In today's episode, we delve into a topic that has recently sparked significant discussion in the community: the clarity surrounding autism diagnoses. Joining us is Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC, a leading voice in the conversation about autism, especially within the Black community. We'll specifically address the recent controversy involving Amanda Seales and her statements regarding her autism diagnosis.

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Key Discussion Points:

• Understanding Autism Diagnosis: We explore the importance of a formal diagnosis and how it can impact individuals and their families.
• The Amanda Seales Controversy: A closer look at Amanda Seales' recent remarks about not being clinically diagnosed with autism by a doctor, which has stirred up widespread conversation about autism awareness and self-diagnosis.
• Expert Insights with Maria Davis-Pierre: Maria will provide her professional insights into the diagnosis process, challenges within the Black community regarding autism, and the implications of public discussions like these.

This episode aims to shed light on the complexities of autism diagnosis and the broader implications of how these diagnoses are discussed publicly.

Links:

• Baller Alert: Amanda Seales Clarifies Autism Diagnosis Statement
• YouTube: Amanda Seales Discusses Autism Diagnosis

So, let’s talk about our New Year’s resolutions and how we can keep them going throughout the year…

How many of you have told yourself in November or December, “I’m going to stop playing games and I’m going to do better for myself because I know there’s not as many years in front of me as there may be behind me”?

According to statistics, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February; they don’t even make it to the first quarter of the year.

And today, as your accountability partner, I want to ask you this: With the first quarter of the year coming gone, are your New Year’s resolutions coming gone with it?

I know it’s only April and that we have goals and aspirations – living healthier, losing weight, making a lot more money, etc. – that we’ll still have to work on in the remaining months of the year.

But when the clock strikes midnight for the year 2024, would you be able to say that you’ve kept your promise to yourself that you made right after Christmas last year – that this will be the year that you’ll change?

I want to help you get back on your path, so that when the year 2025 comes around, we can look back and say, “Man, I’m so glad I kept that promise to myself.”

Join me in this episode as we rehash these memories to ensure we get our happy selves back, especially when we’re on a road where we went off to detour a little bit.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Discover some of the most common New Year’s resolutions people have;
• Understand the different reasons why people’s New Year’s resolutions fail; and
• Find out the importance of accountability and self-reflection in your journey to change

“Let’s get back on the train today. Let’s remember our ‘why’ today. More importantly, let’s remember what caused us to trip; let’s remember what caused us to stumble, because we need to avoid the stumbling, because the stumbling is going to happen again and again and again. It keeps happening, that’s why you’re at the point you’re at now. So, I have to ask, do you really want to live healthier Do you really want to do these things? Do you really want to do the things you said you wanted to do in November and December? And remember, if you don’t have that support system, if you don’t have the accountability, I’m here to help you out.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

“We all have different stimuli. We all have different things that motivate us… We all have these reasons, and no initial stimulus is better than the other. I tell my patients all the time – you need to have some type of why to keep you going, but it doesn’t mean that my ‘why’ is so much better than your ‘why’; it doesn’t mean that my ‘why’ is so much stronger than your ‘why’. Everyone has their own personal ‘why’.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“The second we forget our why, it’s over.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“We don’t want tomorrow. We are not going to continue to put off things until tomorrow that we can do today.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“Any type of change has to start with you.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

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So, let’s talk about this year’s Autism Awareness Month…

Autism Awareness Month is not just a yearly celebration in April; it’s something that’s personally changed me and my family’s lives.

That’s why having an episode like this is special to me. It’s not just because it allows me to look back at the beginning of my journey of living with my spouse and raising two wonderful kids who have autism; it also allows us to celebrate the diversity of the human experience of dealing with autism or living with someone who has autism.

So join me in this episode as I share with you my personal experience of going through the hump of fear and unawareness of autism and how you can get to that next level of awareness as well with the help of Autism Awareness Month.

Why you need to check this episode:

• Find out what Autism Awareness Month is all about and why it is such a special month to me;
• Learn the importance of understanding that everyone has a different experience with autism; and
• Discover the crucial role of awareness, how to get to that “next level” of awareness, and what to do with it once you get there

“This is where I want alarms to ring for anyone who is watching or listening to this. When you have something that is occurring to you that is different, that is now affecting the way you typically or normally live your life, you need to be ringing some bells and seeking professional help, even if you have a couple of people tell you that it’s normal.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

“There’s a lot of people who, when that diagnosis first comes around, they don’t want to hear it. A lot of times, it’s out of fear; just like when I first heard the diagnosis… Thankfully, when you have help and a great support system, you grow out of that fear.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“Once I was surrounded with a family who is autistic and recognized that, ‘Wow, that is what they experience when they go through that’, it allowed me to be able to open my eyes up to the experience that my patients were having.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“Recognizing the signs and symptoms the earlier is always the better.” – Dr. Berry Pierrre

“Being Black, even when you’re autistic, there’s a different experience. Even in the world of autism, being black is a subset that causes a different level of experience that others who are autistic and not black don’t have to experience.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“Diagnosis is just the first step, being aware of it is really just the first step; It’s now taking what you’re aware of, and applying it. Taking what you’re aware of, and recognizing, ‘Hey, you know what? I may need to do something about it.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“The beauty of a month like this is that everyone is going to be at a different stage of their awareness, and it’s most important to get them to where they need to get to, to get them to that next step, and also to help them recognize that a community is there.”– Dr. Berry Pierre

Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member.

Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify