Supporting AAC Users and Understanding Cultural Differences with Kaishawna Fleming

Meet Kaishawna Fleming, a Black DeafBlind Autistic advocate, clarinettist and writer who communicates through AAC, sign language and speech, sharing what it really takes to support AAC users, especially Black and Brown AAC users, and why cultural difference has to be part of the conversation.

This conversation is a taste of what Kaishawna brings as one of the speakers at the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference, a two-day online event centring lived experience and neurodiversity affirming practice for the people who support neurodivergent kids.

"Listening and active engagement serves to help and improve the understanding of cultural significance when it comes to autism. When we actively listen, we allow their lived experiences to guide us through their journey." Kaishawna Fleming

You'll hear about:

• How Kaishawna communicates through AAC, sign language and speech, and why the mode shifts with mood, energy and cognitive load
• Why autism can present differently for Black, Indigenous and Brown learners, and what real listening asks of families and educators
• What professionals need to unlearn, from white privilege and fragility to the way words like woke get taken and distorted
• Life's Moments, the novel Kaishawna is writing about a couple navigating disability, race and ableism together, and their call for beta readers

LINKS

• Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference: two-day online event on 19th and 20th August 2026, where Kaishawna is one of the speakers, with Day 1 available as recordings: neurodiversityunconference.com

Connect with Kaishawna:

• Instagram: @kaishawna_music
• YouTube: youtube.com/@kaishawna
• Email: flemingkaishawna@gmail.com
• Support Kaishawna: if you have benefited from Kaishawna's insights, connection and understanding, please consider supporting them with funds, via Venmo or PayPal