what Black families who have children with autism experience at the intersection of race, class, disability and gender. It intentionally centers the expertise of Black parents, challenging what is considered knowledge, whose knowledge counts, and how knowledge can be co-generated for learning, sharing and advocacy. The book speaks directly to Black parents on the autism journey. To right systemic racial inequities and to cultivate culturally responsive practices, it is critical for practitioners and professionals to understand what is known about Black families' experiences with autism in general and how these experiences differ because of our intersecting identities. University faculty and students in programs involving medicine, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, nursing, political science, school psychology, teaching, special education and leadership can benefit from the wisdom offered by these parents. This text is perfect for several courses, including those in departments of anthropology, women and gender studies, health sciences, psychology, special education, teacher education and administrative leadership. In addition, given the uniquely Black perspective presented in the text, this text is relevant to other fields, including ethnic studies, cultural studies, urban studies and African American studies. It is relevant to individuals who wish to better understand how issues of race and intra-racial differences shape lived experiences with disability in American society.
"This much-needed collaborative study provides a nuanced portrait of the challenges and successes of Black parents of children with autism. The parents' narratives, skillfully interpreted through the lived experiences of the authors themselves, reveal the multiple marginalization experienced by families who must navigate the intersections of race, socioeconomic status, and disability. The book presents a powerful claim for such parents' empowerment in a field that has been dominated by voices of privilege."-Beth Harry, Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, University of Miami; author of Childhood Disability, Advocacy and Inclusion in the Caribbean: A Trinidad and Tobago Case Study (2019) and Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing: A Mother's Story (2010)