Life as a Black Deaf Autistic musician, AAC user and student -- with Kaishawna

Life as a Black Deaf Autistic musician, AAC user and student -- with Kaishawna

Author: Carolyn Kiel May 29, 2023 Duration: 53:32

Kaishawna is a 21 year old Deaf Black Autistic woman, clarinet player and college student who is studying to become an educator for neurodivergent and disabled students. She communicates using an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) text-to-speech app on her iPad, sign language, and sometimes unreliable vocal speech. She is a disability advocate and aspiring author who is working on two novels that feature disabled main characters.

During this episode, Kaishawna discusses:

  • Her experiences using AAC to communicate with others
  • How she experiences playing music as a Deaf Autistic musician, and her love of music theory
  • How she found out she was autistic, and how that led her to become involved with disability rights advocacy
  • The difficulty she had finding community as a Deaf Black Autistic woman, and the racism and ableism she faces
  • What she hopes to teach her students as an educator
  • The two novels she is currently working on

Follow Kaishawna on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode!

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook – with Haley Moss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:21
Haley Moss is a neurodiversity expert, public speaker and author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. We talk about Haley's latest book, "The Young Autistic Ad…
Ticcing My Way Through Life – with Britney Wolf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:59
Britney Wolf is a passionate Tourette Syndrome advocate who is trying to beat the stigmas surrounding the disorder. Through social media, speaking events and more, she takes every opportunity to let the Tourette Syndrome…
Fabulously Tourette – with Peter Zhao [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:35
Content warning: Mentions of racism/racist language, suicidal thoughts and auditory hallucinations Peter Zhao grew up in Nanjing China and then in Bayside Queens, New York. Now he lives in Long Island, New York, works in…
Nonspeaking autistic self advocacy – with Noah Seback [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:42
Noah Seback cannot speak -- however, he has a lot to say. Noah is a nonspeaking autistic young man with apraxia, which has made it impossible for him to communicate reliably for most of his life. Then, at the age of 16,…
Autistic and ADHD mother and life coach – Kori Tomelden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
Kori Tomelden is a late diagnosed autistic ADHDer, life strategist for autistic and ADHD women & a transformational purpose coach. She lives in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodivergent family. Her older daughter…
Autistic is a powerful word [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:17
For World Autism Day, I've recorded a solo episode where I explain how my thinking has evolved about the word "autistic" – how I was once scared of it, how I overcame my outdated views and biases associated with it, and…