When I was 16, my world transformed in two profound ways. I became a mother, and I began the journey of raising a child who—like me—experienced the world through a neurodivergent lens. Neither of us knew it then, but we were both autistic, navigating a world that wasn't designed for minds like ours. ## Two Space Cadets Finding Our Way They called me a "space cadet" long before I understood what it meant. Lost in thought, missing social cues, overwhelmed by sensory experiences others barely noticed—I lived in a different orbit from my peers. When my son came along, I recognized familiar patterns in him, though his autism expressed itself differently than mine. He was a bit less on the spectrum than me, but together, we formed our own constellation. What we lacked in traditional guidance, we made up for in understanding. When he couldn't bear the feel of certain fabrics, I didn't need an explanation. When I became overwhelmed in crowded spaces, he instinctively knew...
You're neurodivergent. You're also a person of color. And the healthcare system was built for neither.
BIPOC neurodivergent people face barriers that white neurodivergent people never will—and barriers that non-neurodivergent BIPOC people don't experience. You're navigating two systems of discrimination simultaneously.
Why BIPOC People Get Diagnosed Later (or Never)
Diagnostic Bias in Healthcare
Autism diagnostic criteria were written based on white children (mostly boys). Autism looks different in Black girls, Asian autistic people, Latinx ADHD kids. Providers don't recognize it.
Racial Stereotyping Masks Neurodivergence
Black ADHD kids are labeled "aggressive" or "disruptive" instead of ADHD. Asian autistic people are seen as "quiet and studious." Latinx kids are seen as "emotional" instead of dysregulated. Stereotypes hide neurodivergence.
Healthcare Discrimination
Medical racism is real. BIPOC people aren't believed, aren't taken seriously, receive inferior care. Add neurodivergence, and you become "the difficult patient" with "too many complaints."
Language Barriers
If English isn't your first language, getting diagnosed is harder. Mental health terminology doesn't translate. Providers minimize differences as "cultural" instead of neurological.
BIPOC + ND Specific Challenges
Hypervisibility + Invisibility
Your race is visible. Your neurodivergence is invisible. People see you as "the Black autistic woman" or "the Asian ADHD guy." You're hyper-visible AND invisible.
Respectability Politics
You're told: "Work harder. Be twice as good. Don't make excuses." Neurodivergence is seen as an excuse. Your race means you get less grace for struggles.
Family Pressure
Family might reject neurodivergence diagnosis ("That's a white people thing"). They might blame your struggles on laziness, cultural issues, or lack of faith—instead of neurology.
Community Isolation
Predominantly white neurodivergent spaces feel unsafe. BIPOC spaces might not understand neurodivergence. You belong in neither.
Police Violence + Neurodivergence
Black neurodivergent people are at higher risk during police encounters. Stimming, emotional dysregulation, or difficulty with social communication can be misinterpreted as threat. This is life-or-death.
Intersectional Healthcare Barriers
- Implicit bias: Providers' unconscious racism + ableism.
- Diagnostic gatekeeping: BIPOC people required to prove neurodivergence more rigorously.
- Medication inequity: BIPOC people less likely to be prescribed medication, more likely to be over-medicated.
- Lack of culturally competent care: Providers don't understand your culture + neurodivergence.
- Economic barriers: BIPOC people more likely to be uninsured, underinsured.
What Representation Looks Like
Neurodivergent spaces need:
- BIPOC ND people in leadership and visibility.
- Resources created by and for BIPOC ND people.
- Acknowledgment of racism and systemic barriers.
- Translation and accessibility in multiple languages.
- Cultural humility from white ND folks.
Strategies for BIPOC ND Folks
Find Your People
BIPOC neurodivergent communities exist—online, in affinity groups, in spaces created specifically for you.
Educate on Your Terms
You're not obligated to teach people about your neurodivergence or educate about racism. Set boundaries.
Validate Your Own Experience
When family, community, or providers dismiss your neurodivergence, trust yourself. You know your own mind and body.
Document Discrimination
If you experience racial bias or ableism in healthcare, document it. File complaints. Speak up.
Seek Out BIPOC + ND Affirming Providers
They exist. Look for providers who center both racial justice and neurodiversity.
To BIPOC Neurodivergent People
Your diagnosis is valid, even if people question it.
Your needs matter, even if society doesn't center them.
Your experiences of racism + ableism are real and compounded.
You deserve spaces, providers, and community that get ALL of you.
You're not too much. You're fighting two systems of oppression. And you're still here. That's everything.
For crisis resources centering BIPOC support, visit Crisis Resources. For community, join our Community.
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